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March 3, 2014Browns assign transition tag to Alex Mack; TJ Ward to hit free agent market
March 3, 2014With Alex Mack back from his trip to Brazil, Cleveland Browns brass reportedly met with as the two sides attempt to come to an agreement on a deal that will lock the Pro Bowl center up for the foreseeable future.
How serious are #Browns in keeping C Alex Mack and mending fences from old regime? Team brass met with the player this weekend, I’m told
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 3, 2014
Mack reportedly remains the Browns’ No. 1 priority, which makes complete sense given that the center is one of the top-10 free agents available in the entire NFL. It wasn’t all that long ago where reports circulated stating that Mack wanted to essentially conduct his own interview, one where the team would have to sell him on the fact that they will not be a big of a mess going forward as they have been during his tenure with the team thus far.
Mack wants to be in Cleveland. Cleveland would love to move forward with No. 55 in tow. With Philadelphia inking Jason Kelce to a six-year, $37.5 million contract extension, the bar has already been set. The Browns have until next Tuesday to come to terms, losing some leverage with the closing of the franchise tag window on March 3. No word on whether or not Joe Banner will be standing outside of said window, in a trenchcoat, blasting “In Your Eyes” through his boombox.
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Image via: Candice Vlcek/WFNY
16 Comments
6 year 38 works for me
“Mack wants to be in Cleveland.”
How do we know this?
Think Mack will bite as long as it’s slightly higher than what Kelce just got – so $38 mil over 6 years works. Might have to do $39
Get ‘er done! If they don’t, then I don’t know what they’re saving all this cap money for.
I’d be surprised if it was for less than 6yr/$42mil. He is likely looking for Levitre $$$ (Six years, $46.8M, $16M guaranteed).
Either way, if Mack’s demands fall within this ~$5 million window, you give it to him. There should only be debate if he’s sitting down asking for something above $50 or so million
It’s the transition tag for now, which would pay Mack roughly $10M for a year. Either way the Browns win by retaining Mack or picking up 2 first round picks.
Looks like we stamped the transition tag on him. We at least will get to match any offer and/or trade him based on it. So, it looks like Mack was indeed the priority this offseason. Wonder why we didn’t hear about Ward talking to us as well (I would have tried to sign him ahead of time too). Puts alot of eggs in the Byrd basket if Ward walks for nothing.
no compensation is required with transition tag. we could match the contract and then trade him though. non-exclusive franchise tender gives 2 1st round picks.
FYI:
Non-exclusive franchise tender
Team must agree to pay player for one year at the percentage against the current salary cap of the five highest salaries over the previous five seasons. Players can negotiate with any club, but if the player signs with another club, the tag tendering team will receive two first-round draft choices as compensation.
Exclusive franchise tender
Team must agree to pay player for one year at the average of the five largest current-year salaries at his position through the end of the restricted free-agent signing period. It cannot be lower than the non-exclusive franchise tender. The player is not permitted to negotiate with any other team.
Transition player designation
Team must agree to pay player the cap percentage average of the 10 largest prior-year salaries at his position. The player is permitted to
negotiate with any other team and such team is not bound by any
compensation in signing a transition player.
More to know
The tendering club has a seven-day waiting period on whether to match for transition or franchise tags. If the franchise tag is used on a player a second time by a team, the base tender goes up to 120 percent of the previous salary calculation.
Transition tag means we can match offers but get nothing if he opts to leave.
look at his face up there. I think not.
They’re idiots……Gonna crap away two of your best players…transition tag? wtf I cant believe these morons
Especially after getting the transition tag. Do you transition tag someone that wants to stay? I think not; and I think I’d stay out of his way for a while.
Shouldn’t have expected anything better from this crap show
If we match, can he still opt to leave?
No.