Bengals left tackle Andrew Whitworth has spent much of his career protecting quarterback Andy Dalton on the field.

 

In the wake of Dalton’s disastrous outing against the Browns last Thursday, Whitworth now finds himself protecting Dalton off the field as well. Whitworth expressed confidence Monday that Dalton would bounce back from his poor night and that the bad night isn’t a sign that Dalton has reached some kind of career crossroads.

 

“I don’t think he’s at a critical point,” Whitworth said, via the Cincinnati Enquirer. “He’s played a lot of good football. He himself said he didn’t play his best. We all have games like that. He’s a guy that at the end of the day, his character and who he is will always prevail in the end. He’ll find a way to fix what he needs to fix and do better because it means the world to him. I’ll always say until somebody shows me that that kind of character doesn’t work, I’ll always believe in it.”

 

Chances are good that Dalton will be better in New Orleans than he was last Thursday, if only because it would be hard for him to be worse. Any claims that he’s fixed what needs to be fixed are going to have to wait until at least the end of the season, however, and any more prime time or playoff meltdowns are going to make it hard to keep arguing that Dalton is going to prevail in the end.

 

Andrew Whitworth: Andy Dalton will bounce back | ProFootballTalk

Sometimes I don't know what is worse, Dalton's play or Whitworth's mouth.

I'm curious what you expected him to say.

Well, Dalton doesn't have to do much to bounce back from last week. All he has to do is not have the worst game of his career 2 weeks in a row. I'd say he can manage that.

I'm curious what you expected him to say.

 

Agree. What else can he say? If he says nothing then its "Bengals won't comment on Dalton's Very Bad Day". If he says, "Dalton stinks we need to get a better QB" then all heck breaks loose.

 

I think he said exactly what he needed to say. And he is right. Dalton has played better and he did not play well and admitted it.

I'm curious what you expected him to say.

 

Nothing.

I don't take exception to anything Whitworth said other than I do think Dalton is at a critical point and I would expect a veteran player to support the team's on field leader.

Dalton will bounce back and have some more good games and then some bad and so on. But will you ever trust him in January in Denver or NewEngland? My point is Dalton is a pretty good QB at times and will have some really good games, espercially if given the time to throw. However, I am afraid is is not the man that will lead you to the promiseland of an AFC championship or Superbowl. It ain't happening. Along with that, you have one of the worst in-game coaches in the history of the sport, so there is really no genuine hope of a deep playoff run for this franchise.

I agree with everyone that Dalton will bounce back too, he always has, but that doesn't change the fact that Dalton is average at best and chokes in big games.

I agree with everyone that Dalton will bounce back too, he always has, but that doesn't change the fact that Dalton is average at best and chokes in big games.

 

I agree that Dalton is average and chokes in big games......but Whit did not say anything contrary to that. All he said is he is not at a critical point yet and I agree with that. If the Bengals miss the playoffs and Dalton plays badly the rest of the year then he will be at the critical point. Or if the Bengals hold on and make the playoffs and Dalton flops big in the playoff game then he is at a critical point.

I agree that Dalton is average and chokes in big games......but Whit did not say anything contrary to that. All he said is he is not at a critical point yet and I agree with that. If the Bengals miss the playoffs and Dalton plays badly the rest of the year then he will be at the critical point. Or if the Bengals hold on and make the playoffs and Dalton flops big in the playoff game then he is at a critical point.

 

The point I am making is Whit (or anyone for that matter) isn't adding anything.

The point I am making is Whit (or anyone for that matter) isn't adding anything.

 

I assume the reporter sought him out and asked him the questions. If so then he really has to answer. To not answer would certainly be seen as a no confidence vote on Dalton which would be worse. Answer as blandly as you can as he did and move on. No team damage done.

I assume the reporter sought him out and asked him the questions. If so then he really has to answer. To not answer would certainly be seen as a no confidence vote on Dalton which would be worse. Answer as blandly as you can as he did and move on. No team damage done.

 

I think more damage is done by talking about it. And no he doesn't have to answer. Whit can dictate to reporters and if they don't like it they can hit the road.

I cannot fault Whitworth for defending a teammate. While the outside world is apoplectic about Dalton's play Thursday night, Dalton is Whitworth's teammate (and his QB) and he has to have his back.

I think more damage is done by talking about it. And no he doesn't have to answer. Whit can dictate to reporters and if they don't like it they can hit the road.

 

I'm not sure that is totally true. Whit does not have to talk but someone does per the NFL.

 

NFL Media Policy

 

WEEKLY LOCKER ROOM ACCESS – Beginning no later than the week prior to the opening of the regular season through the playoffs, each club will open its locker room during the normal practice week (based on a Sunday game) on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to all accredited media for player interviews for a minimum of 45 minutes. While the actual interviews may be conducted outside the locker room at the club’s or player’s request, the media must be allowed to make the interview request in person to the player in the locker room. For the purposes of this policy, Tuesday is treated as the players’ day off.

 

The minimum 45-minute daily interview time on four days of the practice week will be set at the club’s discretion, but it should occur when players are available and free of other club commitments. It is the club’s responsibility to deliver access to all players during this time period and each player’s responsibility to cooperate.

 

It should be noted that several clubs afford media access both before and after practice on a daily basis. Clubs should consider if possible, based on the team’s daily schedule, dividing the open locker room period into two – i.e. a pre-practice session for 30 minutes and a post-practice window of 15 minutes. From a club perspective, it would offer options on fulfilling multiple requests for the same player (i.e. opponents’ conference call and general requests from local media). For the media, they would have two windows in which to speak to players.

 

If a club has its only daily interview session prior to practice, the head coach should be available to answer post-practice questions, and the club should make its best effort to have players available for post-practice questions if requested. If the locker room is open to the media following practice, the club must screen the shower area from view and distribute appropriate clothing, e.g. wrap-around towels or robes, for player privacy.

 

A club PR staff member must be present in the locker room at all times during the open locker room period. When the open locker room period has ended, this PR staff member should announce that the locker room is officially closed and that media access has concluded.

 

If a team gives its players two days off after a game, meaning no team meetings or practice on Monday (in addition to the typical Tuesday off day), the team must arrange for key players to be available to local media on Monday. The purpose is to ensure player availability between Sunday and Wednesday for media that are reporting on your team every day. This ensures compliance with the requirement that the locker room be open four days during the practice week for player interviews.