I don't see a scenario where CLE drops the tag or we work a trade. The only way we land him is if we overpay with a heavily frontloaded contract. The deals CLE has done thus far are paying more in 2014 than the players they replaced. While CLE will have the $ to match, I don't know that they will mortgage their future to lock up a C who doesn't want to be there. They have plenty of needs too. I honestly think Dave and Mack are just waiting for CLE to sign more guys and eat into that 2014 cap # before they make a move.

The thing is, with the transition tag he will cost 10 mil against their cap, so they are prepared to take a big cap hit either way.

 

Plus, you can only front load so much without handicapping your own free agent moves. We really don't have an advantage over them with that.

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Isn't there a penalty for Cleveland as well if they rescind the Tag? I thought doing that has some restrictions down the road for the team.

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I'm trying to make myself more informed and less opinionated.

Stop saying whatever stupid thing you're talking about and pay attention to all the interesting things I have to say!

The tough nut to crack in getting Mack is he is guaranteed $10m for a 1 year deal right now, and you are looking at $7.7-8.2m per year deal if you use Nick Mangold and Ryan Kalil long term deals as an estimate. It is a ton of money for a center, and the existing team (Browns) have cap, the right to match, don't want to lose him, and have already committed to overpaying him in his one year deal with use of the tag.

In contrast, a quality center like Mike Pouncey playing on his 4 year rookie deal is playing for just over $2m per year. The top 10 paid NFL centers (excluding Mangold and Kalil) are all paid (full cost with bonuses) between $4-6m per year.

As good as Mack is as a center, are you ready to pay him likely $8-9m per year? Too rich for my blood for a center.

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Isn't there a penalty for Cleveland as well if they rescind the Tag? I thought doing that has some restrictions down the road for the team.

As far as I know, they just can't use it again until next year.

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I am not a capologist. But that $10M basically locks him up for one year. They wouldn't pay him that annually. They have a number in mind as to what his value is and we do as well. They have $10M committed to Dansby alone for 2014. If Farmer keeps signing deals like this (committing a lot to the 2014 #), I think we have a shot. Again, I feel we will need to pay above market value and commit a lot of money to that 2014 # to even have a fighting chance. CLE has good leverage, but I think they have been aggressive in FA and if that trend continues, it helps our odds. I have not been impressed with the contracts they have done thus far. That organization is such a mess, they have to pay more to attract guys. We need to see how it plays out and give our best shot at it when the timing is right. Then we need to sit for 5 days and wait some more to see if it pays off.

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Only a chump boos the home team!

I am not a capologist. But that $10M basically locks him up for one year. They wouldn't pay him that annually. They have a number in mind as to what his value is and we do as well. They have $10M committed to Dansby alone for 2014. If Farmer keeps signing deals like this (committing a lot to the 2014 #), I think we have a shot. Again, I feel we will need to pay above market value and commit a lot of money to that 2014 # to even have a fighting chance. CLE has good leverage, but I think they have been aggressive in FA and if that trend continues, it helps our odds. I have not been impressed with the contracts they have done thus far. That organization is such a mess, they have to pay more to attract guys. We need to see how it plays out and give our best shot at it when the timing is right. Then we need to sit for 5 days and wait some more to see if it pays off.

The browns are going to make sure they have plenty of cap space to protect him. We can only front load so much because it becomes to risky to pay a player too much up front due to the possibility of under performance or injury.

 

I really don't see a way around it without the browns backing down, either because they come to the conclusion that a disgruntled Mack isn't worth 10 million or some one sweetens the deal for them.

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Another advantage Cleveland has is they can out wait us. We could be forced to commit ourselves to another direction before a viable opportunity to make an offer presents itself.

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I don't know how we could sweeten a deal. I don't recall a team ever giving a player or pick not to match an offer. The tag gives them that right.

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Only a chump boos the home team!

I don't know how we could sweeten a deal. I don't recall a team ever giving a player or pick not to match an offer. The tag gives them that right.

I think trades have been made for franchise tagged players before so I don't see why it can't be applied to the transition tag.

 

Trades are all about relinquishing rights. They would agree to forfeit their right to match in exchange for us forfeiting our rights to a draft pick to them.

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According to ESPN 27.2 million as of now, 2nd most in the league.  We're # 1 at 28.3

Looks like espn was incorrect.  This link gives all 32 teams and is updated 4 times a day.  We're at 39.5 mil now

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When you get into the endzone, act like you've been there before.

Looks like espn was incorrect.  This link gives all 32 teams and is updated 4 times a day.  We're at 39.5 mil now

https://www.nflplayers.com/reports/RunPu...port=top51

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When you get into the endzone, act like you've been there before.

Looks like espn was incorrect.  This link gives all 32 teams and is updated 4 times a day.  We're at 39.5 mil now

They were correct, just your link was for the 2013 numbers.

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It may have happened before, but I don't recall draft picks being traded for a transition tag player. Franchise tag, yes. We aren't giving up jack. It's gonna come down to whatever offer we put on the table and whether they wanna match.

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Only a chump boos the home team!

It may have happened before, but I don't recall draft picks being traded for a transition tag player. Franchise tag, yes. We aren't giving up jack. It's gonna come down to whatever offer we put on the table and whether they wanna match.

I don't see us offering something they won't match. I think we will probably do like indy and just go in a different direction.

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You miss 100% of the shots you never take.

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Only a chump boos the home team!

You miss 100% of the shots you never take.

It takes a lot of time and energy to negotiate and draw up a contract that has very little chance of benefiting you. That is why you haven't see anyone offer him a contract and likely won't unless Cleveland backs down.

 

The most likely thing that would happen if a contract were offered would be Mack not accepting it in order to prevent Cleveland from being able to match. He would play this year for his guaranteed 10 mill and become a free agent next year. The expected tag will be 12 mill next year, so it is unlikely that they will use it again. Eight figures two years in a row is way too much for a center.

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Jags not going after Mack https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=...=1&theater

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Jags not going after Mack https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=...=1&theater

 

link says unavailable

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I believe he is in play, but maybe that is just because I want to believe it. I also believe Mila Kunis only got engaged to Ashton Kutcher as a desperate attempt to get my attention. Sorry babe. I've told you. I am happily married

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Only a chump boos the home team!

An argument could be made to not overpay him in a long term deal (and possibly give up a draft pick to entice Brown's not to match as some have suggested) this year, and wait until next year's free agency period when Cleveland will not tag him for over $12m for another one year deal. Instead, sign a cheaper free agent patch, try for a season the winner of a competition between Brewster, Lewis, and Rackley, or use one of eleven draft picks on a center.

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