HEADLINES

Andy Dalton

AFC Mailbags: Bengals, Steelers, Colts, Jags

June 1st, 2014 at 8:54pm CST by Ben Levine

ESPN’s NFL writers answered questions from their readers this weekend. Let’s take a look at some interesting notes from the AFC…

Extension Candidate: Andy Dalton

June 1st, 2014 at 4:31pm CST by Dallas Robinson

When the Bengals passed on Teddy Bridgewater with the No. 24 pick in last month’s draft, and subsequently waited until the fifth round before drafting a signal-caller (Alabama’s A.J. McCarron), they seemed to send a strong message: Andy Dalton is Cincinnati’s quarterback for the foreseeable future.NFL: Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals

Dalton, selected in the second round of the 2011 draft, has achieved immediate success in the Queen City, leading the Bengals to a 30-18 record and three playoff appearances (0-3 record) during his first three seasons in the league, averaging nearly 3,800 yards passing, 27 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in that span. Advanced metrics rate Dalton as average — Football Outsiders ranked Dalton as the 17th-best QB by DYAR in 2014, while Pro Football Focus (subscription required) graded him as 16th-best. The PFF rating, however, illustrates Dalton’s maddening inconsistency — in 2014, he finished three weeks with a +5.0 or better grade, while five other weeks saw him earn a -3.0 or worse mark.

The Bengals, for their part, have a recent history of being willing to pay for performance, as evidenced by extensions for Andrew Whitworth, Carlos Dunlap, and Leon Hall. In March, team owner Mike Brown spoke about Dalton’s situation, saying “If it turns out it can’t be made to work we will do something elsewhere. I don’t think we plan to go another year the way we did this year.” Whether that means Cincinnati would be willing to slap the franchise tag on Dalton in 2015 is unclear, but Brown is well aware that the free agent market for quarterbacks is more often than not barren, meaning Dalton is the likely the team’s best, and perhaps only, answer at the position.

Cincinnati also has other premier players whom they would like to like to retain — receiver A.J. Green, whose 2015 option was exercised, and linebacker Vontaze Burfict, with whom the Bengals are discussing an extension. While the team currently has over $24MM in cap space, new contracts for Green, Burfict, and Dalton could stretch the Bengals’ budget.

In looking for a precedent, the Bengals could look at recent extensions given to fellow quarterbacks Tony Romo and Jay Cutler. Romo signed a seven-year, $108MM deal with the Cowboys in March 2013, which contained $55MM guaranteed. While Romo has outperformed Dalton since the latter entered the league in 2011, he is eight years older than the Bengals QB. Cutler agreed to a seven-year, $126.7MM contract in January 2014, with $54MM in guarantees. Cutler and Dalton have comparable statistics, though Dalton has been healthier and is five years younger.

More potential quarterback extensions are seemingly on the horizon, each of which could affect Dalton’s value. Alex Smith is reportedly asking for $18MM per season, Colin Kaepernick could aim for a $20MM AAV, and a Cam Newton contract could surpass each of those potential deals.

With the Bengals taking a pass on adding legitimate competition for Dalton, an extension seems to be the likeliest of outcomes. While the Bengals probably aren’t willing to give Dalton a $20MM AAV, I could see them examining Dalton’s regular-season success, the randomness of playoff losses, and the lack of enticing alternatives, and handing Dalton a contract in line with what Cutler received: $18-19MM per season, with $50-60MM in guarantees. Such a deal, as opposed to a 2015 franchise tag, would probably give the Bengals the room to negotiate contracts for Green and Burfict, keeping intact a core that could keep Cincinnati competitive for years to come.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Extra Points: Dalton, Housler, Dolphins

May 25th, 2014 at 8:36pm CST by Ben Levine

Following his subpar performances in the last three playoffs, there was some doubt whether Andy Dalton was part of the Bengals future. Furthermore, the quarterback may be seeking an extension with the squad. New offensive coordinator Hue Jackman stated his support for the 26-year-old following the team’s first voluntary on-field practice.

Via Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com:

“He has all the characteristics I like in a quarterback. He’s smart, he comes to work prepared and ready to go, and he comes to the practice field ready to compete. He can make all the necessary throws. I haven’t see any throw he can’t make. That being said, he knows there are things that we talk about that he needs to get better at.”

Of course, Jackman added that it’s time for Dalton and star receiver A.J. Green to prove their talents:

“They’ve been good, now it’s time to be great.”

Let’s take a look at some more notes from around the NFL…

  • Cardinals tight end Rob Housler is a “definite (if not likely) trade candidate”, according to ESPN’s. Josh Weinfuss (via Twitter).
  • Dolphins quarterback Brock Jensen made a couple of good throws in minicamp, but his arm strength was not impressive, opines ESPN’s James Walker (via Twitter). The writer says that he isn’t ready to declare the undrafted free agent as a challenger to Pat Devlin for the third quarterback spot (via Twitter).
  • Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette lists defensive end, inside linebacker and wide receiver as the biggest position battles for the Steelers.

Andy Dalton, A.J. Green Discuss Contracts

April 21st, 2014 at 12:47pm CST by Luke Adams

Quarterback Andy Dalton and wide receiver A.J. Green were among the Bengals in attendance today for the start of the team’s voluntary offseason workout program, and Cincinnati’s offensive leaders were each asked about their contract situations. Although both players are heading into contract years, the club holds a fifth-year option on Green for 2015, while Dalton is eligible for unrestricted free agency less than a year from now.

Still, the Bengals’ signal-caller expects to remain in Cincinnati far beyond ’14, as he told reporters today. And it sounds as if the team is negotiating longer-term contracts with both players. Here are a few noteworthy quotes from Dalton, Green, and other Bengals, via ESPN.com’s Coley Harvey, Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com, and Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer (Sulia link)….

Dalton, on whether he feels he’s the face of the Bengals’ franchise:

“I do. Everything that [coach] Marvin [Lewis] has said, [offensive coordinator] Hue [Jackson] has said, and what everybody here has told me is that, and they’ve told everybody that. So I’m confident with that. I hope to spend a lot of my career here.”

“From everything they’ve told me, they’re not bringing in anybody to compete.”

Dalton, on the value of quarterbacks for NFL franchises:

“It’s a quarterback-driven league, so quarterbacks get rewarded a lot of money. For a lot of these quarterbacks, if you’re the quarterback of the team, you’re the face of the franchise. So these teams obviously believe in their guy and they’re going to pay him that way.”

Dalton, on potentially playing out the final year of his contract without an extension:

“There’s obviously some risk when that goes on, but I am confident in everything that I have been able to do and what I am going to do this year. If it comes to that then it comes to that but I think both sides want to get it done. So, hopefully [an extension] happens.”

Green, on his own contract situation:

“I don’t pay attention to that stuff. I’m still under contract. Like I say, my body of work speaks for itself. Whenever the time’s right, it’s right. That’s one thing I don’t get involved with. I just go out there and play the game and whatever happens, happens.”

Defensive leader Domata Peko on the possibility of the Bengals locking up key players:

“Andy, A.J. and Vontaze [Burfict], man, they deserve to be paid. I can’t wait to see when they sign their deals. It’ll be awesome. That’s good for our team because they’re a big part of our team and we just want to make sure we keep those guys locked down because they’re a hell of a few players.”

Extra Points: Bush, Dalton, Draft Visits

April 10th, 2014 at 2:49pm CST by Luke Adams

The Saints recently matched the Falcons‘ offer sheet for Rafael Bush, and as is the case with many offer sheets, the structure of the deal is a little unusual. There are no signing, workout, or roster bonuses on Bush’s two-year contract, which features base salaries of $1.85MM and $1.95MM, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. $850K of that first-year salary is fully guaranteed and $350K is deferred until March 31, 2015. Wilson adds (via Twitter) that Bush can also earn up to $750K in incentives if he makes the Pro Bowl and grabs a certain number of interceptions in 2015, so the deal can max out at $4.55MM.

Here’s more from across the NFL:

  • Former agent Joel Corry of CBSSports.com takes an in-depth look at Andy Dalton’s contract situation and explores whether or not the Bengals should commit to paying him $15MM per year. Ultimately, Corry suggests that the team would be better off suspending negotiating with its quarterback for now.
  • The Steelers are hosting three players on pre-draft visits today, according to ESPN.com’s Scott Brown (via Twitter): Washington State safety Deone Bucannon, Ohio State linebacker Ryan Shazier and UCLA linebacker Jordan Zumwalt.
  • Wyoming wide receiver Robert Herron met with the Saints yesterday and today on a pre-draft visit, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Herron reportedly worked out for the Panthers last week.
  • The Redskins are hosting Scott Crichton on a pre-draft visit, according to Rapoport, who notes (via Twitter) that the Oregon State defensive end has already worked out for the Patriots, Falcons, and Panthers.
  • Connecticut edge defender Jesse Joseph is among the players working out for the Eagles today, tweets Aaron Wilson.
  • Bloomsburg defensive end Larry Webster has several more visits on the docket in addition to the ones we heard about last month. Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net tweets that the Eagles, Jets, and Giants will meet with Webster, while the Chargers will work him out.
  • According to Pauline (via Twitter), Patriots offensive line coach Dave DeGuglielmo worked out Colorado State center Weston Richburg, who is likely to be a second-day pick.

AFC North Links: Steelers, Dalton, Hoyer

March 31st, 2014 at 3:04pm CST by Ben Levine

LeGarrette Blount joined the Steelers this past weekend, but that may not prevent the team from selecting a running back in the draft. Scott Brown of ESPN.com takes a look at some draft options at the position, and opines that it’d be tough for Pittsburgh to pass on 2000-yard rusher Andre Williams. Still, Brown adds that he can’t see the team taking a back before the fifth round, and suggests the team looks at speedy runners like Kent State’s Dri Archer.

Let’s take a look at some more Steelers and AFC North notes…

  • The Steelers run of success at snagging talented receivers later in the draft may continue this year, Brown mentions in the same article. The depth of the position in the draft means Pittsburgh could wait until after the first round to select a wideout.
  • Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton confirmed on SiriusXM NFL Radio that contract negotiations with the team are underway (via Chris Wesseling of NFL.com). Dalton is entering the final year of his rookie contract.
  • Brian Hoyer‘s recovery from knee surgery is very significant to the Browns, writes Pat McManamon of ESPN.com. The team has already released two quarterbacks and haven’t signed any via free agency. If the team drafts a quarterback, McManamon believes that Hoyer will still be the favorite to start.

AFC Notes: Jets, Steelers, Dalton, Dolphins

March 25th, 2014 at 10:35am CST by Luke Adams

New York head coach Rex Ryan indicated today that the Jets aren’t done adding players at wide receiver. However, as Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post tweets, that doesn’t necessarily mean the club will add another impact player.

“[It] might be a sixth-round pick and not the move you want, but we’re not done,” Ryan said.

Here’s more from around the AFC:

  • The Steelers, who have been linked to Maurice Jones-Drew and LeGarrette Blount, will likely have a deal with an experienced running back by the end of the week, tweets Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Head coach Mike Tomlin said this morning in Orlando that the team expected to add running back depth in the not-so-distant future.
  • Asked multiple times this morning about Andy Dalton, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis was unequivocal in his support of the quarterback, suggesting he’d like to see Dalton locked up sooner rather than later, writes Paul Dehner Jr. of Cincinnati.com. In Lewis’ view, leaving the situation hanging over Dalton when camp opens could create an unnecessary distraction.
  • Speaking to reporters, including James Walker of ESPN.com (Twitter link), Dolphins GM Dennis Hickey said today that Miami has spoken to the agent for free agent tight end Dustin Keller.
  • The Broncos haven’t closed the door on the possibility of bringing back running back Knowshon Moreno or defensive end Shaun Phillips, according to GM John Elway (link via Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com).
  • Jaguars owner Shad Khan supported his club’s decision to spread out its free agent spending among multiple positions and players this offseason rather than focusing on a couple significant expenditures. Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union has the details and quotes from Khan.
  • Linebacker remains an area of focus for the Titans, according to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean, who says (via Twitter) the team is conducting a private workout with Louisville’s Preston Brown today. Kentucky linebacker Avery Williamson is also scheduled to have a pre-draft visit with the Titans, tweets Wyatt.

Mike Brown On Bengals, Dalton, Green

March 23rd, 2014 at 4:03pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Bengals owner Mike Brown sat down with Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer and Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com to discuss Cincinnati’s offseason priorities, including possible extensions for quarterback Andy Dalton and receiver A.J. Green. Here are a few notable quotes from Brown:

On exorbitant free agent salaries, specifically for quarterbacks:

“The player market is something that always is surprising. Why the prices are so high is hard to know for sure. You look backwards and there have been more bad deals then good deals from a clubs perspective. That doesn’t mean there haven’t been some good deals — there have. More often than not you don’t win overpaying a guy.

“With quarterbacks there is another dilemma. With a fixed cap there is a certain amount of money and no more. You allocate that on a quarterback you have less to hand out to everybody else. It can cause attrition. We are going through a difficult time right now because we are trying to work through a deal with Andy and trying to hold back enough money in the cap to do that, yet we don’t know what that is.”

On whether Dalton is the long-term answer at quarterback, and whether the Bengals will extend him:

“We are going to try to get something done but I don’t know if we are going to be able to or not. At some point we are going to have to do something more than just let everyone else leave waiting to get something done with that situation. We held back this year trying to put ourselves in a position to get him done. If it turns out it can’t be made to work we will do something elsewhere. I don’t think we plan to go another year the way we did this year.”

On a possible extension for Green:

“A.J. has one difference, you can tender him (with the transition tag — $10.176 million for WR in 2014) [Ed. note: The Bengals hold a 2015 option on Green at the value of the transition tag because he was a top ten draft pick]. That takes a big chunk of money. He’d probably get it anyway. It keeps him on the reservation, he’s not going to be leaving. He’s going to be here for not one more year but two more years. Even though we haven’t tendered him yet our intention is to do that and put ourselves in position to turn to others such as Dalton and we would like to turn to a couple more as well. We would like to get something long term but at least we know with A.J. we have two years. With some of the others we have one year.”

On head coach Marvin Lewis and the lack of playoff success:

“[M]y reaction to disappointment is not lop off people’s heads. I think we proved that we were pretty good, that we have a good, solid football team. I don’t know that starting over suddenly is the best way to take the next step. I think we have a strong base, we can build on that. One of these days we won’t fumble and they will. If that is patience, then I guess I am patient.”

AFC North Notes: Blount, Harrison, Extensions

March 23rd, 2014 at 11:21am CST by Rory Parks

The Ravens have interest in free agent RB LeGarrette Blount, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Wilson writes that the Ravens do not have a visit scheduled for Blount at this time, but they will continue to monitor his market. Baltimore struggled mightily in most aspects of its offense last season, and short-yardage situations were particularly troublesome. Blount would be a boon in that regard, and he would also provide necessary depth given Ray Rice‘s struggles last season–and his legal troubles this offseason–and Bernard Pierce‘s injury concerns. As our Peter Sowards reported yesterday, Blount is scheduled to meet with the division rival Steelers later this week.

More notes from the AFC North:

  • Speaking of the Steelers, Joe Starkey of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review writes that a reunion with James Harrison makes a great deal of sense for a team with little defensive depth and limited salary cap space. Starkey could envision a limited role for Harrison as a situational pass-rusher and short-yardage defender. As our Luke Adams noted several days ago, there is mutual interest in Harrison’s potential return to Pittsburgh.
  • Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com and Pat McManamon of ESPN.com offer some opinions on Browns QB Brian Hoyer and WR Greg Little. Grossi believes that Hoyer has demonstrated enough to go into the season as the starting QB, and McManamon believes the Browns may feel the same way. As for Little, despite the frustration of Browns’ fans, Grossi notes that Little’s reasonable contract, his size, and his durability are all reasons why the Browns will probably hang onto him for another season. McManamon makes a similar point, though he does point out that if the Browns were to draft someone like Clemson WR Sammy Watkins, Little could be on his way out.
  • Coley Harvey of ESPN.com writes that there is nothing on the horizon yet regarding contract extensions for Bengals standouts A.J. Green, Andy Dalton, and Vontaze Burfict, but that negotiations could become more serious once the current phase of free agency concludes.
  • Despite the signing of Marshall Newhouse, Harvey believes the Bengals would “absolutely” consider an offensive tackle in the early rounds of the draft.

AFC North Links: Bengals, Ravens, Steelers

March 3rd, 2014 at 6:42pm CST by Ben Levine

Andy Dalton is entering the final year of his contract and Coley Harvey of ESPN.com discusses whether the Bengals should re-sign their quarterback prior to him reaching free agency. At this moment, Harvey thinks the team should pay its third-year player this offseason. It would certainly be a gamble by the Bengals either way, as an unsigned Dalton could lead his team deep in the playoffs and demand a huge payday next offseason. Reversely, Dalton could sign and continue to fail in leading the club through the postseason.

Other rumblings from the AFC North…

  • The Ravens have not started contract talks with Michael Oher and are not expected to, sources tell Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Wilson says the team is instead focusing on re-signing Eugene Monroe.
  • The Ravens made the right choice in not using the franchise tag on Monroe, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com writes. While the team needs a left tackle (and while Monroe certainly played well in that role last season), Hensley believes that it wouldn’t have been worth it for the team to dedicate such a large portion of their cap to the position. The writer says it makes more sense to sign Monroe to a long-term deal.
  • The Steelers used their transition tag on Jason Worilds earlier today, but there’s no guarantee that he returns, Scott Brown of ESPN.com says. All it would take for Worilds to leave is one team slightly overpaying, and Brown doesn’t sound too optimistic that the Steelers would match a huge offer.
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