Cleveland botched trade with Cincinnati for AJ McCarron in the most Browns way possible

BarDown Staff

Jason Miller/Getty Images

Usually trade deadline day in the NFL is quiet, but this year that wasn't the case as some big names were dealt on Tuesday before the deadline.

#Dolphins trade RB #JayAjayi to the #Eagles for a 4th-round pick, according to multiple reports. Thoughts? 🤔

A post shared by TSN (@tsn_official) on Oct 31, 2017 at 6:33am PDT

Once the deadline was over, though, a lot of people were talking about the deal that wasn't, and of course it involved the Cleveland Browns.

Bengals and Browns actually agreed to AJ McCarron trade at 3:55 pm, per source involved. Bengals approved trade to NFL, Browns did not.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 31, 2017

The Browns are a disaster once again this season, but they wanted to use the trade deadline to get a quarterback they believed could help turn their franchise around.

Unfortunately for the franchise and their fans, they botched the trade in the most Browns way possible:

Browns disputed proposed AJ McCarron trade to NFL, arguing it should be allowed, per source. NFL declined - no trade, officially, per source
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 31, 2017

NFL rejected Browns request to overturn AJ McCarron trade. Even though Browns’ notification of trade arrived moments too late, NFL said no.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 31, 2017

#Bengals turned in paperwork by 4 ET deadline on AJ McCarron trade. #Browns did not, league source confirms (as @AdamSchefter said). No deal
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 31, 2017

Basically the trade was in place, but based on the reports we've seen, the Browns didn't notify the NFL in time and as you can imagine, the internet had a field day making fun of the Browns for what happened.

AJ McCarron, when he found out he was going to be traded to the Browns, but the Browns didn’t get the trade in on time: pic.twitter.com/RjDcuyIpMf
— NOTSportsCenter (@NOTSportsCenter) October 31, 2017

When you hear your trade to the Browns didn't go through in time. pic.twitter.com/qeASx5x0xm
— Arrogant Urban Meyer (@ArrogantUrban) October 31, 2017

What happened to the #Browns approval in the trade for AJ McCarron ... pic.twitter.com/6Mlk0yO245
— Steven R. Walker (@Steve_R_Walker) October 31, 2017

There needs to be a Netflix Documentary on how this Browns/Bengals trade never happen--I've never heard of this in over 35 years in NFL
— Michael Lombardi (@mlombardiNFL) November 1, 2017

Wait, all it took to get Garoppolo was a high 2? How did the Browns not get that trade done before the draft?
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) October 31, 2017

Grossi says that apparently the Browns were celebrating their trade and forgot to call in the deal before the deadline...
— Aaron Goldhammer (@HammerNation19) October 31, 2017

So it looks like the Browns either accidentally or deliberately failed to finalize the McCarron trade. I'm not sure which is worse.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) October 31, 2017

Swear NFL office saw McCarron trade and was like “we’ve got to save theses idiots from themselves” #Browns
— Adam Reed Cahill (@AdamRCahill) October 31, 2017

Amid all jokes about Browns blowing A.J. McCarron trade, I have a question: Since when is A.J. McCarron worth 2nd and 3rd round picks?
— Jeff Schultz (@JeffSchultzAJC) November 1, 2017

Which is dumber?

A. Browns willing to trade a 2nd and 3rd for McCarron

B. Browns forgetting to submit the trade
— Deshaun Watson Fan (@KingFavre) October 31, 2017

Pro FB HOFer Bill Polian just said on ESPN he was "astounded" at #Browns procedural failure to complete trade for McCarron #clownshow
— Bruce Hooley (@BHOOLZ) November 1, 2017

don't Browns owe #Bengals some form of compensation for botching trade and forcing Bengals to explain to McCarron and him deal with fallout?
— Lance McAlister (@LanceMcAlister) November 1, 2017

Been involved w/NFL since 1981, never have I seen a team totally screw up a trade like Browns did today.
— Greg Gabriel (@greggabe) October 31, 2017

Leaked footage of the #Browns trying to prepare A.J. McCarron trade approval to the #NFL before the deadline. pic.twitter.com/BPyFaRGlXD
— Peter Panacy (@PeterPanacy) October 31, 2017

It doesn't get much more Browns than what happened Tuesday, but the fact that they botched the trade might actually be a good thing as AJ McCarron has started just three games in his career.

(H/T: Adam Schefter)