One of the closest players to Alex Mack said he thinks the two-time Pro Bowl center will be back with the Browns -- at least for this season.
"There's no doubt that he'll be here at least this year," Joe Thomas told local reporters at the Cleveland premiere showing of the movie "Draft Day."
"I think that's for certain. I certainly hope we can sign him to a long-term deal and keep him here for much longer than I am here."
Reports surfaced last weekend that Mack had visited the Jacksonville Jaguars and they might be poised to make a contract offer to the restricted free agent.
Owner Jimmy Haslam was also at the showing of a fictional movie about the Browns and told reporters he expected Mack to be remain with the Browns.
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"We remain optimistic that Alex Mack will be a Cleveland Brown for a long time," Haslam said.
The Browns placed the transition tag on Mack, which would allow the Browns to match any offer made to him. If Mack signs the transition offer from the Browns, he would be paid $10.039 million for the 2014 season--nearly $2 million more than the nearest center is currently being paid.
If the Browns chose to not match an offer made to Mack within five days, they would receive no compensation. Haslam was asked if the Browns were prepared to match any offer made to Mack.
"We want Alex to be a Cleveland Brown."
