Long-time Cincinnati Bengals starting quarterback Andy Dalton, who entered this offseason as a free agent after playing last season with the Dallas Cowboys, told reporters last week that one of the reasons he wanted to come to Chicago was that the Bears told him he will start for them.
The Bears made that clear on Wednesday night with a tweet:
Last Wednesday, the team announced that Dalton had agreed to terms on a one-year deal.
Dalton's deal is for $10 million with the chance to earn another $3 million in incentives, according to a report last week from ESPN's Adam Schefter.
The deal reunites Dalton with Bears offensive coordinator Bill Lazor, the Bengals' offensive coordinator during the 2017 and 2018 seasons who also served as former head coach Marvin Lewis' quarterbacks coach during the 2016 season.
The Bears are scheduled to face the Bengals in Chicago during the 2021 season. Dalton and the Cowboys routed the Bengals, 30-7, in December.
Dalton, who signed a one-year deal with the Cowboys last May, started nine of the 11 games in which he played last season, completing 216 of 333 attempts (64.9%) for 2,170 yards with 14 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
The Bengals' starting QB from 2011 to 2019 trails only Ken Anderson among Cincinnati's all-time leaders in passing yardage.
DeAngelo Hall said last week on NFL Network that he thought Tyrod Taylor would've been a "much better upgrade over Andy Dalton" for the Bears.
Dalton's former teammate, Cardinals receiver A.J. Green, told reporters last Thursday that to go to an organization ready to win now is "unbelievable."
Another of Dalton's receivers in Cincinnati, Marvin Jones, signed a two-year, $14.5 million deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars after spending the past five seasons with the Detroit Lions.
Earlier this month, NFL.com analyst David Carr wrote that Dalton was among the top 10 quarterbacks worth pursuing via free agency, 2021 NFL Draft or trade. Dalton, who will turn 34 in October, ranked 10th on Carr's list.
Last month, Pro Football Focus called Dalton the riskiest NFL free agent at quarterback.
ESPN's Ed Werder tweeted one year ago that the Bears were focused on acquiring Dalton or Nick Foles. They traded for Foles two weeks later.
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