The Cleveland Browns blew a chance to get a possible franchise quarterback at the trade deadline. According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals agreed to a trade that will send backup quarterback Aj Mccarron to Cleveland. However, the Browns missed the chance after filing the paperwork past the 4 PM trade deadline, and a source told Pelissero. Pelissero said the Bengals did their part by submitting the necessary documents but the Browns did not. According to the Browns, the league office was closed, and they should be given a grace period, but the NFL rejected their request, keeping McCarron in a Bengals uniform.

Tony Grossi of ESPN Radio said the Browns celebrated the trade and forgot to call in the deal before the deadline.

McCarron an ideal starter for Browns

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network Insider said the Browns would have shipped a second- and third-round picks in the 2018 NFL Draft to the Bengals for McCarron, who appeared in 10 NFL games as a backup to Andy Dalton. McCarron started three times in the regular season and one playoff game when Dalton suffered a broken thumb in 2015. In that span, McCarron completed 102 of his 160 pass attempts for 1,066 yards and seven touchdowns with three interceptions. McCarron was a fifth-round pick by the Bengals in 2015. The Browns have yet to win in eight games this season with rookie DeShone Kizer as the starter.

With the botched trade, Kizer will remain as the Browns starting quarterback with Cody Kessler and Kevin Hogan as backups.

Garoppolo happy with trade to 49ers

After three-plus years as a backup to Tom Brady with the New England Patriots, Jimmy Garoppolo said he’s happy to be given a chance to start with the San Francisco 49ers.

The 49ers have acquired Garoppolo from the Patriots for a 2018 second-round pick. Per Nick Wagoner of ESPN, Garoppolo said he’s thrilled to be given a chance to start with the 49ers and prove himself that he’s ready to step out of Brady’s shadow. As a backup to Brady, Garoppolo made just two starts in his career. Last season, Garoppolo completed 43 of 63 passes for 502 yards and four touchdowns with no interception for an outstanding rating of 113.3.

According to head coach Kyle Shanahan, the 49ers will not start Garoppolo in Week 9 against the Arizona Cardinals as he has yet to learn the team’s playbook. However, Shanahan and general manager John Lynch both view Garoppolo as a long-term answer to their quarterback position.