Report: McCarron wins hearing against Bengals, will become UFA

Quarterback AJ McCarron has won his grievance against the Cincinnati Bengals and will become a free agent, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

McCarron was arguing he should be an unrestricted free agent, while the Bengals believed he should be a restricted one. An NFL arbitrator ruled in the quarterback's favor on Thursday.

The grievance dated back to the former fifth-round pick's rookie year in 2014 when Cincinnati placed him on the non-football injury list for the entire season, claiming he suffered an injury while away from the organization. The Bengals must now pay McCarron his lost salary plus interest.

McCarron remains thankful for his time with the Bengals, despite what might appear as an ugly end to his tenure.

"It was never a personal issue at all," McCarron said, according to Jim Owczarski of USA Today. "I absolutely loved my time in Cincinnati. I got to start some really key games and had some awesome wins and just a part of so many awesome moments. It was really just a blessing to be drafted there. It really was."

The ruling carries significant league-wide ramifications, as well. McCarron will enter the free-agent market and could garner interest from multiple teams.

"We're going to be open to everything," McCarron said of his impending free agency.

The signal-caller has attempted just 133 career passes in three seasons, accumulating six touchdowns and two interceptions behind longtime starter Andy Dalton.