http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000640697/article/alex-mack-voids-browns-deal-will-test-free-agency

It would be a huge win for us if we could pick up Alex Mack and at around 9 million a year it would be a bigger improvement to our team than that 9 million we spent on Leon Hall.

Mack would be a huge upgrade for our O-line.

Alex Mack's new deal will have a lot of money. He's going to top Rodney Hudson's contract and that's 5 yrs/$44.5 million. The Bengals are going to be too focused on their own to sign Mack.

(03-02-2016, 05:38 PM)Bengal Dude Wrote: Alex Mack's new deal will have a lot of money. He's going to top Rodney Hudson's contract and that's 5 yrs/$44.5 million. The Bengals are going to be too focused on their own to sign Mack.

We can always dream can't we?

I didn't watch the Browns to know for sure, but I do read their board here and there and they say Mack never recovered from the broken leg. They were pretty hard on him last season for as great of a rep he has around the league.

(03-02-2016, 05:40 PM)magikod Wrote: We can always dream can't we?

I've given up on dreaming about the Bengals signing someone like Mack. I truly believe that Bodine will still be our center next season.

(03-02-2016, 05:43 PM)jj22 Wrote: I didn't watch the Browns to know for sure, but I do read their board here and there and they say Mack never recovered from the broken leg. They were pretty hard on him last season for as great of a rep he has around the league.

I read their boards as well and they pretty much ripped every single player on their roster. You would've thought that Joe Haden was worse than Artrell Hawkins by the way they talked about him.

(03-02-2016, 05:43 PM)jj22 Wrote: I didn't watch the Browns to know for sure, but I do read their board here and there and they say Mack never recovered from the broken leg. They were pretty hard on him last season for as great of a rep he has around the league.

It was pretty fair criticism.
He never did recover fully. So any deal he does get will have to be based on a mix of reputation and hoping he returns to form. 
Could come cheaper than most think

Of course we'll just say Bodine is da bomb at Center rather than open the checkbook and give the running game and interior pass protection a huge boost.

Alex Mack would only happen if the Bengals don't re-sign MLJ, Adam, Iloka, and Nelson. Even then, when was the last time the Bengals invested good money in an elite center?

some of our free agents will hit the market.  Losing hall and Iloka while acquiring mack for 10 million a year would be a win for us.  Sign mack, pacman, and nelson.  Call it a day

We won't be making a lot of big splashes in free agency because [INSERT STOCK EXCUSE HERE]!

If it's ever a cap issue, you can just cut Kirkpatrick and you save $7.5m. (Which should happen anyway, $7.5m is ridiculous for a bust and one of the worst CB in the league.)

Use that to pay the majority of Mack's 2016 cap hit.

(03-02-2016, 06:14 PM)ochocincos Wrote: Alex Mack would only happen if the Bengals don't re-sign MLJ, Adam, Iloka, and Nelson. Even then, when was the last time the Bengals invested good money in an elite center?

Why is one available? 

(03-02-2016, 07:20 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: If it's ever a cap issue, you can just cut Kirkpatrick and you save $7.5m. (Which should happen anyway, $7.5m is ridiculous for a bust and one of the worst CB in the league.)

Use that to pay the majority of Mack's 2016 cap hit.

If the team really wanted Mack, they certainly could make the moves to free up the money.  However, just as with LB, they don't seem put much of a premium on the C position.  So, while I would like to see the Bengals solidify the position, forming possibly the best OL in football, I think that we're all just wishing in the wind.

(03-02-2016, 07:34 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: If the team really wanted Mack, they certainly could make the moves to free up the money.  However, just as with LB, they don't seem put much of a premium on the C position.  So, while I would like to see the Bengals solidify the position, forming possibly the best OL in football, I think that we're all just wishing in the wind.

very few top centers ever hit free agency and its more likely they spend money on a center than a line backer or something else they feel they can draft.  Centers typically age well and it would be a good investment. Another reason this may be an option is because the center position transitions well regardless of system. while something like linebacker or wide receiver is more difficult to learn a new system.

I would like us to make a run at him but we probably won't :/

(03-02-2016, 07:39 PM)Okeana Wrote: very few top centers ever hit free agency and its more likely they spend money on a center than a line backer or something else they feel they can draft.  Centers typically age well and it would be a good investment.  Another reason this may be an option is because the center position transitions well regardless of system.  while something like linebacker or wide receiver is more difficult to learn a new system.

I agree with everything that you say.  I just don't think that the Bengals will put premium dollars on the Center position, just as they seem to devalue the LB position. 

However, fair enough to speculate that as a position group, with the likely exit of Andre Smith, and Whit being on perhaps his last contract, Ced and Fisher being on their rookie deals, and Boling locked into a reasonable deal; they could feasibly go after Mack, but then I would find it unlikely that Zeitler would be in the budget when his time comes.

I'd love this just because it would solidify our line and open up the draft for us more.

I think the Browns will do everything in their power to match and one-up any offer, but maybe he's tired of losing and would come here at 9 a year.

Let's hope so.

(03-02-2016, 05:43 PM)jj22 Wrote: I didn't watch the Browns to know for sure, but I do read their board here and there and they say Mack never recovered from the broken leg. They were pretty hard on him last season for as great of a rep he has around the league.

That kinda scares me. He is getting older seems like he has been around awhile. I have respect for the name. But its not like I am an avid Browns watcher. Twice a year is pretty much it. A big name older guy is general a good start when you want to think of free agent flops. 

And he opted out of his big contract because he expects even more. 

A first and second round pick last year , two high paid guards , a high paid left tackle , and one of the Bengals super rare trade up targets entering his 3rd year that plays the same position. 

As far as unrealistic dreams. Mack is up towards the top of that list.

(03-03-2016, 02:29 AM)NATI BENGALS Wrote: That kinda scares me. He is getting older seems like he has been around awhile. I have respect for the name. But its not like I am an avid Browns watcher. Twice a year is pretty much it. A big name older guy is general a good start when you want to think of free agent flops. 

And he opted out of his big contract because he expects even more. 

A first and second round pick last year , two high paid guards , a high paid left tackle , and one of the Bengals super rare trade up targets entering his 3rd year that plays the same position. 

As far as unrealistic dreams. Mack is up towards the top of that list.

His age isn't really that big of a concern to me, as many of the OL greats have played well into their mid to later 30s.  Any performance issues are likely because he was rushed back into service by a desperate and crummy team.  If the Bengals were to throw down the cash for a player like Mack, I'd like to see the deal be for 4-5 years.