If any team is thinking of making a trade offer for Bengals backup quarterback A.J. McCarron, Marvin Lewis has some advice: Save your breath.

 

Lewis told PFT’s Mike Florio at today’s league meeting that if a team calls with an offer for McCarron, the Bengals will respectfully decline.

 

After Andy Dalton suffered a season-ending hand injury in Week 14 last season, McCarron came in and played fairly well, with six touchdowns and two interceptions over the Bengals’ last four games. It’s possible that some quarterback-needy team could view McCarron as an upgrade over what it has now, but the Bengals think McCarron is too valuable as Dalton’s backup to trade away.

 

Marvin Lewis: Bengals won’t trade A.J. McCarron | ProFootballTalk

Glad to hear it.

That is the smart decision.

Good move for now, what does AJ have 3 years left on his deal till FA?

 

My thought that if McCarron is still here by the end of this deal, Andy wont be.

No brainer IMO. Just look at the Cowboys last year having a decent team until Romo goes down, then with no backup just become awful.

No brainer IMO. Just look at the Cowboys last year having a decent team until Romo goes down, then with no backup just become awful.

 

Agreed and the beauty is in a year or two, when they draft that 5th round QB from Timbucktoo U, he could be the next Brady.

I would never say never. If someone wants to empty the bank (and I'm not talking just about dollars here), then I'd at least have to consider. I'm not saying you're going to get a Herschel Walker type of deal in return, but if you got a quality starter in a spot that you were already thin in, plus a couple of (or more) draft choices...then, yeah, I'm going to take that call and at least listen.

I'd be curious to see if anyone was interested in McCarron. If he has potential to be an NFL starter, wouldn't Hue Jackson be trying to pry him away from the Bengals? I can see Zimmer passing in Minny or Gruden in Washington. The Browns are desperate. Maybe Hue is afraid of how another Palmer type of deal would look.

I'd be curious to see if anyone was interested in McCarron. If he has potential to be an NFL starter, wouldn't Hue Jackson be trying to pry him away from the Bengals? I can see Zimmer passing in Minny or Gruden in Washington. The Browns are desperate. Maybe Hue is afraid of how another Palmer type of deal would look.

Why would Hue be interested in AJ when he has some pretty solid selections that can be under club control for several years available at the top of the draft?

I'd be curious to see if anyone was interested in McCarron. If he has potential to be an NFL starter, wouldn't Hue Jackson be trying to pry him away from the Bengals? I can see Zimmer passing in Minny or Gruden in Washington. The Browns are desperate. Maybe Hue is afraid of how another Palmer type of deal would look.

 

Hue probably knows what the price tag would be to pry him away and doesn't want to go that route.

I'd be curious to see if anyone was interested in McCarron. If he has potential to be an NFL starter, wouldn't Hue Jackson be trying to pry him away from the Bengals? I can see Zimmer passing in Minny or Gruden in Washington. The Browns are desperate. Maybe Hue is afraid of how another Palmer type of deal would look.

 

Your last sentence is probably exactly why. The Bengals wouldnt give him up at least they get at least a 1st rounder. Considering he already did a deal like that with the Bengals for Palmer. I don't think he wants to chance it again.

Why would Hue be interested in AJ when he has some pretty solid selections that can be under club control for several years available at the top of the draft?

 

Because he wont survive long enough to see a rookie qb succeed. A veteran, if we can call AJ that, gives him a better chance to win now and keep his job.

Because he wont survive long enough to see a rookie qb succeed. A veteran, if we can call AJ that, gives him a better chance to win now and keep his job.

Well, that may be true, but I think the league has seen a trend of drafting a guy, sticking with him and building. Jacksonville, Minnesota, Tennessee all on the uptick.

I'd be curious to see if anyone was interested in McCarron. If he has potential to be an NFL starter, wouldn't Hue Jackson be trying to pry him away from the Bengals? I can see Zimmer passing in Minny or Gruden in Washington. The Browns are desperate. Maybe Hue is afraid of how another Palmer type of deal would look.

 

You think Hue left for Cleveland and Marvin said, "ok take what you want from my roster." Im sure there was a discussion between the two of them of who Hue could go after and who he couldnt, even the FA guys.

I think Hue is loyal to Marvin and wouldn't poach any of his players. However, I think that if he felt strongly that AJ could be a high level starter in the NFL that he'd at least have to make that phone call and ask about availability. If Marvin says no, then the answer is no and you move on. Hue is in a tough spot IF he has interest in McCarron. After all, he didn't trade for Palmer to help the Bengals, he traded to save his job based on the qb situation he was dealt in Oakland.