KEY POINTS

  • The Dallas Cowboys signed Andy Dalton after he was released by the Cincinnati Bengals 
  • The signing of Dalton was considered controversial given that it happened before finalizing Dak Prescott's contract
  • Andy Dalton shared that he has reached out to Dak Prescott and that they are all good 

Among the Dallas Cowboys’ notable signings this offseason includes Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton. It was reported that Dalton reached out to Dak Prescott to let him know his thoughts about the upcoming season.

While it was a big move by the Cowboys to pick up the veteran quarterback Dalton, it hasn’t been free from criticism. The one-year deal Dalton signed apparently caused quite a stir from around the league, as it seemed like an underhanded move by the front office. The fact that Dalton was able to sign a deal prior to finalizing Prescott’s contract negotiations didn’t sit too well with others.

Former Cowboy Dez Bryant was vocal on this issue as he took to social media to raise his concerns on how negotiations were managed.

“Nothing against Andy Dalton because I think he’s a great player,” Prescott tweeted. “But the cowboys are extremely out of line,” Bryant tweeted.

The former Pro-Bowler Bryant added that the Cowboys have paid Tony Romo before despite their losing record. It gave an impression for Bryant that the Cowboys aren’t prioritizing the quarterback role given how they haven’t finalized the starting position yet.

Despite all of this, Dalton has opened up that he reached out to Prescott. Per Sports Illustrated, Dalton shared that he texted Prescott that he was excited to be part of the Cowboys organization.

"Dak has played really well," Dalton said. "I know the situation I'm coming into. Everybody on the outside might view it that way [as a controversy]. Dak's the starter. If he goes down, I'll step in," he added.

It shows that Dalton is ready to adjust to his new role as a backup to Prescott.

“This is my first time coming in knowing I'm not going to be the starter. I've been around a lot of great backup quarterbacks,” Dalton said.

The Dallas Cowboys have had one of the more successful runs in the offseason so far with the multiple talents they’ve signed. One of their biggest moves aside from the Dalton deal is selecting CeeDee Lamb as the 17th overall pick in the draft.

Expectations are higher for the Cowboys given that the team has improved and veterans like Dalton understand their responsibility for the squad.

Andy Dalton Cincinnati Bengals
Andy Dalton #14 of the Cincinnati Bengals runs with the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Paul Brown Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Andy Lyons/Getty Images
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