Andy Dalton (American Football)

Andy Dalton (American Football)

Andrew Gregory Dalton (born October 29, 1987) is an American football quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League. He played college football at Texas Christian University. In his final college game, the 2011 Rose Bowl against the Wisconsin Badgers, Andy Dalton led the Horned Frogs to a 21-19 win over the three point underdog Badgers. He left the TCU program as its all-time leader in wins and many statistical passing categories.

Some draft experts felt that while Dalton's accuracy as a passer, his above-average mobility, and his ability to throw on the run were his high points, his lack of a strong throwing arm was a detriment. He was selected by the Bengals in the second round (thirty-fifth overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft and signed a four-year, $5.2 million contract. New Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden instituted a west coast-style offensive scheme to help maximize Dalton's talents, and he and rookie receiver A.J. Green, the Bengals 2011 first round selection from the University of Georgia, have become a prolific quarterback/receiver combination. Dalton and Green broke NFL records for completions and yards for a rookie quarterback/receiver combination, even without the benefit of an offseason.

Due to his red hair, Dalton has been nicknamed The Red Rifle by Bengals fans. Other nicknames include 007 (shared surname with James Bond actor Timothy Dalton), Roadhouse (the main character in the movie is named Dalton), and Shawshank (the two protagonists in The Shawshank Redemption are named Andy and Red).