Andy Dalton as backup quarterback makes perfect sense for him and Dallas Cowboys
If Jeff Bezos, not God, wanted to create the perfect backup NFL quarterback, it would be Andy Dalton.
After starting every game of his NFL career, the former TCU star settles into the role for which he is best suited, and earned: As a seven-figure earner who backs up The Guy.
Mostly unrecruited coming out of Katy, Texas, as a high school senior, Dalton likely recognizes that he made it further in football than he could have ever have conceived. Being an NFL backup is still a dream job.
By signing the ex-TCU and Cincinnati Bengals starting quarterback to a one-year contract on Saturday, the Dallas Cowboys have added the NFL’s ideal backup.
You can make the argument that QBs like Cam Newton, Jameis Winston, Teddy Bridgewater are better backups; there should be concerns about Newton’s health, Winston’s ability, while Bridgewater is a close 1-2 with Dalton in this debate.
Only an idiot would translate Dalton’s addition as leverage against starting quarterback Dak Prescott.
Dalton is the backup every coach wants: He is still not old (32), has started (133), and won (70), a slew of NFL games. He knows how to prepare for a game (133 total), and a season (9 and counting). He is an adult. He will be more of an asset than a problem.
The Cowboys wanted someone to beat out backup Cooper Rush, and Mike White could not do it. They are returning to the veteran backup plan, which they have done before in recent years with Mark Sanchez, Brad Johnson, Kyle Orton, etc.
If all goes according to plan, Andy Dalton will never take a meaningful snap for the Dallas Cowboys in 2020. If it does not go according to plan, however, Dalton is good enough to move an NFL offense and give them a chance to win the game.
The best backup QBs in the NFL are guys who, in about five games, can not only keep it going but also win three to four starts. Anything beyond that and you’re asking too much of the backup, or the difference between the No. 1 and No. 2 was minimal.
Why Dalton “settled” on being a backup for the Cowboys makes sense for his life. After he finished his TCU career, he and his wife lived in Fort Worth. A few years ago, his growing family moved to Dallas to be closer to his wife’s parents.
Dalton has made more money than he can possibly count, or ever dreamed; by signing with the Cowboys it just gives him the chance to be around all of his family on a regular basis, and retain his spot in the NFL.
Dalton lost his starting spot last season in Cincy, but he still has an NFL job. There are a lot of guys who were “better than Dalton” coming out of college, nearly all of whom would gladly trade their current spots with him right now.
Consider all of the quarterbacks who were drafted in the first two rounds of the 2010, ‘11 and ‘12 classes, and Dalton has a had good run, and life.
2010
Sam Bradford, No. 1
Tim Tebow, No. 25
Jimmy Clausen, No. 48
2011
Cam Newton, No. 1
Jake Locker, No. 8
Blaine Gabbert, No. 10
Christian Ponder, No. 12
Andy Dalton, No. 35
Colin Kaepnerick, No. 36
2012
Andrew Luck, No. 1
Robert Griffin, No. 2
Ryan Tannehill, No. 8
Brandon Weeden, No. 22
Brock Osweiler, No. 57
You will notice Dalton has fared better, and outlasted, nearly all of them. He did so in a place where winning is 19th on the daily To-Do list: Cincinnati.
There will be an adjustment for Dalton in that of the 133 career NFL games he’s played, he started all of them. With a one-year deal he is hardly guaranteed to be back with the Cowboys in 2021.
He has come to the right team, at the right time, for both his life, and this particular NFL franchise.
Andy Dalton is no more of a threat to Dak Prescott to win the starting quarterback job of the Dallas Cowboys than I am a threat to John Legend to win People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive (I’m more of a threat to finish third).
The Cowboys will go so far as Dak takes them, but in Andy Dalton the team has added the best person/player any NFL team could have at that position.
This story was originally published May 4, 2020 at 5:30 AM.
