Lessons from Andy Dalton – Bengals weren’t good enough with him.

By STEVE KING

The Browns should learn some lessons from Andy Dalton. The release of the longtime quarterback by in-state rival Cincinnati Bengals recently provides a learning opportunity for every NFL team.

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That is, if a team wants to be a legitimate contender for the Super Bowl year-in and year-out, then it has to have a quarterback who will rise to the occasion in all those big-game situations needed to get there.

Dalton wasn’t that guy, and hasn’t been for a long, long time.

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To be sure, he was very good in the regular season – he looked like a world-beater, in fact, in making the Bengals appear to be contenders – but in the postseason when the lights got so much brighter and each snap, each throw became so much bigger, he shrunk. He failed to deliver, or really anything even close to it.

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Yes, I know that one-time Brown Trent Dilfer was the Super Bowl-winning quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens once, but that was an anomaly because it was driven by a historic defense and it happened 20 years ago. The game isn’t played like that anymore. It just isn’t. Offense – and outstand quarterback play — rules the roost now more than it ever has.

And if you disagree with that, then think back to the Super Bowl three months ago. The Kansas City Chiefs came roaring back from a big deficit midway through the fourth quarter on the arm – and guts and confidence and leadership – of Patrick Mahomes. After the Chiefs went ahead, the 49ers got the ball back and had plenty of time to regain the lead, but quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo failed terribly on the drive. He was overwhelmed. He looked totally incapable of making any kind of play, let alone all those big ones that Mahomes pulled off down the stretch.

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If you think the 49ers’ deep thinkers, including head coach and former Browns offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, didn’t notice that, too, and are not at all concerned about it going forward, you’re kidding yourselves.

They’re a bit afraid – they’re not worried sick yet, but it’s treading in that direction – that Garoppolo may be the second coming of Dalton.

Along those same lines, there is some – not a lot. but more like just a little – concern in Baltimore about quarterback Lamar Jackson. Lamar has twice led the Ravens into the playoffs as the AFC North champions. He was lights-out last year in winning the NFL MVP award in a landslide. Not bad for a guy who has been in the league for just two years.

But – but! – in both of those seasons, he has flamed out miserably in the first playoff game, looking nothing at all like he did in the regular season as the Ravens were upset at home.

Now, let’s not confuse Jackson with Dalton. Jackson has much, much more ability and potential. He could be a great one for a long time.

But for that to happen, he has to start doing it in the playoffs.

Just ask the Cincinnati Bengals, and Andy Dalton.

Cleveland Browns:

• “Browns GM: We’ve been clear we see Odell Beckham Jr. as a ‘long-term member of the organization’” (CBS)
• Missing Cleveland Stadium (Browns Daily Dose)
• “Berry expects ‘fantastic’ year from Baker Mayfield under new coach” (BrownsZone)
• The beginning of the Dawg Pound (Browns Daily Dose)
• “Round 6 steal? Urban Meyer calls Browns’ Donovan Peoples-Jones ‘a top-10 draft pick’” (CantonRep) 
• “Grant Delpit brings natural free safety ability to make plays for Browns — and yes, he needs to tackle better: Film review” (cleveland.com) 
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