McCarron led the Crimson Tide to two national championships

Alabama star quarterback A.J. McCarron signed Thursday with the Cincinnati Bengals.

A fifth-round selection, McCarron led the Crimson Tide to two national championships, setting several school passing records. But his arm strength was questioned by many pro teams, and he slid to 164th overall in the draft.

McCarron will be a backup to four-year veteran Andy Dalton, who has gotten Cincinnati to the playoffs in each of his three pro seasons. But the Bengals are 0-3 in postseason games with Dalton.

After being drafted, McCarron said: ''I'm confident in myself but at the same time, I know Andy's the QB out there and I respect that.''

Cincinnati also signed cornerback Lavelle Westbrooks, a seventh-round pick out of Georgia Southern.

The Bengals have signed four of their eight draft selections.

The NFL has hired 12 new officials for the 2014 season and promoted two veterans to referee.


Ronald Torbert and Craig Wrolstad were promoted to referee, replacing the retired Scott Green and Ron Winter, the league announced Thursday. Wrolstad has spent the past 11 seasons as a field judge. Torbert has worked the past four seasons as a side judge.

Among the dozen new officials is side judge Shawn Hochuli, the son of always-recognizable referee Ed Hochuli, and field judge Brad Freeman, the son of back judge Steve Freeman, a former player with Buffalo.

Two women, line judge Sarah Thomas and head linesman Maia Chaka, will work minicamps and preseason games this year. They are in the officiating development program and officiated in Conference USA in 2013.

''The NFL is about constantly striving to improve performance, and that is certainly the case for our game officials,'' said Dean Blandino, the league's director of officiating. ''Both Ron and Craig have proven to be outstanding NFL officials and they are ready to assume the increased responsibilities of the referee position. Our 12 first-year officials were all among the best in college football.''

The other 10 first-year officials are umpires Brad Allen and Bryan Neale; head linesman Patrick Turner; field judges Eugene Hall and John Jenkins; side judges Alex Kemp and Scott Novak; line judge Ed Walker; and back judges Rich Martinez and Steve Patrick.

The most experienced officials are referees Walt Coleman, in his 26th season, and the senior Hochuli and Mike Carey, each in his 25th. In all, 119 officials will work in seven-man crews during the regular season.

Steve Freeman and Philip McKinnely, who was with the Falcons, Rams and Bears, are former players now officiating games.