Bengals News (10/30): Benching heard around the league

Ryan Finley was named the Bengals starting quarterback as the team looks to refocus for the second half of the season.
Zac Taylor never thought he’d be in this position when he became the Bengals head coach the day after the last Super Bowl. He thought he’d be in the middle of the AFC North race with a play-off veteran quarterback leading the way. But there he was Tuesday in a news conference at the halfway point of the season installing Ryan Finley as the starting quarterback answering questions about trades, re-building and 2020.

Head coach Zac Taylor spoke with the media about the switch from Andy Dalton to Ryan Finley.
“Yes. You never want to put a time table on these type of things, but we need to see the rookie, and it takes more than one game to figure out what you have there. We’re going to give him a chance to prove that.”

Players react to the quarterback change from Andy Dalton to Ryan Finley.
Tyler Boyd, Andy Dalton’s most reliable target these days as the wait for A.J. Green continues, had no idea when he showed up for work Tuesday that Dalton wouldn’t be his starting quarterback when they come back from the bye and the Nov. 10 game against the Ravens at Paul Brown Stadium.

Bengals switch from quarterback Andy Dalton, turn to rookie Ryan Finley.
Except it was Bengals head coach Zac Taylor’s decision to bench quarterback Andy Dalton in exchange for rookie Ryan Finley as the team heads into the bye week. Dalton, the winningest quarterback in Bengals history, saw his nine-season run end on his 32nd birthday after the Bengals failed to score 20 points for the sixth time this season in Sunday’s 24-10 loss to the Rams at Wembley Stadium. Finley's first start comes against the Ravens Nov. 10 at Paul Brown Stadium.

Don't call it a rebuild, but Bengals doing just that by sitting Andy Dalton
But the one on Tuesday between Taylor and his veteran quarterback was different. And given the first eight weeks of the season, it was inevitable. Taylor informed Dalton he was going to be replaced as starting quarterback by rookie Ryan Finley.

2019 NFL trade deadline winners and losers: Bengals waste opportunities, Eagles and Rams on the fence
The 2019 NFL trade deadline came and went with little more than a whimper despite hype from the busyness of years past, as only two teams executed a deal Tuesday -- and even that one was mostly a salary dump, with the Los Angeles Rams offloading the contract of an injured Aqib Talib to the winless Miami Dolphins.

Bengals bench Andy Dalton for rookie Ryan Finley
"Let's go ahead and make the switch and get behind Ryan and try to go win these next couple of games," Bengals coach Zac Taylor of the reasoning behind the move and its timing. "This is not an easy decision to make. We're not 0-8 because of Andy. Andy has worked harder than anyone else in this building to help us win football games. Just a decision I made."

Ryan Finley: 5 things to know about Bengals rookie quarterback
The Bengals traded up six spots - giving up a pair of sixth-round picks - to select Finley in the fourth round - 104th overall - of the 2019 NFL Draft. It was the earliest the Bengals had drafted a quarterback since they took Dalton in the second round in 2011. But offensive coordinator Brian Callahan insisted a short time later that Dalton was the Bengals' quarterback, and that would not change at all with the addition of Finley.

A.J. Green trade deadline: Saints, Eagles linked to make a play, but Bengals don't appear set to deal
The Cincinnati Bengals have begun their "rebuild" by benching franchise quarterback Andy Dalton in favor of Ryan Finley, a byproduct of their 0-8 record to start the season. Cincinnati has publicly stated it will not trade Pro Bowl wide receiver A.J. Green prior to Tuesday's trade deadline, but CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora listed the New Orleans Saints and Philadelphia Eagles as two teams that could try to strike a deal for Green at the final hour by making them an offer they can't refuse.

Bengals’ lack of trades is suddenly a complex situation
But “evaluation” is key here. Fourth-round product Ryan Finley, a guy the Bengals traded up to get and one of two quarterbacks to take official visits to Paul Brown Stadium before the draft (Jake Dolegala, the other, is also on the roster), is now the starter.

Tyler Boyd: Bengals' 0-8 record not Andy Dalton's fault
"Nothing seems to be going right this season. It's not Andy's fault," receiver Tyler Boyd said Tuesday, via the team's official website. "There are plays he wishes he had back out there and every guy in this locker room feels the same way. The quarterback is just the most pressured position. I praise Andy for doing what he's done here. He's got great numbers. A Pro Bowler. He's a No. 1 quarterback in my eyes."

Around the league

Minshew can't 'worry' about Foles' potential return
"It's been crazy," the rookie said of being thrust into the starting lineup. "I knew at some point I'd get an opportunity to play. I didn't think it would be the first quarter of the first game, like how it went. But I've been trying to do my job. A lot of guys have been working hard."

Pineiro reveals hash mark preference after missed FG
"It's just the aiming points," Pineiro said Tuesday, via the Chicago Tribune. "I mean the left hash is going to be a different kick than (from) the right hash. And it's going to be a different kick in the middle."

Around The NFL: Trade Deadline, More Like Dudline
A room filled with some heroes -- Dan Hanzus, Chris Wesseling and Gregg Rosenthal -- brings you all of the latest news from around the NFL including all the trade DUDLINE action (3:57), Andy Dalton's benching (25:29) and the Chargers firing Ken Whisenhunt (36:59). Stick around for a MNF recap where the Dolphins lost again (44:27) and a TNF preview between the 49ers and Cardinals (51:36).

Broncos CB Chris Harris among big names not traded
With defensive lineman Leonard Williams going from the Jets to the Giants and running back Kenyan Drake moving from the Dolphins to the Cardinals on Monday, the day before the deadline turned out to be more noteworthy than the final date for NFL squads to wheel and deal.