Report: AJ McCarron files grievance against Bengals, aims to be unrestricted free agent

Cincinnati Bengals backup quarterback AJ McCarron filed a grievance against the team that will determine whether he will be a restricted or unrestricted free agent after this season, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The grievance is over the Bengals placing McCarron on the non-football injury list at the start of training camp in his rookie year in 2014, even though he had passed his post-draft physical.

McCarron believes he was healthy enough to come off the NFI list during training camp, allowing the year to count toward free agency. He wasn't added to the active roster until Dec. 9, preventing the season from counting toward free-agent status, as he wasn't considered eligible to play in the minimum of six regular-season games, as mandated in the collective bargaining agreement.

A ruling from an arbitrator expected sometime this winter would determine McCarron's status at the end of the league year.

Should McCarron be deemed a restricted free agent, the Bengals are likely to place a first-round tender on him, likely limiting the interest of teams willing to sign him.

If McCarron is granted the grievance and allowed to enter unrestricted free agency, he'd be in line for a considerable pay day in the free-agent quarterback class. He could also force the Bengals to choose between himself and incumbent starter Andy Dalton, who has concluded the guaranteed money portion of his contract.