CHARLOTTE, NC — Andy Dalton threw his arms in the air as a football zipped through a narrow window into the receiver’s arms during a red zone drill.
drop!
Can you feel excited.
It was just a moment from a recent off-season workout. But it reminded anyone who saw that the competitive spirit Dalton possessed in 2011 as a second-round pick by the Cincinnati Bengals was still there as he began his 13th season in the NFL, this season with the Carolina Panthers.
It was a reminder that a three-time Pro Bowl selection still has the talent to be a full-time starter, though he accepts that his role is to help mentor Bryce Young, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft, to become a Week 1 starter.
“I definitely think I’m still one of the 32 [best] “But I know that’s not the position I’m in,” Dalton told ESPN.com. “My whole goal is to kind of set an example and … not necessarily set the standard but show how it’s supposed to end.”
Plays like the one Dalton made in the red are a good example of why the 35-year-old might be the perfect mentor for Young.
Coach Frank Reich said of Dalton: “He coaches at a very high level. I don’t want to sell this for less than how impressive he is on the field.”
“But it’s equally impressive how he handles the role he’s in, knowing we’ve drafted the first guy…how he helps him out, but still competes with him, and figuring out what the plan is.”
The plan is to have Young ready for the Atlanta Falcons’ September 10 opener. The former Alabama star did nothing to suggest that wouldn’t happen, given the way he progressed on Reich’s offense.
Dalton catches this, reminding us that he’s not here to “compete with Price” and as soon as Young shows he’s ready, he’ll be named the starter. That’s why Young gets more repetitions in practice and spends a lot of time with the first team like Dalton, who is still listed first on the depth chart.
“But for me personally, I’m going in with the mentality of wanting to show everyone the kind of player I am,” said Dalton, who last March signed a two-year, $11 million contract with $8 million guaranteed.
By doing so, Dalton showed what kind of person he is. He set aside his ego that sets off wanting to be the initiator and used that energy to help show Jung what it takes to succeed.
Reich said, “Price learned from him, not just by listening to him in the boardroom but by watching him. Anyone who talks to Price knows… He’s instantly your intellectual equal. But Andy has a lot of experience, and what I love Andy’s is that he doesn’t overdo it.
“It has this perfect balance of just enough but not too much.”
The situation is similar to 2011, when the Panthers drafted Cam Newton with the top pick and signed five-year veteran Derek Anderson to be his backup, knowing Anderson could start if needed.
“[Anderson] Understands the situation and set of circumstances. But at the same time, I told Derek there was no reason to accept a back seat.
Dalton takes this approach.
“I don’t think I would say I agree [being the backup] It’s the right wording for it,” Dalton said. “There’s a truth to it. No matter what role I’m in, I’ve been in a lot of different roles since my nine years in Cincinnati. But I’ve played everywhere I’ve been.
‘I know what I am capable of doing.”
Dalton started 133 games in his nine years with the Bengals, winning 70-61-2. He went 50-26 and got Cincinnati to the playoffs his first five seasons, twice as a division champion. His biggest fall was going 0-4 in the playoffs, throwing one touchdown pass to six interceptions.
But Dalton ranks fourth among active quarterbacks with 86 career wins, behind only Aaron Rodgers (150), Russell Wilson (108) and Matthew Stafford (89).
His 13 wins in the past three seasons with the Dallas Cowboys (4-5), Chicago Bears (3-3) and New Orleans Saints (6-8) is about the same as the Panthers’ 17 over that span with five different starting quarterbacks.
He was ninth in passer rating (95.2), 10th in completion percentage (66.7%), and 21st in total quarterback (50.7) last season with the Saints.
“There’s just a moment,” Dalton said of being an aide or mentor, “Okay, I know the situation I have to get into.” But that doesn’t necessarily mean that I see myself that way.”
Young, for one, is “extremely grateful” that Dalton exists.
He said, “I ask a bunch of questions. I’m watching him during the operation, how are his feet, how are his eyes. He comes back, he’ll talk to me, and say why did he go there why did he go here.”
“Verily, how he carries himself, how he behaves himself. It is evident with all his might.”
Quarterbacks coach Josh McCown said Dalton has been invaluable in teaching young people things like team presence.
Like, “Think about the play before you get into the huddle, and say it with confidence,” McCown said. “Andy puts into practice everything we talk about in the midroom. He puts the meat on the bone.”
Dalton embraced the role to a level where he felt “good” every time he helped Young.
Dalton said, “He’s insanely talented, and he does everything the right way. And it’s fun to be a part of that and see that and help him become the player I know he can be.”
At the same time, Dalton still believes he can help Carolina win if he gets called upon. This is why moments like the red zone drop still activate it.
“The desire to compete, the desire to be the guy to help your team win, that will never leave,” said Dalton. “And as soon as that happens, I will stop playing.”