Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton says he is face of the franchise

Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton threw a career-high 33 touchdown passes last season. (John Grieshop/Getty Images)

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton says he believes he is the face of the franchise and thinks the team will sign him to a long-term deal soon.

Dalton will be in the final season of a $5.2 million deal signed after being drafted in the second round of the 2011 NFL draft.

During the first day of the team's voluntary offseason program, Dalton was asked if he thinks he is the face of the franchise.

“I do,’ Dalton said, via the team's website. “Everything that Marvin has said, Hue has said and everybody here has told me that and has told everybody that. I’m confident of that. I hope to spend a lot of my career here.”

“That’s what both sides have to do. We’re obviously comparing guys in the first three years, what they’ve done and what they’re doing now,” Dalton said. “That’s how we’ve come up with what we’re wanting. I’m not worried about it. I’ll them handle it.”

Dalton threw for 334 yards, with a touchdown and two interceptions in Cincinnati's playoff loss to San Diego Chargers and is still looking for his first playoff victory.

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