NFL Rumors: Cincinnati Bengals want to extend Andy Dalton

Not everybody believes in Cincinnati Bengals’ quarterback Andy Dalton.

Fortunately for Dalton, Bengals’ head coach Marvin Lewis does have faith in him.

“We are hopeful we can get a deal done that works and Andy can put it behind him,” Lewis told Paul Dehner Jr of The Cincinnati Enquirer. “He can get back focusing on football. He doesn’t have to go into the season and worry about this contract thing, every week someone is going to ask him a question … all those things that come into play later on. Let’s get it behind us.”

Lewis hopes a deal is done soon so they can turn their attention elsewhere.

“We are hopeful we can get a deal done that doesn’t preclude us from doing everything else we also want to continue to do — and soon — because we are sitting on a chunk of cap in order to get him done and continue to put the team together around him,” Lewis said.

Last season, Dalton completed 363 of 586 passes for 4,293 yards with 33 touchdowns and 20 interceptions.