Andy Dalton is perfect addition for Dallas Cowboys, says former TCU teammate Newhouse
Marshall Newhouse knows Andy Dalton better than most. Both were members of TCU’s 2006 recruiting class that built the foundation for the program’s most recent glory years, and they were teammates again in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2014.
Newhouse is familiar with the Dallas Cowboys too. His cousin, Robert Newhouse, was a fullback for the organization for 12 seasons (1972-83) and part of the Super Bowl VII championship team.
So Newhouse, like everyone else affiliated with TCU, is excited to see Dalton land with the Cowboys.
“The Cowboys are getting someone who is going to be great for the community, who’s going to compete and make the quarterback room there better, and make the team better,” said Newhouse, an offensive tackle who is hoping to extend his NFL career at least one more season. “Regardless of the situation, he’ll be someone who they can put in under center and expect to go win games.
“For him to play with a star on his helmet is a big deal. Having family who has played for the Cowboys, I know how big of a deal that is. I’m excited for him. He’s going to do great things. Cowboys fans should be lucky that he’s there.”
Newhouse has seen the type of impact Dalton can have on a program.
At TCU, Dalton became a legend, highlighted by a Rose Bowl victory and perfect 13-0 record in 2010. Newhouse wasn’t a part of that 2010 team as he didn’t redshirt his freshman season, but he was a part of the buildup when TCU finished No. 7 in the country in 2008 and No. 6 in the country in 2009.
Dalton ended his college career as TCU’s first quarterback to throw for 10,000 yards (10,314) and 71 touchdowns. Both were program records when Dalton left, which were then surpassed by Trevone Boykin.
In the NFL, Dalton continued his success with the Bengals. Cincinnati made five consecutive trips to the playoffs under Dalton from 2011-15, including when Newhouse was part of the organization in 2014.
“I was there to help plug a gap, you can call it a bridge year,” Newhouse said. “But Andy was an advocate for me and it was something I appreciated and something that not everyone gets at the NFL level. We’re all pros and we’re all there to do a job.
“But Andy and I have known each other since we were 17 and have a different kind of relationship. At that point, he and his wife were getting ready for baby No. 1 and a lot of life was happening. It was fun being there for those important steps.”
On the field, Dalton played better than some give him credit for. He is the Bengals’ all-time leader in passing touchdowns (204), fourth-quarter comebacks (20) and game-winning drives (24). He’s second in passing yards (31,594).
Newhouse knows outsiders will point to Dalton failing to win a playoff game, but that’s an organization-wide issue. The Bengals haven’t won a playoff game since 1990 and have never won a Super Bowl in their history.
To Newhouse, Dalton’s track record on and off the field speaks for itself. After all, Dalton is in an exclusive group of quarterbacks who have thrown for 30,000 yards passing, 200 TDs and won 70 games since 2011, along with Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Matt Ryan and Ben Roethlisberger.
“He’s a leader of men, an all-around good dude, a great quarterback,” Newhouse said. “He had some of his best seasons in Cincinnati. People want to harp on the negative, but his situation there was not ideal a lot of the time and he weathered the storm. He held things together as best he could and did what was in his control. That’s how the NFL goes.
“I’ve been on seven different teams now and that’s how it works out sometimes.”
