The Cincinnati Bengals and quarterback Andy Dalton reportedly agreed to a surprising six-year, $115 million contract. The deal, though, may be similar to San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick's and give the Bengals the means to release Dalton if the signal caller struggles again in the postseason.
ESPN reported Monday the Bengals had extended Dalton to a six-year contract worth $115 million, (tentatively) making Dalton a Bengal until 2020. Although the specific details of Dalton's new contract haven't yet been released, NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reports the new deal does contain at least some guaranteed money.
"Early word was more fully guaranteed (money) than Kaepertnick's $12.3M," Rapoport tweeted Monday.
Dalton's lack of playoff success makes the Bengals' decision to sign the 26-year-old to a lengthy contract questionable, at best. The Pro Bowler has a 30-18 record in the regular season, but he's 0-3 in three straight playoff appearances with an 18.1 quarterback rating and just one touchdown to six interceptions.
His inability to come through in the big games would seemingly have Cincinnati making sure they have a loophole built into Dalton's contract that allows them to cut ties painlessly with him at the end of any given season without taking a huge monetary hit.
With that in mind, Dalton's contract may be structured like Kaepernick's new deal.
Pro Football Talk reported Kaepernick's extension is guaranteed but not guaranteed. Each year's salary doesn't become fully guaranteed until April 1, which gives San Francisco time to part ways with the quarterback - without losing money - if they decide to go in another direction.
Based on ESPN's report, Dalton would be averaging $19.1 million per season. If Dalton's contract is like Kaepernick's, the base salary number is inflated by incentives. Kaepernick's total payout essentially de-escalates each year, unless he is able to hit certain incentives (ie; take 80 percent of the snaps and make an All-Pro team).
In short, Cincinnati fans likely don't need to worry about being tethered to Dalton for the next six years if he can't win playoff games.
*Read the specifics of Kaepernick's contract HERE.
