Size matters: Todd McShay switches Browns pick to Carson Wentz—for now
March 2, 2016Why can’t we enjoy the first place Cavaliers? – WFNY Podcast No. 465
March 2, 2016Before we get into Alex Mack, the Cleveland Browns, and contracts, have you ever wondered what it looks like when an agent or team representative sends a mass email or text to a host of reporters?
[iPhone keyboard clicks]
[Send]
[Text message ‘whoosh’ sound]
[Messages received]
[Eyes light up]
[Feverishly opens Twitter]
And they’re off… Round the turn… Down the home stretch… It’s gonna be a close one… WHAT. A. FINISH.
Browns C Alex Mack has voided the final 3 years of his deal, source says. Will be a free agent next week but return to CLE still possible.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 2, 2016
#Browns C Alex Mack officially voided the 3 years remaining on his contract, as expected, and is set to become a FA. Could be back tho
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 2, 2016
Browns C Alex Mack is voiding the 3 years remaining on his contract and is set to become a free agent, per source. One more free agent OL.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 2, 2016
#Browns Alex Mack has voided the last 3 years of his deal and is set to become a free agent, league source tells https://t.co/o11vJSOExu
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) March 2, 2016
Per league source, Alex Mack is voiding the last 3 years on contract with Browns and is set to become a free agent.
— Brent Sobleski (@brentsobleski) March 2, 2016
C Alex Mack is voiding 3 years remaining on his contract with the #Browns and is set to become an unrestricted free agent, source confirmed.
— Nate Ulrich (@ByNateUlrich) March 2, 2016
#Browns Pro Bowl C Alex Mack is voiding final 3 years of his contract, set to become free agent, per league source.
— Scott Petrak ct (@ScottPetrak) March 2, 2016
Alex Mack had 3 years, $24M remaining on deal and could once again become NFL's highest paid C. Return to Cleveland still "very possible."
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 2, 2016
AP Source: #Browns C Alex Mack has voided final 3 years on contract and will become a free agent. Story upcoming.
— Tom Withers (@twithersAP) March 2, 2016
Whew. Who had Schefter to show? Kudos to Rapoport for the place. Anyone know what the exacta paid out? I’m guessing at least 30 bot followers.
[Dust settles]
So, as you may have guessed, career-long Cleveland Browns center Alex Mack has decided to opt out of his current contract. While this should be a surprise to no one giving the ramifications of doing so, it is a bit troubling after recent reports stated the team had hoped to extend him before he would consider testing the market.
The Pro Bowl center was set to enter the 2016 season as the second-highest paid center in the NFL, but with a lack of guarantees, restructuring into a longer deal made sense. The Browns went through a similar song-and-dance routine with Mack in 2014 when they ultimately matched an offer sheet from the Jacksonville Jaguars. This time around, however, the team will not have time to match and the player has 100 percent of the leverage with six-to-eight teams already looking to pay one of the best centers in the game.
The Browns, likely to add a rookie quarterback this spring, would understandably love to have the strongest offensive line possible, but will now have to pay up to avoid having a substantial hole in the roster. In the event the front office fails to retain one of its two Pro Bowlers from 2015, the next man up will be (pending any other additions) second-year offensive lineman Cameron Erving.
[Back to Twitter]
30 Comments
I’m hoping that they can sign him. I really don’t like the idea of Irving at C next year. if so…RIP McCown.
I know Center is very important. I know we want to have the best line possible if we’re drafting a QB at 2 (which i recommend)…but then theres part of me that says we had a large percentage of the cap in the secondary last year, and look how well that worked. We’ve had above average centers around here since the days of Butch Davis, and it hasn’t really made all that much of a difference (LCB doesnt count because he’s a thief)
Im conflicted
Well there’s only one thing to do: Use our first rounder to draft the best center as a possible replacement.
uhhhhh…this is awkward.
http://sports.cbsimg.net/u/photos/football/nfl/img25169559.jpg
Hey now… we’ve got pick #32 for that! You got greedy.
I would contend that Jeff Faine wasn’t actually good, but that’s like, just my opinion man.
I get it now. We package the #2 and the #32 to trade up with Tenn and ensure we get the best center available.
Now you’re talking about something I’m comfortable with.
Sweet baby jeebus. I somehow blocked out that he looked like an embarrassing clown show in that outfit. Talk about foreshadowing…
will we get a supplemental pick for him?
you’re outta your element Donnie
i kid i kid
Analytics might tell you that a 30-year-old center isn’t worth signing for $10-plus million a year and a big signing bonus, but analytics can’t be used as a blanket concept without consideration of individual needs and circumstances. If the Browns think that Mack is too expensive to keep, they damn well better have somebody at least serviceable to replace him. And right now they don’t.
Our new rookie franchise QB savior can’t depend on a stack of money to protect him in the pocket.
BTW, Scott, your comments on the Twitter-nado are hilarious.
LMAO !!
good question … i don’t know .
i think we all expected this … i’m all for either bringing in a veteran free-agent (wisniewski , wendall , sendlein & others) or drafting a very good center to start right away … sign scwhartz !!!!!! we don’t want to have to replace a RT as well.
hi MrC … even if mack doesn’t want to be here ?? and i don’t think he does … you make a good point , but i think it may be time to move on from him.
which outfit?
Am I right to infer you buy the rumor about Bentley being injured before training camp? Has anyone formally written about this?
Do we know what analytics tells us?
If so, we can fulfill our destiny and turn the pick into a late-round long-snapper. Has been much too long since we employed this revolutionary tactic
I don’t. I’m just assuming — i.e., uninformedly bloviating.
Great word!
hell , i learn a new word , almost daily , over here … i am honored to be in the presence of such worldly & scholarly posters.
it almost makes me smarter … almost.
If I report the exact same tweet everyone else used, does that make me a beat reporter?
Only if it is from a ‘league source’. Now, which league has never really been specified.
So long Alex, Mitchell, Travis and Tashaun. Hello rookie QB and 15% cap rollover for 2017. The Browns are nothing but one big GIF.
Joe Banner, the gift that keeps on giving…..
Greco?
mack is 55
https://media.giphy.com/media/14Ow2ZK0p6Osg/giphy.gif