Long-time Cincinnati Bengals starting quarterback Andy Dalton - a free agent who played last season for the Dallas Cowboys - agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Chicago Bears, the team announced Wednesday.
On Thursday, Dalton told reporters that one of the reasons he wanted to come to Chicago was that the Bears told him he will start:
Dalton's deal is for $10 million with the chance to earn another $3 million in incentives, according to a report Tuesday evening via Twitter from ESPN's Adam Schefter.
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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.
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.
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.
One of Dalton's receivers in Cincinnati, Marvin Jones, reportedly is signing a two-year, $14.5 million deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars after spending the past five seasons with the Detroit Lions.
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.
DeAngelo Hall said earlier this 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 Thursday that to go to an organization ready to win now is "unbelievable."
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