An arbitrator has ruled Cincinnati Bengals quarterback AJ McCarron will be an unrestricted free agent when the NFL's 2018 business year begins at 3 p.m. CST March 14.
The four-year contract that McCarron signed as a rookie runs out at that time. NFL Network and ESPN reported on Thursday afternoon that the quarterback had won his grievance against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The independent arbitrator weighed the merits of McCarron's contention that he should become an unrestricted free agent against the Bengals' belief that the former Alabama All-American should be a restricted free agent in 2018.