Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden visited Texas Christian University's Pro Day on Friday, checking out quarterback Andy Dalton, who threw 50 balls of which none were "uncatchable" according to NFL Network's Gil Brandt. That's not where the team's interest for Dalton ends.
Of the workout and of Dalton's general attitude, Gruden said:
According to Fox Sports' Adam Caplan, Dalton is expected to visit with the Cincinnati Bengals so the team can have a closer look. No word if the team is scheduling a workout yet. The Chicago Bears, Kansas City Chiefs, Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots are confirmed to be conducting private workouts with the quarterback. Along with the Bengals, Dalton will visit with the Minnesota Vikings and Tennessee Titans."You want winners, and that's what he's done his whole career," Gruden said. "There's a lot more to that than people understand. Teammates have to follow you, and believe in you, when times are tough. In key situations, you have to deliver. He's done it time and time again. How can you not be interested in a guy who performs like that?"
The Bengals are going to draft a quarterback this year to groom as a franchise guy in response to quarterback Carson Palmer demanding a trade or retiring. The two sides are in the middle of a stalemate, with the Bengals saying he's not going anywhere and Palmer saying he's at peace with retiring.
Cincinnati already has a private workout planned for Auburn quarterback Cam Newton and Baylor guard Danny Watkins reportedly worked out for the team late last week. They also plan a meeting with Idaho's quarterback Nate Enderle, who very much could be a second quarterback drafted by the team in an effort to rebuild the position from the top-down. We already figured the team would draft a quarterback to groom as a backup, so a quarterback projected in the later rounds, if not an undrafted signing (whenever the CBA is resolved), was very much expected.