Just when it appeared the Cincinnati Bengals might finally get over the hump this season and win a playoff game, disaster struck last Sunday against the Steelers when quarterback Andy Dalton fractured the thumb on his throwing hand trying to make a tackle after tossing an interception.

Dalton had been having the best season of his career in leading the Bengals to a 10-2 record, and there’s a chance he might be able to return for the playoffs, assuming the Bengals – now 10-3 – reach the postseason.

Second-year quarterback AJ McCarron takes over the reins, and he actually played decently in place of Dalton for most of Sunday’s game.

Expect the Bengals to emphasize the running game and simplify the passing game while McCarron is at the controls.

McCarron led Alabama to a pair of national championships, although lately, the Crimson Tide aren’t exactly known for producing quality NFL quarterbacks.

You have to go all the way back to Bart Starr, Joe Namath and Ken Stabler to find great NFL QBs who played at Alabama.

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It was hardly a surprise earlier this week when Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred rejected Pete Rose’s bid for reinstatement.

Manfred noted that Rose is still gambling – even on baseball – although he is doing it legally in Las Vegas.

The gambling issue has become a bit murkier in baseball considering MLB is backing Daily Fantasy Sports sites like FanDuel, which are nothing more than casinos without all the overhead.

Rose’s main objective in seeking reinstatement is to be elected to the Hall of Fame.

A simple solution without full reinstatement would be to put Rose’s name on the baseball writers’ Hall of Fame ballot one time and see what happens.

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Trivia Time – Carmen Cozza succeeded fellow Miami of Ohio graduate John Pont as Yale University’s head football coach in 1965.

This week’s question – In which round was Bart Starr selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 1956 NFL draft?