Andy Dalton is a free agent, which is great news for these teams

And we have now arrived at one of the places where Dalton can semi-realistically have an opportunity to win the starting job. The New England Patriots will have to learn to party like it’s 1999, as that was the last year Tom Brady wasn’t on their team. Though they may want to see what former fourth-rounder Jarrett Stidham has to offer, he’s simply not going to fool us.

We can sense the Patriots will take a dip down in the AFC East standings this year, but why would head coach Bill Belichick want to waste one of his better defenses. With competent quarterback play, this team can go 10-6, win the division and host an improbable home playoff game. Do you think Belichick will want to leave it to chance with Stidham or his backup Brian Hoyer? Me neither.

Maybe there was a reason Robert Kraft had his production company film the Bengals’ sidelines ahead of the Patriots game last year? Did they want to get a closer look at a potential Brady replacement in Dalton? The Bengals already don’t like the Patriots for this reason. Now they’ll hate them if Dalton goes to Foxborough and starts winning playoff games for the Evil Empire.

It remains to be seen how petty Belichick is, but Dalton spite wins in New England sounds too good to pass up. Now he’s a free agent and can sign anywhere. Belichick may have wanted to see if he could bring back his former quarterback Jacoby Brissett in a deal with the Indianapolis Colts, but offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels leaving Chris Ballard at the altar brought an end to that.