Still Searching For A Win, Bengals Replace Andy Dalton With Rookie Ryan Finley

ForbesOut with the old and in with the new – and, if you’re Zac Taylor, hopefully a win.

After beginning his head coaching career with an 0-8 record in Cincinnati, Taylor made the decision Tuesday to remove longtime starting QB Andy Dalton. Taking Dalton’s place will be rookie Ryan Finley. Taylor said the decision had more to do with finding out what Finley has to offer than it does anything Dalton has done wrong.

“The hard thing now is when you’re 0-8 and you made that switch because the quarterback is the problem and that’s the furthest thing from the truth,” Taylor said. “[Dalton’s] done a lot things to keep us going here and he’s spent a lot of time and effort and energy into getting us a win and it hasn’t happened and it’s unfortunate because he’s represented the franchise the right way over the last nine years and he’s done everything you would ask in that regard. Not an easy day. Not an easy conversation.”

Dalton relinquishes the starting reigns after completing 60.4 percent of his passes this season for 2,252 yards, nine touchdowns and eight interceptions. He has a 34.5 QBR. A starter since his rookie year in 2011, Dalton owns a 68-58-2 career record.

Now, however, the winningest quarterback in Bengals history will make way for a novice midseason. Finley, a fourth-round pick this past April, has yet to throw an NFL pass in the regular season, but the North Carolina State product did complete 47 of 64 passes for 414 yards, three touchdowns and one interception during the preseason. He will make his first start against the Ravens at home on Nov. 10.

“I trust that (Finley) is going to make the most out of this opportunity,” Taylor said of his new starter.

The hope is that Finley – along with demonstrating he’s capable of keeping the job long term – can pick up a few victories for Taylor and the Bengals, or at least one. The coach, a Sean McVay disciple, came to Cincinnati highly-respected for his offensive acumen, but he’s yet to notch his first career win.

“Our objective is to win the next game,” Taylor said. “We need to see a rookie. It takes more than one game to figure out what we have there. We’ll give him a chance to do that.”