Two years ago, the Jaguars signed Browns center Alex Mack, restricted at the time by the transition tag, to an offer sheet that gave him the power to void the deal in 2016. The Browns exercised their right to match the deal, which means that Mack soon will have to decide whether to take $8 million to stay with the Browns or go elsewhere.
Mack, who risks undermining his market value by possibly suffering an injury in a meaningless Pro Bowl, addressed his situation in Hawaii. Via Steve Doerschuk of the Canton Repository, Mack told NFL.com that he hasn’t ruled out staying with the Browns, due to the changes the team has made this offseason.
“It was good to leave the season, take some time off and let that all shake out,” Mack said Thursday. “Really happy they got everything handled early and they found their guy. They’re getting a staff together quickly. It’s going in the right direction. I think they’ve got good things going in the right places.”
Mack could void the deal and then sign a new one with the Browns, using interest that another team may have in him as leverage to get Cleveland to give him more than he’s currently due to make. And if he thinks he can make more that way, he should do it.
As always, fans praise owners for making shrewd moves, but then call players greedy for trying to do the same thing. Mack, 30, should get every penny he can while he can get it, from whatever team wants to give it to him.