North Charlotte Today

The Carolina Panthers have extended the contract of backup quarterback Andy Dalton for two more seasons. This decision reflects not only his capabilities as a player and mentor but also his attention to detail in various pursuits.

Dalton, known for his artistic skills, has been drawing opposing team logos since last season. "I wanted to get it just right," he said, showing pride in his work. His teammate JJ Jansen praised Dalton's diverse talents, saying, "He's an excellent tennis player... there's a lot of little nuances that he's just very good at."

However, Dalton's focus on details sometimes leads to frustration when things don't go as planned. Last season, during a practice session without regular holder Johnny Hekker, Dalton was unexpectedly called upon to hold for field goals. He expressed frustration with special teams coach Tracy Smith for the lack of preparation time: "I want to make sure I know what I'm doing and I want to get some practice at it."

Despite the unexpected situation, Dalton took responsibility for missed kicks during practice and sought additional practice afterward. Jansen recalled Dalton's determination: "He was really upset because he's like, no, I want to do this now because I want to be good at this."

Dalton's commitment extends beyond football; he is also dedicated to helping develop starting quarterback Bryce Young. Young appreciates their relationship: "Me and Andy are super close... having a guy like that who really does it for the right reasons and wants to help is super rare."

General manager Dan Morgan acknowledged their bond: "Andy's a really supportive teammate... him and Bryce have a super close relationship." The team's management values this connection and sees potential in continuing with Dalton.

Dalton chose to stay with the Panthers despite potential interest from other teams in free agency. He expressed confidence in the team's direction: "The trajectory of this team is trending in the right direction... you want to be part of it."

While focused on football, Dalton remains open to future projects or roles within the organization if needed.