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Andy Dalton hands off to Denver running back Willis McGahee during Thursday's AFC Pro Bowl practice.
HONOLULU - For the second time this season the Bengals got a good deal in a trade involving a quarterback. Except this time Thursday morning at the first Pro Bowl practice ever at a military installation, the quarterback himself pulled the trade.
Drawing chants of "Andy, Andy" from a throng of autograph seekers following the AFC's practice at Hickam Air Force Base, Dalton swapped his AFC visor for a camouflage ballcap at the request of Sgt. First Class Lachelle Johnson.
"But you have to sign it, too," Dalton told her.
Done.
A native of Louisville, Ky., Johnson was pretty excited for a veteran who has served stints in Kuwait, Mogadishu and Bosnia twice.
"I'm from the Midwest. I'm a fan. I'm a fan today," she said.
When asked if she'd get in trouble for giving up her hat stamped with her name across the back, one of her friends said, "Probably."
It has to be hard to find a first for a 23-year military veteran, but she admitted she had never done this.
"It's the first time I ever signed a hat for somebody that makes money then the whole United States Army," she said.
Actually, that guy was standing next to Dalton a few minutes earlier chatting up the Bengals rookie during special teams. Ravens middle linebacker Ray Lewis, in his 13th season, was just checking in as the elder statesman.
"He was just asking how things were going and he said, 'Congrats,' " Dalton said. "Just having an old conversation. It's nice to have him on our side."
