NFL Takeaways: Bengals Pay Andy Dalton Too Soon
By Erik Lambert
Jul 26, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) drops back to pass during training camp at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Another quarterback got his pay day in the NFL. That and other takeaways from the latest news of the first preseason week.
Cincinnati Bengals should have waited on the Dalton issue
Making the playoffs three-straight seasons is quite an accomplishment for any quarterback. Andy Dalton deserves some credit for at least that. However, the Cincinnati Bengals should’ve remembered that Dalton has looked awfully pedestrian in January. So to hand him a contract extension before the start of 2014 didn’t make much sense. Why not let him play out his contract? Granted, if he finally broke the streak of no postseason victories it could potentially cost them even more but on the other end they could save money in the long run. Chicago did so with Jay Cutler and came away with a deal that averages out to $18 million per year. Now Cincinnati is stuck with a less talented quarterback at over $19 million per season. It’s a move that just feel premature.
Green Bay Packers doing the right thing on Brett Favre
One can understand the bad blood between the Green Bay Packers fans and quarterback Brett Favre. After all, he did leave them to eventually join forces with the hated Minnesota Vikings, spurning what was 14 years of Hall of Fame play in green and gold. However, time heals all wounds and the Packers brass proved it when the announcement came down that Favres’ fabled #4 jersey would be retired and that he would join the team Hall of Fame. Regardless of what was said, implied or done before, it’s impossible to ignore what Favre meant to that team and that city. This honor is right for both sides.
Johnny Manziel won’t secure job without preseason success
Fans may find it easy to read into the details a bit too much when news broke that Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel began taking reps with the 1st unit offense in training camp practices. That could be a sign that the Browns are inching closer to possibly naming Manziel as their starter for the 2014 NFL season. On the other hand, it could just be that Cleveland is following through on their promise to give Johnny Football his turn at the controls in the quarterback battle with Brian Hoyer. The one thing that is likely clear in this situation. Nothing will be decided until Manziel performs against other defenses in the preseason.