Bengals sticking by Dalton despite McCarron pick

The Cincinnati Bengals' selection of AJ McCarron during the fifth round of Saturday's NFL draft does not signal the end of incumbent quarterback Andy Dalton's reign as the team's starting pivot, according  to offensive coordinator Hue Jackson. 

"Andy Dalton is our quarterback and we stand by him 100 percent," Jackson told the Cincinnati Inquirer. "And he has done a tremendous job during the offseason. I am so looking forward to working with all these guys, but obviously he is the leader of our football team. I think he has a bright, bright future ahead of him."

The 26-year-old Dalton, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract, is solid under center during the regular season, but has yet to taste any level of success during the postseason, tossing just a single touchdown against six interceptions in three first-round losses.

McCarron, however, thrived under the bright lights in college, leading Alabama to consecutive national championships in 2012 and 2013.

Despite McCarron's collegiate success, he's still a long way from challenging for the starting gig with the Bengals, and If there is a budding rivalry brewing in Cincinnati, the two quarterbacks aren't showing it.