Longtime Bengal, Andy Dalton, has been released from the Bengals after being with the team for 9 years. Over the 9 years spent with the Bengals, Dalton was selected to the Pro Bowl 3 times and had been to a total of 4 playoff games. So, why did the Bengals give up on a guy who was once deemed “their guy?”
Let’s look at the stats.
Andy Dalton has thrown for more than 3,300 yards 7 times in his career and has thrown for more than 800 yards in four playoff games. On top of that, Dalton is also a 62.0% career passing completion guy.
We have to go deeper.
In 2013, Andy Dalton had thrown for the most touchdowns in his career (33) and for the most yards in his career (4,293).
Let’s break down the 2013 season:
- During this season, the Bengals had the talented high-flying AJ Green who had 1,424 yards receiving and 11 touchdowns receiving. Green was 25 years old and in his 3rd year in the NFL.
- Their offense was ranked 6th in points scored and their defense was ranked 5th in points allowed. The Bengals finished first in their division.
- Jay Gruden was their offensive coordinator. He left the following year to become the Head Coach of the Washington Redskins. We all know his trajectory after that.
- Mike Zimmer was their defensive coordinator. He left to become the Head Coach of the Minnesota Vikings.
- BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Giovani Bernard were the Bengals two-back tandem. Ellis accounted for 756 yards and 7 TDS; Bernard accounted for 695 yards and 5 touchdowns.
- Tyler Eifert had 445 yards and 2 touchdowns receiving that year (compared to the next season where he only had 37 yards and 0 touchdowns). (Mentioned because if the drastic decline)
What I can immediately take from this is that both Mike Zimmer and Jay Gruden were amazing coordinators that year. And just when everything started to click, both Jay and Mike jumped ship. Though I don’t blame them, coordinators like Josh McDaniel’s and Matt Patricia both stayed with Bill Belichick through multiple Super Bowl wins and losses.
Still, let’s go a bit deeper.
Let’s see if there is a hidden clue in Andy Dalton’s stats from 2011-2013:
- 48 games played, 992 completions, completion rate 60.9, 11,360 passing yards, 80 touchdowns, 49 interceptions, the passing rate of 85.7%, and sacked 99 times.
Now let’s look at the 3 years after Zimmer and Gruden left, 2014-2016:
- 45 games played, 928 completions, completion rate 64.9, 10,854 passing yards, 62 touchdowns, 32 interceptions, the passing rate of 92.9%, and sacked 82 times.
What we can be noted from these stats are the drastic declines in touchdowns (-18) and yards (-506). Still, the Bengals went to the playoffs twice (both ending in losses of course).
“Wait, there’s more.”
The Bengal’s losses must have also played a role in the release of Dalton as well.
The records for the Bengals from 2016-2019 are as follows:
2016: 6-9-1
2017: 7-9
2018: 6-10
2019: 2-14
Stevie Wonder could see that a change was coming.
Oh, and there’s a guy named Joe Burrow.
In the 2020 draft, the Cincinnati Bengals selected Quarterback Joe Burrow. It’s widely known that Joe Burrow was the best QB coming out of the draft ever-statistically. The Bengals were on course to acquire the impressive QB; the writing was on the wall for Andy Dalton.
However, some sports theorist thought Dalton would stay on as sort of a mentor for the young Burrow, but when a QB is drafted number 1, he’s coming in to play day 1.
And besides, Spotrac.com has Dalton’s estimated market value to be in the $25 million per 3 years range. There was noway the rebuilding Bengals would spend that type of money on a bridge guy.
The AwfulGuy (Spotrac.com data)
So, there was a culmination of things that led to the release of Andy Dalton: coordinators jumping ship, the decline in Dalton’s stats, the team record, Andy’s Dalton’s contract year in the midst, and the Bengal management’s choice to change direction with Joe Burrow.
The final question now is, “Who takes Andy Dalton?”
I’ve stated in a previous article that Cam Newton is on the market and is looking for a starting position. Recently, Jameis Winston was picked up the New Orleans Saints but in a backup QB capacity.
One should not be shocked to see Andy Dalton or Cam Newton suffer the same fate. I believe that Andy can still start for a team but teams are looking for bridge and mentor veterans.
There’s also nothing wrong with being a journeyman, just look at Ryan Fitzpatrick who is set to amass a total of $71,541,098 after playing for multiple teams (Spotrac.com).
With that said, where do you think Andy Dalton will go? And to you think he’ll start?
(Stats provided by Pro-Football-Refence.com)
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