Sashi Brown has denied reports that he intentionally sabotaged the Cleveland Browns' trade with the Cincinnati Bengals for AJ McCarron.

"I am not worried about that internally," Brown said. "Externally, I can just put it to bed; that is just not the case."

The Browns did not file the paperwork for the trade by last Tuesday's trade deadline.

Brown said Hue Jackson was in the room as the team tried to complete the deal minutes before the deadline.

"This is just a matter of getting to a deal too late in the process," Brown said.

AJ McCarron has filed a grievance against the Cincinnati Bengals in order to become an unrestricted free agent in 2018.

The ruling could determine whether the Cleveland Browns can sign McCarron this offseason without giving compensation to the Bengals.

The Browns agreed to send second- and third-round picks to the Bengals in a trade that would have sent McCarron to Cleveland on Tuesday. The trade was rejected by the NFL after the paperwork was submitted past the trade deadline.

Cincinnati likely would place a first-round tender on McCarron as a restricted free agent, which would make it difficult for him sign an offer sheet.