The NFL rejected a submitted trade of A.J. McCarron from the Cincinnati Bengals to the Cleveland Browns.

The Bengals notified the league of the proposed trade at 3:55 p.m. ET, and the Browns notified the league shortly after 4 p.m. ET. Because the Browns were late, the league denied the trade. 

The Browns protested the NFL's decision but it was rejected.

The proposed compensation for McCarron would have been a second- and third-round pick in 2018.

The Bengals also tried to trade McCarron in the offseason.