Andy Dalton is a Quitter

[masterpanthera_t]

(05-01-2020, 02:32 PM)Bengalholic Wrote: Hell, Boomer wanted out on 2 different occasions and was very public with both.

In '87 he wanted out because of the fans and wasn't shy about saying so:

"I've taken the approach now -- and I've told the coaches, the general manager and the players this -- that if I'm not wanted out here, I sure as hell don't want to be here."

In '93 he wanted out again, this time being even more blunt about it:

"There's no way in the world I want to play for this team again next year. There's no way I can walk into that locker room and play for these coaches next year."

Every situation is different and unique when a QB decides they want to leave a team. Carson was pissed about what he perceived as a lack of commitment, so he chose to go home and refuse to play. Boomer was irritated with his treatment by fans the first time, and his dissatisfaction with being the backup the second time, so he asked to be dealt.

Andy's situation is even more different than those two. The Bengals stated publicly, very early on, that they would 'do right by Andy' out of respect for what he's done here. They weren't able to trade him, so Andy asked for the release and the Bengals quickly granted it. Overall, the situation was handled about as amicably as you hope for, IMO. 

Nice post with context 'Holic.

I've felt from the first day when Carson asked to be traded, that I had no issues with him, whatsoever. I saw that the guy had given his left knee and right elbow, taken the team to the playoffs and gave his best to the team. He spent 7 years and eventually saw that his ultimate goal as an athlete was not achievable under Mike Brown on this team. Whether I agree with if it's true or not doesn't matter. All that matters is that Palmer saw it that way and I'm sure he didn't come to that conclusion without thinking it through. We as fans have no idea how many discussions Palmer had with management before he finally said I've had enough. If it's true (not saying it is, but only if), that MB didn't share the commitment to winning that was needed (and most of the fans on this board would say that it's true from the outside), I have absolutely no issues whatsoever with Palmer saying I'm not putting my health and body on the line for this level of lack of commitment.

As a fan, I'm not privy to either side of that story so there's really nothing for me to rake anyone over the coals with, but I'm probably going to go with MB didn't have that commitment, based on his track record from about 1991 to mid 2000's or so. Yes he paid Carson well, but that probably is simply because Palmer was the first franchise QB MB had after Boomer. He probably would always pay a QB well.

For all I know, maybe Palmer's actions have changed MB's way of doing business. Not completely, since they've let many homegrown quality players walk in FA even though they claim to put a premium on drafting and retaining players. But based on this offseason clearly something has changed and I'm not sure if it's MB's thinking, ZT's influence or Katie's influence or a combination of all of them, but hopefully, this approach will stick (doesn't have to be to this degree every year, but at least a little bit), and we don't go back to operating like we used to.