After the Cincinnati Bengals' franchise quarterback Joe Burrow suffered a ligament tear in his throwing wrist during Week 11, which kept him sidelined for the rest of the season, the Bengals sought help for their most important position.
While backup quarterback Jake Browning did a solid enough job in Burrow's stead, Cincinnati also signed two-time NCAA national champion and former Heisman trophy winner AJ McCarron from the XFL's St. Louis Battlehawks, in case Browning didn't perform up to par.
Yet, with the NFL season ending, Burrow's wrist now having healed, and Browning proving to be a serviceable backup, McCarron has asked the Bengals to release him so that he could return to the UFL.
News of McCarron's requested release came from NFL reporter Howard Balzer, who posted on X saying, "QB AJ McCarron asked to be released by the Bengals (team announced it today) so he can re-sign with the UFL's St. Louis Battlehawks, where he played last season when they were in the XFL. Hearing that he will officially sign Thursday."
QB AJ McCarron asked to be released by the Bengals (team announced it today) so he can re-sign with the UFL's St. Louis Battlehawks, where he played last season when they were in the XFL. Hearing that he will officially sign Thursday.
— Howard Balzer (@HBalzer721) February 14, 2024
Friday morning, the St. Louis Battlehawks posted a video celebrating McCarron's return the franchise — which is now part of the UFL, after the XFL finalized a merge with the USFL to form the UFL this winter.
it?s been a long time coming?? pic.twitter.com/xHRUWX2uK8
— St. Louis Battlehawks (@XFLBattlehawks) February 16, 2024
While McCarron will certainly be taking a pay cut in order to play for the Battlehawks — where he was league MVP last season — instead of the Bengals, the reason he asked Cincinnati to cut him is actually quite wholesome.
Last season, McCarron said that he chose being a starting quarterback in the XFL over being a backup quarterback in the NFL so that his kids could have memories of him playing.
"My 6-year-old loves watching tape of me on YouTube. That's a big reason I chose to return this way ...," McCarron said last year. "I probably could have tried to come back with an NFL team and had a chance to probably make more money, but no one knows what the future holds. I'm enjoying this, and it's a great way to create some memories for me and my boys."
While McCarron ultimately left for Cincinnati after the Battlehawks' season ended and Burrow went down, this request for the Bengals to cut him is proof that McCarron is choosing playing time over paychecks once again.
