It was earlier announced that Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton had signed a six-year contract extension, worth $115 million. While it appears as if approximately two out of every three NFL "experts" think this is a good move by the Bengals, like with the Joe Flacco deal a year ago, I'm much less confident about it.
Following his great playoff run two seasons ago, the Baltimore Ravens signed quarterback Joe Flacco to a $120.6 million deal. While I could have partially understood the move, based on the quarterback's epic performance in the playoffs that year, I thought, in the long-term, he wasn't going to be worth it. The fact was, during the regular season, he was simply an above-average quarterback throughout his career. The Ravens mainly relied on their staunch defense, their solid special teams, and their pounding ground attack to get them to and advance them in the playoffs. When Flacco signed that record-breaking deal, the Ravens had to let go of many quality starters, and in light of all the moves that were made, I correctly predicted they'd fail to make the playoffs last year.
That brings me to Andy Dalton and the Cincinnati Bengals. While Dalton has led the Bengals to the playoffs each of the past three seasons, he's 0-3 as a starter in those playoffs games - throwing just one touchdown pass and being intercepted six times in them. His best QBR in the three playoff games was a paltry 25.1 in 2011. Like the Baltimore Ravens, the Cincinnati Bengals have largely relied on their great defense, solid ground attack, and great athletes at receiver to get them to the playoffs. While Flacco has been an above-average quarterback throughout his career in the regular season, Dalton has been very average. In the past three years, he's ranked 17th in completion percentage (60.9), 21st in yards per attempt (6.97), and 23rd in QBR (51.5). His interception total has increased all three years as well (from 13 to 16 to 20). Even though I didn't agree with it, an argument could be made that Joe Flacco deserved the contract he received because he led his Ravens to a Super Bowl victory. Dalton can't make that argument. He's yet to lead his Bengals to a playoff victory, let alone a Super Bowl victory.
So, now the big question is, where will the Bengals have to cut back on spending due to this contract? They ranked 3rd in total defense last year (305.5 ypg), 5th in pass defense (209.0 ypg), 5th in rush defense (96.5 ypg), and 5th in scoring defense (19.1 ppg). They also present some of the best receivers in the game (A.J. Green in particular). Andy Dalton has not been the main reason why the team has been successful in the regular season the past three years. Yet, due to this contract, the team may have to cut back on spending in the very areas which helped them reach the playoff each of the past three seasons.
One argument I keep hearing is, "Who else is out there if the Bengals didn't sign Dalton?" Well, it's a little late this year to be thinking about a quarterback change. However, that's not the case in the years to come. Dalton, statistically-speaking, has been an average regular season quarterback and a dreadful playoff quarterback. That doesn't warrant a $115 million contract. There will likely be decent free agent quarterbacks next off-season. One doesn't need to draft a first-rounder to have a shot at a legitimate starting quarterback in this league :: cough... Tom Brady... cough ::. The Bengals also have enough talent where they could trade for a better quarterback if they felt the need to do so. With a solid ground game, great receivers, and one of the very best defenses in the league, the Bengals don't need to spend $115 million on an average quarterback. They could spend far less money on such a quarterback and improve in other areas, or get a much better quarterback for that amount of money. Unlike the Flacco deal the year before and how I thought it'd affect their playoff chances that very year, I don't think this contract will affect the Bengals' playoff chances this year. However, depending on the moves they have to make next off-season due to the contract, it could very well affect their playoff chances in two or three seasons. Quarterbacks may often times be the face of their team, however, it's not always the quarterback who is the biggest factor in a team's success.
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11306771/andy-dalton-cincinnati-bengals-reach-six-year-115-million-deal
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/bal-breaking-down-baltimore-ravens-quarterback-joe-flaccos-1206-million-contract-20130305,0,1319614.story
Following his great playoff run two seasons ago, the Baltimore Ravens signed quarterback Joe Flacco to a $120.6 million deal. While I could have partially understood the move, based on the quarterback's epic performance in the playoffs that year, I thought, in the long-term, he wasn't going to be worth it. The fact was, during the regular season, he was simply an above-average quarterback throughout his career. The Ravens mainly relied on their staunch defense, their solid special teams, and their pounding ground attack to get them to and advance them in the playoffs. When Flacco signed that record-breaking deal, the Ravens had to let go of many quality starters, and in light of all the moves that were made, I correctly predicted they'd fail to make the playoffs last year.
That brings me to Andy Dalton and the Cincinnati Bengals. While Dalton has led the Bengals to the playoffs each of the past three seasons, he's 0-3 as a starter in those playoffs games - throwing just one touchdown pass and being intercepted six times in them. His best QBR in the three playoff games was a paltry 25.1 in 2011. Like the Baltimore Ravens, the Cincinnati Bengals have largely relied on their great defense, solid ground attack, and great athletes at receiver to get them to the playoffs. While Flacco has been an above-average quarterback throughout his career in the regular season, Dalton has been very average. In the past three years, he's ranked 17th in completion percentage (60.9), 21st in yards per attempt (6.97), and 23rd in QBR (51.5). His interception total has increased all three years as well (from 13 to 16 to 20). Even though I didn't agree with it, an argument could be made that Joe Flacco deserved the contract he received because he led his Ravens to a Super Bowl victory. Dalton can't make that argument. He's yet to lead his Bengals to a playoff victory, let alone a Super Bowl victory.
So, now the big question is, where will the Bengals have to cut back on spending due to this contract? They ranked 3rd in total defense last year (305.5 ypg), 5th in pass defense (209.0 ypg), 5th in rush defense (96.5 ypg), and 5th in scoring defense (19.1 ppg). They also present some of the best receivers in the game (A.J. Green in particular). Andy Dalton has not been the main reason why the team has been successful in the regular season the past three years. Yet, due to this contract, the team may have to cut back on spending in the very areas which helped them reach the playoff each of the past three seasons.
One argument I keep hearing is, "Who else is out there if the Bengals didn't sign Dalton?" Well, it's a little late this year to be thinking about a quarterback change. However, that's not the case in the years to come. Dalton, statistically-speaking, has been an average regular season quarterback and a dreadful playoff quarterback. That doesn't warrant a $115 million contract. There will likely be decent free agent quarterbacks next off-season. One doesn't need to draft a first-rounder to have a shot at a legitimate starting quarterback in this league :: cough... Tom Brady... cough ::. The Bengals also have enough talent where they could trade for a better quarterback if they felt the need to do so. With a solid ground game, great receivers, and one of the very best defenses in the league, the Bengals don't need to spend $115 million on an average quarterback. They could spend far less money on such a quarterback and improve in other areas, or get a much better quarterback for that amount of money. Unlike the Flacco deal the year before and how I thought it'd affect their playoff chances that very year, I don't think this contract will affect the Bengals' playoff chances this year. However, depending on the moves they have to make next off-season due to the contract, it could very well affect their playoff chances in two or three seasons. Quarterbacks may often times be the face of their team, however, it's not always the quarterback who is the biggest factor in a team's success.
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11306771/andy-dalton-cincinnati-bengals-reach-six-year-115-million-deal
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/bal-breaking-down-baltimore-ravens-quarterback-joe-flaccos-1206-million-contract-20130305,0,1319614.story
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