Quote:So basically the Browns can release him in 2 years, but what does that get them? They pay an exorbitant amount to a Center (highest paid player at his position) for years when they won't be competitive (they still don't have a QB). By time they possibly draft or develop a QB the anchor of their line is out the door and Thomas isn't getting any younger either. The fact Caldwell took a shot and "kicked the tires" so to speak shows he's serious about building a sustained winner. Of course, he could've floated a 15million annual salary and began the slow decent to hell again....

I don't think it's that they can release him, it's more that it will be easy for Mack to opt out. The optimist in me thinks that language was a plan B of sorts. I really think Mack wanted to be here and saw the direction this team was heading. Assuming in two years that Mack is fed up with Cleveland and we still don't have a center then we could still have Mack as a plan B... Or maybe I read too much into it.

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