Though the relationship between the Cincinnati Bengals and Andy Dalton has clearly run its course, that doesn’t mean things will end on a sour note.
Given the nature of the relationship and Dalton’s impeccable work in the greater Cincinnati area, any potential split was always going to be an amicable one handled with respect.
That’s something Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin confirmed to Ian Rapoport on his RapSheet + Friends podcast at the Senior Bowl:
“I’ve talked to Andy individually…we haven’t made any decisions there…I wish I could give him a decision there… I can tell you one thing, what Andy Dalton’s done for the Cincinnati Bengals is not something that we’re going to forget and we are not just going to willy-nilly make something happen with him that a. he is uncomfortable with and b. we’re uncomfortable with…”
Dalton made it clear he still wants to be a starter in the league, which is why he and his agent wanted to look around at the trade deadline once Zac Taylor announced the Bengals were benching him in favor of rookie Ryan Finley.
Fast forward to the offseason and, barring something unexpected, Dalton will play elsewhere by next season. This interview merely hints at the how of things — the Bengals won’t likely trade Dalton into a bad situation.
Whether Dalton leaves the Bengals via trade or outright release remains to be seen, but it’s clear the Bengals want to do right by a guy that has meant so much to the team and city.
