Alex Mack - Pro Football Rumors

Cole’s Latest: Harrison, Vernon, Mack, Ayers

March 7th, 2016 at 2:16pm CST by Luke Adams

With the NFL’s legal tampering period underway for 2016, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report has passed along several noteworthy free agent rumors. Let’s round up the highlights…

While plenty of teams will have interest, the Titans appear to be the club most willing to meet Damon Harrison‘s asking price, according to Cole (video link). The Jets would love to retain their standout nose tackle, but given all the suitors expected to be in play, the price will be high. That may be an issue for the Jets, who have already committed $15MM+ to Muhammad Wilkerson.
The Dolphins may ultimately decide to pull the transition tag they placed on defensive end Olivier Vernon last week, says Cole (video link). As Cole explains, if the Dolphins decide not to match an offer sheet for Vernon, the pass rusher wouldn’t factor into the compensatory pick formula for 2017, since only departing unrestricted free agents can earn teams extra picks. So if Miami senses the bidding on Vernon will be too high, the team may surrender its right to match an offer, in order to regain the $12MM+ in cap room and line itself up for a mid-round 2017 comp pick.
Free agent center Alex Mack has generated “extensive interest” from the Falcons, per Cole (video link). Cole says the Jaguars, who signed Mack to an offer sheet in 2014, don’t have as much interest this time around, and adds that the Rams have expressed some interest, but aren’t expected to be serious contenders.
The “rumor late last week” was that defensive end Robert Ayers was looking for $10MM per year from the Giants, tweets Cole. While it’s possible that was Ayers’ starting point in negotiations, it seems extremely unlikely that he’d actually land that kind of salary. Ayers had a strong year in 2015, but it’s the first time he had more than 5.5 sacks in a season, and he’ll be turning 31 this year.
Cole confirms (video link) that the Raiders and 49ers will both be in the mix for the top cornerbacks on the free agent market, including Sean Smith and Janoris Jenkins.

AFC Notes: Brady, Browns, Howard, Bolts

March 3rd, 2016 at 9:26pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here’s the latest coming out of the AFC as the legal tampering period looms.

Observing how the 2nd Circuit Court’s three-judge panel aimed its scrutiny in today’s Deflategate appeal in Manhattan, Tom Brady should be bracing for a setback in his efforts to put this 14-month-old matter behind him, Michael McCann of SI.com writes. McCann expects a 2-1 decision going in favor of the NFL. That doesn’t mean Brady will automatically miss the Patriots‘ first four games in 2016, with further appeals possible if the NFLPA loses this time, but it would bring this issue back to the forefront after a dormant several months that occurred following judge Richard Berman’s ruling in favor of Brady. The decision could take months, per McCann.
Hue Jackson wants the Browns to come away with two or three starters during free agency, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports (on Twitter). The first-year Cleveland coach acknowledges, however, attracting the top targets will be difficult. Of course, the Browns could lose two top UFAs if Alex Mack and Mitchell Schwartz exit. Jackson “would love” to have Mack back and told media, including Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal (Twitter link), “You can put [a center’s value] right up there with the QB when you have a guy like that.”
Jackson will have the final say when it comes to which quarterback the Browns select at No. 2, if they opt to go quarterback with their top pick, according to Jeff Schudel of the Lorain Morning Journal. Sashi Brown‘s executive VP title won’t supersede Jackson’s offensive experience when it comes to making this choice, Schudel notes.
The Browns hired Joe Kim as an assistant, ESPN.com’s Field Yates tweets. His title is assistant strength and skill development coach. Kim served in the same capacity for the Bears in 2014 and Washington last season. This will be the third stint for Kim in Cleveland. A Northeast Ohio native whose served as a consultant for several NFL teams since 2001, Kim is a former national taekwando champion who’s gone on to consult defenders on pass-rush techniques.
After the Chiefs applied the franchise tag to Eric Berry, they still have six current or former Kansas City starters entering the free agent market, including improving defensive end Jaye Howard. In a radio appearance with Fox Sports’ Alex Marvez (Twitter link), Howard said his status in Kansas City was “up in the air.” The Chiefs also feature Derrick Johnson, Tamba Hali and Sean Smith as players who started for their No. 7-ranked defense last season whose contracts have expired. Howard, however, is younger than the other Chiefs’ key UFA defenders in entering his age-27 season. He was Pro Football Focus’ No. 24 interior defender, a grouping that includes 3-4 defensive ends, along with all defensive tackles.
The Chargers have until March 24 to qualify a stadium measure for the crucial November ballot which will contain an item regarding the use of public funds to finance a downtown stadium. The team’s expected to release a stadium financing plan at that time, Eric Williams of ESPN.com reports.

Free Agent Rumors: Roddy, Irvin, Conte, Mack

March 2nd, 2016 at 6:22pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Falcons released wide receiver Roddy White earlier today, ensuring that the veteran pass-catcher won’t spend a 12th season in Atlanta. But another NFC club could soon come calling, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) says the Buccaneers are a team to “keep an eye on” as White looks for his new home. The connection makes sense, as new Tampa Bay head coach Dirk Koetter was the Falcons offensive coordinator from 2012-14.

Only one week remains until the start of free agency, so let’s round up the latest rumors…

In a piece looking at NFL free agency from a broad point-of-view, John Clayton of ESPN.com suggests that Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin should be able to garner $9.5MM per year on the open market, and points to the Jaguars and Falcons as potential suitors. But according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link), NFL front offices “would do cartwheels” if Irvin could be had for that price, as the 28-year-old is expected to command a “significantly higher” salary.
The Buccaneers are meeting with the agent for free agent safety Chris Conte this week as part of an effort to re-sign him before the beginning of free agency, reports Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune (Twitter link). A report last week indicated that Tampa would like to retain Conte, who just finished up his first season with the club after four years in Chicago.
Running back Matt Asiata will hit free agency for the first time next week, and the Vikings seem to want to keep him around, writes Matt Vensel of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Minnesota reportedly values Asiata’s pass-blocking acumen, as well as his prowess near the goal line.
Center Alex Mack opted out of his Browns contract earlier today, and is now the top center available in free agency. One team that isn’t expected to show interest in signing Mack is the Cardinals, according to Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic, who notes that the Cards simply have too many internal free agents and other holes to fill to cough up the $10MM salary that Mack will surely request.

Alex Mack Open To Return To Browns

March 2nd, 2016 at 1:58pm CST by Luke Adams

Browns center Alex Mack voided the final three years on his contract today, opting out of the deal for the opportunity to explore the free agent market next week. However, even though Mack could sign with another team seven days from now, he hasn’t ruled out a return to Cleveland, as agent Tim Younger tells Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.

“We view Alex’s decision to void as procedural,” Younger said. “[The opt-out] was built into his contract to afford him maximum flexibility. For the first time in his career, he will be experiencing true free agency. Although we anticipate interest from multiple teams, he was very impressed with Hue Jackson and returning to the Browns certainly remains on the table.”

According to Cabot, about six to eight teams are expected to have serious interest in Mack, who looks like the top center on the free agent market and will aim to exceed $10MM+ per year on a new deal. As I wrote earlier today, when Mack’s decision was first reported, the Jaguars figure to top that list of potential suitors — it was Jacksonville that signed the veteran center to an offer sheet two years ago, when he last hit the market. Since the Browns had used the transition tag on Mack, Cleveland was able to match the Jags’ offer sheet.

The Browns won’t hold the right of first refusal on Mack this time around, but Cabot suggests that the pending free agent may give the team the opportunity to match or exceed offers he receives from rival suitors. Mack paid a visit to Cleveland a couple weeks ago to meet with the team’s new brain trust, and came away impressed, a source tells Cabot. The Cleveland.com scribe adds (via Twitter) that she genuinely believes, after speaking to Younger today, that Mack would like to remain with the Browns if the two sides can work something out.

If Mack does end up signing elsewhere, the Browns may elevate 2015 first-rounder Cameron Erving to the starting center job rather than signing a veteran to fill the role. That way, the team could focus on fortifying the rest of its line, and potentially re-signing right tackle Mitchell Schwartz, another free-agent-to-be.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Alex Mack Opts Out Of Contract

March 2nd, 2016 at 11:47am CST by Luke Adams

Browns center Alex Mack has decided to opt out of his contract, voiding the final three years of his deal, reports Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports. Mack is now eligible to hit the open market next week, though it’s still possible he’ll work out a new agreement with the Browns to remain in Cleveland.

Mack, 30, has been one of the NFL’s most reliable centers since he entered the league in 2009. The veteran lineman has been Cleveland’s full-time starter since joining the team, starting all 16 regular-season games for the franchise in all but one of his seven NFL seasons. He has also earned three Pro Bowl nods.

Two years ago, when Mack first became eligible for free agency, the Browns used their transition tag on the center, who then signed a five-year, $42MM offer sheet with the Jaguars. Cleveland ultimately took advantage of the right of first refusal and matched the offer, but since the language of the contract included an opt-out for this winter, it was essentially a two-year deal rather than a five-year pact.

The timing of Mack’s decision comes as no surprise — the deadline for him to opt out was this coming Friday, March 4th. However, if he had opted out before Tuesday at 3:00pm central time, the Browns would still have the option to use a franchise or transition tag on him. As such, Mack had always been expected to take advantage of his opt-out during this window.

Since he had three years and $24MM remaining on his now-voided contract, Mack figures to aim to exceed those figures on the open market, or in a new deal with Cleveland. The Jaguars will be one suitor to watch, since Jacksonville still has a ton of cap room and a hole at center. But there should be no shortage of teams with interest in Mack, particularly since this year’s free agent market isn’t exactly overflowing with centers capable of starting.

With Mack now a week away from hitting the open market, the Browns risk losing two solid starters on their offensive line. Right tackle Mitchell Schwartz is also eligible for unrestricted free agency, and is expected to gauge his value around the league next week. While one or both linemen could ultimately re-sign with Cleveland, it’s worth noting that Browns personnel head Sashi Brown said last week that if the team were to work out a new contract with Mack, it would likely happen before the center’s opt-out deadline.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Browns Rumors: Gordon, Mack, Benjamin

February 25th, 2016 at 10:13am CST by Luke Adams

While new Browns head coach Hue Jackson took to the podium on Wednesday at the scouting combine in Indianapolis, it was new executive VP Sashi Brown who spoke to reporters on Thursday morning. Brown didn’t want to talk about quarterback Johnny Manziel, but he did address several other topics of interest. Let’s dive in and round up the highlights…

According to Brown, there’s a spot on the roster for Josh Gordon as long as he’s doing the right things. Brown doesn’t expect to have clarity on Gordon’s status before free agency begins on March 9th, but he thinks the signs are pointing to the wide receiver being reinstated from his suspension (Twitter links via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com and Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal).
Center Alex Mack, who can opt out of his contract anytime before March 4th, came in last week to discuss a possible contract extension, according to Brown, who believes that if Mack is going to remain in Cleveland, the two sides will probably have to work something out before that opt-out deadline (Twitter links via Cabot).
Brown doesn’t expect the Browns to use the franchise or transition tag. If the team does use one or the other, safety Tashaun Gipson would be the top candidate, but Brown is hoping for a long-term deal with Gipson (Twitter link via Ulrich).
The Browns met with Travis Benjamin‘s agent at the combine last night, according to Brown, who says talks between the two sides haven’t broken down (Twitter links via Cabot and Ulrich). Agent Ron Butler said earlier this week that he expects his client will reach the open market.
Brown said today that the club apologized to pending free agents for taking a little extra time to open negotiations, since the organization spent the first part of the offseason wrapped up in a searches for coaches and front office additions (Twitter link via Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram).

Browns’ Alex Mack Likely To Opt Out

February 19th, 2016 at 6:55pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Browns center Alex Mack is likely to opt out of his current deal with the club by 4pm on March 4 unless Cleveland offers him a contract “he can’t refuse,” reports Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. However, even if Mack does opt out, Cabot expects the Browns to remain a possible suitor.

That March 4 date is an important deadline, because while Mack’s contract does contain no-trade language, it does not have a no franchise/transition tag clause, as Joel Corry of CBSSports.com explained earlier this week (Twitter links). If Mack were to opt out of his deal before March 1 — the deadline for teams apply franchise/transition tenders — Cleveland could still use a tag on him. So while he’ll want to announce his decision after that date, Mack must decide whether to opt out before 4pm eastern time five days before the new league year begins on March 9, hence the March 4 deadline.

As Cabot writes, the possibility of the Browns selecting a quarterback — possibly Cal’s Jared Goff or North Dakota State’s Carson Wentz — with the second overall pick would presumably be appealing to Mack, and possibly encourage him to stay, especially since, as Cabot adds, Mack has “deep roots” in Cleveland. However, the Browns won’t have the chance to select a young quarterback until the end of April, well after both when Mack is forced to make his opt-out decision and when he’ll have likely signed his next contract.

But Mack does have high hopes for the Browns as an organization — per Cabot, he met with new head coach Hue Jackson and the Senior Bowl and felt the meeting went well, and he reportedly considers Jackson to be a “fantastic coach.” It’s a similar sentiment expressed by left tackle Joe Thomas, who has expressed not only an affection for Jackson, but a hope that he won’t be traded.

From the team’s perspective, Cleveland faces the possibility of losing not only Mack, but also standout right tackle Mitchell Schwartz, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent on March 9. The Browns drafted Cameron Erving in the first round last year as something of a safety net, but the defection of two of its three best offensive lineman would no doubt be a setback for Cleveland.

North Notes: Mack, Browns, Lions, Vikings

January 29th, 2016 at 7:00pm CST by Luke Adams

Speaking to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link) this week at Pro Bowl practices, Browns center Alex Mack said that he has yet to make a final decision on whether he’ll opt out of his contract this winter. According to Mack, he’ll start seriously considering his options after the Super Bowl, with a decision to follow within the next month or so.

Cole suggests that Mack will likely exercise that opt-out, which comes as no surprise — even if the veteran center ultimately wants to stay in Cleveland, it would make sense for him to sign a new contract with the team. Mack’s current pact calls for $8MM annual salaries for the next three seasons, and only his 2016 salary would be guaranteed if he opts in, so he should be able to easily exceed that deal on the open market.

As we wait to find out what Mack decides, let’s check in on some other items from out of the NFL’s North divisions…

Browns head coach Hue Jackson hasn’t been in touch with quarterback Johnny Manziel yet, but he has sat down and spoken with North Dakota State signal-caller Carson Wentz, writes Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. Wentz, a potential target for Cleveland in the first round of this year’s draft, met with Jackson and the Browns at the Senior Bowl. “This just starts the process of getting to know these young players,” Jackson said. “It’s just phase one of the process. It’s just good to be able to talk to as many guys as we could. It was good to talk to him and find out a little bit about him and I’m sure I’ll get an opportunity to find out a little more as we go.”
The Lions have hired former Giants director of football operations Matt Harriss as their new vice president of football administration, the team announced today. Harriss is expected to play a significant role in managing the Lions’ salary cap.
Matt Vensel of the Star Tribune wonders if the Vikings ought to bring in some competition for punter Jeff Locke in 2016. As Vensel details, Locke’s production has trended in the wrong direction in recent years, so it would make sense for Minnesota to bring in a young punter to push him.

Extra Points: Texans, Browns, Prospects

December 26th, 2015 at 12:31pm CST by Ben Levine

Some assorted notes from around the NFL and NCAA…

B.J. Daniels‘ contract with the Texans is worth $660K over two seasons, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter). The quarterback will earn $60K this season and $600K in 2016.
Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer expects Browns center Alex Mack to explore free agency this offseason, and the writer believes the veteran will receive some interest from other clubs. Due to the disappointment of first-round pick Cameron Erving, Pluto still thinks Cleveland could spend to keep their Pro Bowl lineman.
The Florida Gators will have a number of talented players to replace heading into 2016. Coach Jim McElwain confirmed underclassmen running back Kelvin Taylor, receiver Demarcus Robinson, and defensive end Alex McCalister will all enter the NFL Draft. All this is in addition to cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III, who is expected to be a top-10 pick this offseason.
Maryland defensive end Quinton Jefferson has also declared his intentions to enter the NFL Draft, according to the Baltimore Sun. He made the announcement via his Twitter account. He joins his opposite bookend Yannick Ngakoue in leaving the Terrapins early for the pros.

Rob DiRe contributed to this post.

Browns Notes: Manziel, Mack, Pettine

December 23rd, 2015 at 8:59pm CST by Zachary Links

The latest on the Browns:

Many would assume that Johnny Manziel is pulling for Mike Pettine to be fired after the Browns quarterback was demoted this season. However, he says that’s not the case, as Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon-Journal writes. “I have a ton of respect for [Pettine],” Manziel said Wednesday after practice. “Whether I liked the situation or not and liked the outcome of what happened, I had a part in that, too, and I had to take responsibility and own up to that. It was on nobody else but me. It wasn’t Coach Pettine’s fault that I did what I did. It was just on my end taking responsibility, and there’s no grudges, there’s no hate or anything like that. He’s our head coach and our leader, and I definitely have a respect for him and that’s not going to change no matter what.”
Pettine, meanwhile, is aware that center Alex Mack might not be back in 2016. The Browns Pro Bowl center holds a player option that he can exercise if he wants to test the open market. “He could. We don’t have much control over that,” Pettine said with regards to the 30-year-old, as Ulrich writes. “That’s his personal decision. It’s in his favor that he has that in his contract, and we’ll react accordingly. Alex Mack’s a Cleveland Brown. We’d love to have him here and be a part of what we’re doing, but that’s a decision that’ll be made down the road.” On Wednesday, PFR’s Luke Adams highlighted Mack when looking at Pro Bowl players who could cash in in the open market this offseason.
When it comes to Mack, the Browns’ contingency plan needs a contingency plan, Tom Reed of The Plain Dealer writes. The Browns thought they found their plan B when they selected the versatile Cameron Erving in the 2015 Draft with the No. 19 pick. As it turns out, Erving is a long way from playing anywhere near Mack’s level.