NFL Notes: A.J. McCarron, Eagles, Titans

A.J. McCarron

• Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that the Browns contacted the Bengals at 3:54 pm on Tuesday that they did, in fact, want to make the trade for QB A.J. McCarron. Cincinnati then emailed the paperwork to the NFL a minute later before the deadline but the Browns didn’t send their paperwork to the NFL. Instead, they sent their documents to the Bengals to sign and then send to the NFL.
• According to Cabot, Cincinnati never saw the email because it was sent by Sashi Brown’s assistant, Chris Cooper, and emailed to Bengals Player Personnel Director Duke Tobin, who was forwarding their information to the NFL.
• Cabot says that even if the Browns had copied the NFL on the document they sent to the Bengals, the trade still would have been disapproved, considering that the documentation didn’t match. To make matters worse, the conditions of the trade didn’t match either.
• After realizing what was happening, the Browns called the NFL but Cabot says it was already too late to fix the paperwork and complete the trade.
• Interestingly enough, Bengals owner Mike Brown was actually the “driving force” behind the trade, according to Cabot. Although, others in the Browns’ organization like Tobin weren’t thrilled about making the trade.
• Sources tell Cabot that while there was talk that the front office may not have been sold on the deal, both Sashi Brown and HC Hue Jackson were “were working together feverishly to get it done” but started the process too late.
• If you’re interested in this topic, I recommend you click the link above. Cabot’s article is very thorough and includes information regarding the Browns and Bengals, as well as Cleveland’s level of interest in Jimmy Garoppolo.

Eagles

• The Eagles officially promoted QB Nate Sudfeld to their active roster to prevent the Colts from signing him away.
• Adam Caplan reports that the Eagles actually signed Sudfeld to a two-year contract, which gives him a chance to have a full offseason and training camp with the Eagles.

Titans

In the hours leading up to the NFL trade deadline, there was some speculation that the Cowboys could have interest in Titans RB DeMarco Murray.

On Thursday Murray dismissed any speculation that he might have been traded back to the Cowboys.

“I think that was just all speculation by more social media, fans, and obviously people talking about going to Dallas still, but I’m happy here,” Murray said, via Jason Wolf of the Tennessean. “They’re happy to have me here. And I’ve been fortunate to be a part of the Titans organization for the last two years, and I see myself retiring here and being a great asset here moving forward. I wasn’t obviously worried about it. I think it was all more speculation of what’s going on down there in Dallas. I’m happy here, ready to improve and help this team win.”

Murray added that he doesn’t think the odds are very good he’ll ever play for the Cowboys again, and he’s looking forward to continuing his career with Tennessee.

“I think that’s been circulating every year since I left there and I think the chances of me going back there is probably close to Roger Staubach coming back and playing for them, too,” Murray said of the rumors.

“I’m focused on this team, helping this team win and I’m excited to be here, excited to be a Titan and hopefully I can continue to do that for a while.”