Andy Dalton: Bengals won't draft a QB to compete with me

Despite repeated cries from football analysts for the Cincinnati Bengals to consider moving on from starting quarterback Andy Dalton and draft a quarterback in May, it doesn't sound like the team has any interest in doing so.

"From everything they've told me, they’re not bringing in anybody to compete," Dalton told Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com.

He added: "Everything that Marvin has said, Hue has said and everybody here has told me that and has told everybody that [I'm the face of the franchise]. I’m confident of that. I hope to spend a lot of my career here."

Hobson points out that Dalton is one of an elite list of five quarterbacks to make the playoffs in each of his first three seasons as a pro.

What he doesn't discuss is how awful Dalton looked in each of those three playoff games. There are serious questions about whether the 2011 second-rounder's development has plateaued and whether he'll ever be good enough to deliver the Bengals to the Super Bowl.

As Dalton nears the conclusion of his rookie contract, the Bengals have a major decision to make about his future. Both parties have expressed an interest in a contract extension, but Dalton won't be cheap.