Couple of clarifying points.
1. How many people traveling with you? Remember it is the first bag for up to four people in a single reservation, not up to four checked bags per reservation.
2. Something I found in the small print:
Eligible CitiŽ / AAdvantageŽ cardmembers may check one bag free of charge when traveling on American Airlines, American Eagle or the AmericanConnectionŽ carrier to select domestic destinations
That may be something AA could clarify, you know, what the heck does "select" destinations mean.
Food for thought.