Cincinnati Bengals: Impossible Spot With Andy Dalton

Despite roster holes, personnel decisions and the many salary cap moves the Cincinnati Bengals need to decide on, the quarterback position remains an issue.

The resume is solid: 27-years old, hasn’t missed a game, two Pro Bowl nods, one season over 4,000 yards, and a career 99-66 TD to INT ratio.

For most NFL organizations, that’s a guy you’d be thrilled to call your franchise quarterback.

That is, until, you mention is name is Andy Dalton.

It’s incredible how quarterback heavy this league has truly become. If an NFL general manager doesn’t yet possess a franchise quarterback, he then needs to do everything in his power to grab one. If he has two guys battling it out, then he in fact has no franchise guy.

Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, Joe Flacco, Andrew Luck, Peyton Manning, Tony Romo, Aaron Rodgers, Matt Stafford, Cam Newton, Russell Wilson and Andy Dalton – these are the quarterbacks who took their teams to the playoffs last season. We of course leave out the Arizona Cardinals for obvious reasons.

Only Philip Rivers, Eli Manning, Drew Brees, and possibly Matt Ryan, can be argued as true top signal callers who didn’t taste postseason play in 2014.

Due to ridiculous rule changes and incredible safety precautions, the position has become an everything or nothing proposition for teams in this league.

The question the Cincinnati Bengals need to answer is whether Dalton is their guy.

It is obviously very difficult to obtain one of these gems. It’s even harder to let go of a guy who flirts with franchise status like Dalton does.

The “Red Rifle” has led an extremely efficient offense over the past four seasons. Him and A.J. Green have hooked up 35-times since both were rookies in 2011. They have passed almost every regular season test.

For Dalton during those critical moments, however, fails miserably.

In 13 primetime and playoff games, the Bengals leader sports a terrible 3-11 record, capped off by his most recent playoff loss against the less than talented Indianapolis Colts. Dalton has thrown a total of 12 touchdowns, 17 interceptions and fumbled the ball a boatload of times in those all important matchups.

Stats are great, but winning is better – and winning is the quintessential mission statement of the quarterback’s job description.

Eli Manning is the perfect example.

Manning is far from a perfect quarterback. He has many faults. He makes bonehead plays on a routine basis; he turns the ball over; and his expressions after a dumb play make your scratch your head and come up with another hilarious meme.

However, when a play breaks down, or the moment is at its finest, Manning always comes through with flying colors.

He is at his best when the time calls for a franchise quarterback to be at their best. Dalton’s career has completely reversed that sentiment.

The question then obviously becomes: do the Bengals actually think Dalton can reverse his terrible big-game trend?

If they are thinking that, they’re fooling themselves. Four seasons is more than enough of a sample size.

Admittedly, finding a franchise quarterback might be the toughest job for a general manager in sports. The Bengals front office needs to move forward with an open mind.

If the task of finding another guy to replace Dalton is too tough, then so be it.

Do not make the mistake of thinking you’re cemented at the position. That’s even worse than not having a franchise guy all together. It strings the franchise along with false hope.

Next: Should The Bengals Be This Committed To Andy Dalton?

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