The Patriots aren’t trading their talented backup quarterback and it doesn’t sound like the Bengals will be doing so either. Bengals executive Duke Tobin indicated to reporters that A.J. McCarron is probably staying put. 
“We are not actively trying to diminish our team by trading A.J. McCarron,” Tobin said (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com).
At the same time, he would not completely rule out the possibility of a deal, telling reporters “the phones in our office work.” Tobin also wouldn’t rule out the possibility of an intra-divisional trade, though he said it is unlikely.
McCarron, 27 in September, has completed 66% of his passes in the NFL, though that is drawing from a very small sample. For his part, McCarron is hoping to get more burn in 2017 and wouldn’t mind a trade that would free him from serving as Andy Dalton‘s understudy. McCarron’s trade value increased further when it was learned that he will be a restricted free agent after the 2017 season. At the same time, that makes him even more attractive to the Bengals who would like to keep McCarron as a quality and inexpensive Plan B behind Dalton.
Just like the Pats, their minds will change “if” the right offer comes along. No harm in saying they’re perfectly happy to keep him in the meantime.
I agree. I think this is just posturing to drive up the price. You get less back if you sound like you are trying to move them.