The Browns would reportedly like to re-sign center Alex Mack before he can be enticed away from Cleveland by another team in free agency, but talks on a new deal haven’t started yet and won’t be starting in the immediate future.
Mack’s agent Marv Demoff told Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com that no discussions will take place until Mack returns from a humanitarian trip to Rio de Janeiro at the end of the month. There have not been any talks with the Browns since the sides couldn’t come to an agreement in October with planned January conversations put on hold as the Browns searched for a coach.
That search was followed by this month’s upheaval in the front office and Demoff said Mack wants to get a feel for the new regime before making a call. Demoff said all of the changes aren’t a dealbreaker for Mack, although he was close to former offensive line coach George Warhop and liked former head coach Rob Chudzinski.
“I really think not,” Demoff said. “I think that the most appropriate thing is to give the people there the opportunity to explain what happened, but also, most importantly, where they’re going and what they see ahead and whether that meshes with what Alex thinks. I’ve told him, and I think he’s totally willing to do it, to have a total open mind, start with a clean slate and see where it goes.”
Mack’s return date leaves little time for the new brass to meet with Mack and get a deal done before the 72-hour window for players to negotiate with other teams opens up on March 8, which may lead to a remake of Blame It On Rio in Cleveland this offseason.