2011 NFL Predictions: Cincinnati Bengals Set Up Andy Dalton for Failure

In 2003, the Cincinnati Bengals hit the reset button on their franchise, hoping to turn around a moribund club which had not seen a winning season since 1990.

Owner Paul Brown brought in rookie head coach Marvin Lewis, and then drafted the future face of the franchise, Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer, with the first overall pick of the draft. As a follow-up performance, the Bengals drafted guard Eric Steinbach to protect their investment.

With veteran All-Pro Willie Anderson, the Bengals had the building blocks of a solid offensive line; the emerging Chad Johnson-then-Ochocinco and former first-round pick Peter Warrick provided a receiving duo capable of delivering on a high-powered aerial attack.

Fans predicted Palmer would quickly find his way into the starting lineup, unseating journeyman Jon Kitna and learning the ropes of the NFL in a hurry.

Instead, Kitna posted the best stats of his career. With nearly 3600 passing yards and 26 touchdowns to build his case, Kitna held down the starting gig in 2003 while Palmer sat on the bench and learned the finer points of being an NFL quarterback. Palmer credits Kitna with teaching him what it means to be a professional.

The time to develop paid off; in his second year as a starter, Palmer brought the Bengals their first winning season in 15 years and earned his first of two consecutive Pro Bowl selections. In 2007, he set team records for passing yards and completions.

Cincinnati never could build on the early success of Palmer's career, though. Twice they tried replacing Anderson, first with Levi Jones as his heir apparent in 2002, then Andre Smith in 2009. Neither player lived up to expectations. Steinbach left in free agency in 2007. Ochocinco's production slipped the last three years, enticing the Bengals to sign perennial headache Terrell Owens.

Palmer obviously disapproved of the way the Bengals have gone of late; his threat to retire if not traded attests to that. Cincinnati's front office didn't blink; Palmer remains on the Bengals' roster but hasn't reported to camp.

So now the Bengals have a new rookie quarterback in Andy Dalton, and Cincinnati looks ready to feed him to the wolves. In two preseason games, Dalton boasts the lowest quarterback rating of any quarterback with more than 14 pass attempts per game. The next lowest, Matt Leinart, has nearly double Dalton's 30.9 rating.

Cincinnati brought in Bruce Gradkowski to support Dalton, but a backup isn't what Dalton needs to start his career. Dalton isn't near the complete prospect Palmer was as a rookie, lacks the offensive line support and looks downfield at a group of highly-talented but inexperienced receivers.

What Dalton needs is a Jon Kitna. He needs someone who can take the lumps as the Bengals rebuild their team, and show him the ropes that make up the net ensnaring every starting NFL quarterback. Dalton comes from Texas Christian University and their smaller Mountain West Conference. Moving into the NFL is a huge jump for any college quarterback; Dalton faces a greater gap than most.

Unfortunately, Brown shut the door on Dalton's best chance at learning from an accomplished quarterback. Palmer might have been enticed to stay one more year with the guarantee that he'd be traded following the 2011 season, and mentored Dalton through his rookie year.

Maybe that offer was on the table. But instead, it looks like both sides drew a line in the sand with neither budging an inch. And the person who loses most is Dalton.

Hopefully the Bengals will adjust course and give Dalton time to develop. NFL history already has enough stories of rookie quarterbacks thrown in too early only to flounder the rest of their careers.