Quarterback Andy Dalton’s quest for a new contract has been a frequent topic of conversation during the Bengals’ offseason and plenty of people have weighed in with opinions on what the team should do with a player that has gotten them to the playoffs in all three of his NFL seasons without winning a game during any of the trips.
Offensive coordinator Hue Jackson has been one of Dalton’s loudest supporters, saying that he’s seen the quarterback improve continually since joining the Bengals and going as far as calling Dalton and wide receiver A.J. Green the best quarterback-wide receiver combination in the entire league. Those comments didn’t get Dalton the contract he wants, but perhaps the words of the receiver half of that combo will move the needle a bit.
“We came in together and that is the great thing for me and him,” Green said on NFL Network. “I know he’s my guy. I don’t want any other quarterback throwing me the ball. I think he feels the same way about me.”
Green is under contract through next season after the Bengals exercised their option for a fifth year on his rookie contract and the Bengals will likely want to extend the stay of one of the league’s top receivers beyond that point. Keeping a quarterback who Green likes playing with would probably help them do that, but Green’s opinion alone probably won’t be enough to get the deal done. Dalton hasn’t totally convinced the skeptics in Cincinnati and his best chance of doing that will come on the field rather than from the endorsements of others.