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Andy Dalton is one of the more polarizing quarterbacks in the NFL. He has been solid in the regular season, but consistently come up short in the playoffs.
Despite that, the Cincinnati Bengals believe he is there guy and have shown as much with a six-year extension according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Adam Caplan:
From me and Adam Caplan:
Cincinnati and Bengals QB Andy Dalton reached agreement on a 6-year, $115 million contract, per two sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 4, 2014
Since coming into the league in 2011, along with star WR A.J. Green, Dalton has led the Bengals to their best sustained run of success since the 1980s.
The Bengals are 30-18 in the last three years and made the playoffs each season, including winning the AFC North division last year. Unfortunately, things have seemed to fall off once they get to the postseason.
In three playoff games, Dalton has completed only 57 percent of his passes with just one touchdown and six interceptions, leading many to question whether he is simply a game manager.
The Bengals clearly believe he is much more, and are tying their future to him. Along as he has Green, who is already one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, the Bengals should be competitive.
They are going to have their work cut out for them as the Ravens, Steelers, and Browns have all improved this off-season. But the pressure is now squarely on Dalton’s shoulders.
