Quotable: Alex Mack meets with the Jaguars, Geno Smith is ‘the guy’ in New York
The Jaguars hosted Alex Mack for dinner on Friday night and could try to pry him away from the Browns despite the transition tag.
David Richard-US PRESSWIRE
-Alfie Crow, Big Cat Country
The Jacksonville Jaguars have met with Cleveland Browns center Alex Mack, according to a report from SB Nation's Jaguars site, Big Cat Country.
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While technically not a free agent, Mack is allowed to meet with and negotiate with other teams in the NFL as he has not yet signed the transition tag that he was given by the Browns earlier in the offseason. By the rules of the tag, Mack can reach an agreement with any team and the Browns will have five days to match the offer.
The Jaguars were originally thought as a potential landing place for the two-time Pro Bowler, but the market went dry for Mack after he received the transition tag. Instead, the team signed former Denver Broncos guard Zane Beadles, but still have a hole at center where Brad Meester played for more than a decade before retiring.
Crow writes the Jaguars may have to be innovative in their negotiations to avoid allowing the Browns to match an offer:
The Jaguars could have to have a creative contract to pry him away from Cleveland, likely front loading a deal in the first two years and making the Browns dump a lot of cap room into the position in 2014 and 2015.
“They want Geno to be the guy...He’d have to have a really bad preseason to lose [the starting job]”
-Rich Cimini, ESPN New York
The New York Jets haven't declared a starter yet and have newly added Michael Vick ready to compete for the role in training camp, but according to Rich Cimini of ESPN New York, the job is Geno Smith's to lose.
Smith was selected in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Jets and was thrust into the starting lineup after Mark Sanchez suffered an injury in preseason that proved to be season-ending. In 16 starts, Smith led the Jets to an 8-8 record, but had 21 interceptions compared to just 12 touchdowns.
The Jets announced the signing of Vick less than an hour after officially releasing Sanchez in March after the former No. 1 overall selection was allowed to leave in free agency by the Philadelphia Eagles. In 42 starts with the Eagles, Vick accumulated 57 touchdowns and 33 interceptions, but was eventually supplanted in the starting lineup by Nick Foles.
“He’s going to have a lot to do with our success next year, and we’ve got a lot of big plans for him.”
-John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens head coach
A day after the Baltimore Ravens added tight end Owen Daniels to the mix, head coach John Harbaugh was very complimentary of the new addition and raved about the ways the team will able to use the 6'3, 245-pound receiving threat.
In eight seasons with the Houston Texans, Daniels earned two trips to the Pro Bowl and 4,617 receiving yards. Both his yardage and his career receiving touchdowns with the team (29) rank second all-time for the franchise. He was released by the team in March to avoid a cap hit of more than $6 million for the 2014 season.
Daniels will presumably battle for playing time with Dennis Pitta, who missed all but four games due to injury in 2013. In four seasons with the Ravens, Pitta has 1,244 career receiving yards and 11 touchdowns.
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“We’re going to look for another back with just some all-around ability, with size and speed, some explosiveness and possibly one that could stay on the field all three downs.”
-Ruston Webster, Tennessee Titans general manager
With the impending departure of Chris Johnson, the Tennessee Titans have Shonn Greene and Dexter McCluster to provide in the backfield. According to the team's general manager Ruston Webster, that might not be enough for the team.
Instead they could look to add another player to their backfield in the 2014 NFL Draft by selecting a running back that could be the future for the team at the position. Webster told ESPN’s Paul Kuharsky that the team will look to add an all-around back that could be the featured back for the team in upcoming seasons.
Among the potential running backs that fit the mold that Webster discussed include Bishop Sankey, Ka’Deem Carey, Carlos Hyde and Charles Sims, among others.
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