Browns will match Jax offer for Alex Mack

The Secret World of Alex Mack

Alex Mack is widely expected to sign Jacksonville's offer sheet as reported originally by ESPN's Adam Schefter. The deal is rumored to be for 5 years, but front-loaded to include just over 20 million guaranteed in the first 2 years of the deal, and a player opt-out clause either after the first season or after the second. To me, this is absolutely a no-brainer for the Browns and they must re-sign Mack.

Alex Mack is solid - look, two women fit on his back!

The only thing that would justify not matching this deal is if the Browns really believed that Mack absolutely wants out of Cleveland, which is not true. All talk to that extent is just fabricated either by the media or his agent, notorious for such tactics, in order to get the largest possible offer from the Jaguars and force the Browns to match it. If it were New England or Denver I might give a bit more credibility to that, but it isn't. Even so, Mack has always enjoyed his time here in Cleveland and there is no reason to believe any of those reports. He is a professional athlete fighting for the bulk of his entire life's earnings right now. That is all there is to it.

The Browns were already prepared to pay Mack over 10 million for this season and if they couldn't get him locked up for a long-term deal then they would have done the same next year, probably to the tune of 10.5-12 million for one year through the franchise or transition tag again. The Browns were not able to have productive discussions with Mack, probably largely due to his agent again. The reality is that Mack genuinely thought his value was higher than what the Browns were willing to give him, and was encouraged by his agent to believe that.

Demoff just saving face now

When his agent realized the Browns were spot on with their assessment, the only possible way for him to
save face was to get a long-term deal with as much guaranteed money as possible and have the Browns match, which is all Mack wanted all along. If anything, they're extremely fortunate that the Jaguars came calling or else they would have been at the Browns' mercy until next season, and who knows what can happen in a year between injuries and a poor performance or the Browns becoming relevant. All of these factors would have changed the Browns' and Mack's approach.

Instead, we have a win-win for both sides. The Browns get Mack locked up for 5 years, with potentially less than 20 million locked up in guaranteed money over the first 2 years, Mack gets the long-term deal and money he wanted, and most critically, the Browns retain one of the most talented and consistent offensive linemen in football on a team which can't afford to bleed away any talent at all.

Value to the Organization

Just listen to Peyton Manning discuss Jeff Saturday in any of the hundreds of times he has, and you will know how valuable a talented consistent center is to any QB. The Browns can't afford to spend a draft pick on a center this year as they already have plenty of other needs to fill. Hoyer needs Mack as much as Mack needed his long-term deal. Any QB who the Browns draft, if pressed into service, will also need Mack, rather than adding yet another unknown variable in front of a young QB.

For these reasons, I'm glad to see the report that the Browns are likely to match. We can now all move on, stop hating Mack, realize this was about a professional doing what is right and best for himself, and a team deeming the value he brings to the organization to be worth what he is asking. We can get back to the season now: that is to say, get back to Brian Hoyer leading this team to the Super Bowl!!!

Add me on Twitter and don't miss a beat! @AkitaKid

GO BROWNS