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Cleveland Browns center Alex Mack has voided the three years remaining on his contract and is set to become an unrestricted free agent, according to multiple reports Wednesday. The 30-year-old Mack had $24 million remaining on the deal, including $8 million guaranteed.
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Mack's return to the Browns is still possible, his agent, Tim Younger, told Cleveland.com.
"We view Alex's decision to void as procedural,'' Younger said Wednesday. "It was built into his contract to afford him maximum flexibility. For the first time in his career, he will be experiencing true free agency. Although we anticipate interest from multiple teams, he was very impressed with Hue Jackson and returning to the Browns certainly remains on the table.''
A source also told ESPN's Adam Schefter that a return to Cleveland is still "very probable."
Mack, a three-time Pro Bowler, visited with the Browns in February, meeting with new head coach Hue Jackson, director of football operations Sashi Brown and new offensive line coach Hal Hunter.
"We had good discussions, both Hue and I separately with Alex about how we go about winning in Cleveland and also what his role would be in that,'' Brown recently told Cleveland.com. "He also spent some time with Hal Hunter to understand what day-to-day will be like in that O-line room and at practice what will be expected of him. Alex obviously is a very talented center, been a stalwart on our offensive line for a long time.''
Mack, a first-round pick by Cleveland in 2009, likely will become the highest paid center in the NFL again at $10 million a year or more.
The 6-foot-4, 311-pound Mack had to make a decision on the opt-out by March 4 with unrestricted free agency beginning March 9. It is in his contract that he cannot be tagged, according to ESPN.
Other teams can enter into negotiations with Mack on March 7 and complete a deal with him on March 9 when the new league season begins.
