Burrow Era begins as Bengals cut QB Dalton
The Cincinnati Bengals cleared the way for No. 1 draft pick to lead the team by releasing quarterback who holds several of the franchise’s passing records but couldn’t lead Cincinnati deep into the playoffs.
The move Thursday gives Dalton, who had a year left on his contract, a chance to compete for a job with another team.
It also clears the way for Burrow to start fresh on a team that hasn’t won a playoff game since the 1990 season, the fifth-longest stretch of futility in NFL history.
Dalton led Cincinnati to its best stretch of playoff appearances — five straight from 2011-15 — but couldn’t get that elusive win. As the offensive line deteriorated and top receiver sustained a series of injuries, Dalton’s results suffered, too.
Dalton, 32, holds Bengals career records for touchdown passes (204) and completions (2,757), surpassing — who also wore No. 14 — for both marks. He also holds club marks for career passer rating (87.5) and games with 300 yards passing.
His 24 game-winning drives also are the most by a Bengals quarterback. His 70-61-2 record as a starter is second-best by a Bengals quarterback with at least 10 starts, trailing
ETC.
League spokesman
said that the 2020 schedule is being planned to be released by the end of next week, with the date for the kickoff game as Thursday, Sept. 10, concluding with Super Bowl 55 on
Feb. 7, 2021 in Tampa.
But the league is planning several contingencies because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“The schedule will come out as normal, but we’re doing reasonable and responsible planning as we always do, inside of game operations,” league executive told The Associated Press. “Based off of what we are learning from the medical community and how people are handling this domestically and abroad, we are being deliberate with reasonable and responsible planning about what can work in our environment and what we can incorporate to protect the health and safety of all involved.”
Empty stadiums, neutral sites and no bye weeks are among several alternatives being discussed.
told a YouTube audience last weekend that he possessed a Bucs playbook for about a month before being traded to Tampa Bay by the New England Patriots, Pro Football Talk reported Wednesday.
ESPN has named
as its new producer for “Monday Night Football” beginning with the upcoming season. Dean has been with the network since 1992. He has been the lead college basketball producer for 12 years and has produced the Women’s Final Four since 1995. He also has produced ESPN’s Saturday night college football games.