Browns Alex Mack will give team opportunity to match if he hits open market

The Cleveland Browns have two potential free agents looming if they do not get deals done before March.  Both appear to want to be back in Cleveland next year.  T.J. Ward has already said he wants to be back, but center Alex Mack has made it clear he would like to stay as the pivot for the Browns offensive line.  The Pro Bowl center was asked if he would give the Browns the opportunity to match any offer he received in free agency and responded with “Oh, absolutely.”

"“Being in Cleveland is nice,” Mack told cleveland.com last week. “I have good friends on the team, I like the coaches, it’s a nice place.”"

The only issue Mack would not comment on would be if he would like to hit the free agent market.  And it is difficult to blame him in that sense.  He could end up getting more money if he hits the market.

"“This is where I’m going to be mum on things,” he said. “Most of it is trying to not get distracted during the season.”"

When the season started, both he and the Browns opted to put off negotiations until after the season, because Mack was not interested in having distractions during the year.

Mack also has teammates including Joe Thomas lobbying for him to remain a Cleveland Brown.  Since being drafted in 2009, Mack and Thomas have been the lone established pieces on the Browns offensive line and they hope to continue adding to it.