Quarterback A. J. McCarron’s complaint to the NFL against his team, the Cincinnati Bengals, was successful and will mark the start of the new league year on 14 January. March Free Agent.
The free agent market is getting a little crowded as McCarron, who not so long ago was heavily involved in trade discussions with the Cleveland Browns, is now joining in.
McCarron filed a complaint against the Bengals as early as November 2017 because they had put him on the Non-Football Injury List in 2014 and did not already call him into the active squad in the training camp, even though he would have been fit. It was only activated on 9. December, too late to get a full year of service time.
This would have given the team control over the player in 2018, even if it was a restricted free agent. A player needs four years of service time to become an Unrestricted Free Agent.
“It’s just a blessing,”McCarron told the Cincinnati Enquirer, and continued:”I would have been blessed anyway, because I would have stayed in the league anyway. I’m still able to play the game for a living, but it’s great to be free now and hopefully get a chance to fight for a regular place somehow. I’m super excited.”
In addition, the referee in charge decided that the CB was also entitled to salary payments which the Bengals had not paid him when he was on the Non-Football Injury List. However, it is not known how high the sum in question is.
As far as his next team is concerned, McCarron is now open to anything:”I’m not talking about money. I just love playing football. Earning the money is great, but I just want to play.”