The Cincinnati Bengals suffered another disappointing playoff loss on Sunday against the San Diego Chargers and the narrative coming out of the city right now is that Andy Dalton is not the big-game quarterback that Cincy needs and with that comes a report that in 2011, owner Mike Brown wanted Colin Kaepernick, but he followed Jay Gruden's preference and took Dalton.
According to Pro Football Talk, an article in the Cincinnati Enquirer detailed the decision and with Dalton losing three straight playoff games and tossing six picks in that time, some may wonder if the team made the wrong choice. The article says that Brown liked the mobility of Kaepernick, but that Gruden wanted Dalton because he fit in his offense more and the rest is history. The move may look bad now, with Kaepernick going to the Super Bowl and winning on Sunday in Green Bay, but Dalton has led his team to three straight playoff appearances and not many QBs can say that.
The team had its first home game during that span this season and now many are wondering whether Dalton is the long term answer in Cincy. Marvin Lewis and Gruden have done a good job with Dalton, who had his first 4,000 yard season this year, but there will always be doubters and the Kaepernick report doesn't help with that either. The team now has some major questions and in the draft they could go after names like Marqise Lee, C.J. Mosley or Mike Evans or even Derek Carr if they want another QB in the stable.
From PFT:
"I like this guy," Brown said of Kaepernick, according to the report. "He has unusual mobility."
Gruden replied, "I want Dalton. He fits what I want to do."
