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The Cincinnati Bengals moving on from quarterback Andy Dalton wasn’t unexpected.
Yet, Thursday’s move still registered as emotional for anyone who had been around the team at all since his arrival in 2011.
And that’s especially the case for his teammates. Joe Mixon, a clear-cut vocal leader for the clubhouse now, offered his goodbye to Dalton on Instagram:
“Man words can’t explain this. From the 1st day I met you bro. You were the most humble guy I done ever met being in the NFL starting @ QB. You took me in like I belonged here and I just wanna say I appreciate you for all you did for me as a Player on the field and in meetings as well being a Man off the field and all you did for Cincinnati. Can’t thank you enough Bro!”
It’s a nice behind-the-scenes look at player relationships and speaks to the respect Dalton commanded, even in the wake of a trying season where he got benched and it was clear as things continued that the team would be drafting his replacement.
While Dalton’s release was about updating cap space, Mixon’s statement — and one issued by Bengals owner Mike Brown — says it all.
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