"It's difficult to imagine tougher circumstances than those facing Andy Dalton.

All he's being asked to do is be the Bengals first rookie quarterback to start an opener in 42 years, and to replace Carson Palmer, who apparently would rather retire than play in Cincinnati.

And he's being asked to do it without the benefit of a normal offseason program.

Yet despite the challenge, Dalton has not ripped out any of his trademark red hair.

In fact, throughout training camp and the preseason, he mostly has had the same quiet and confident demeanor. That's good news for a fan base looking for any thread of hope."