Alex Mack's Injury Hurts the Cleveland Browns More Than Just on the Field

When the Cleveland Browns sideline emptied and every player took the time to give respects before center Alex Mack was carted off the field on Sunday, it was more than a friendly gesture. They were honoring a fallen comrade. They were paying homage to a man who had become so much more than a teammate.

Mack is the highest-paid center in the NFL. Much to his chagrin, he was given the transition tag by the Browns in the offseason. There were reports that he wanted to play elsewhere and even signed a five-year, $42 million offer sheet with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Can you imagine Mack in Jacksonville? Somehow the sunshine, empty seats and hot tubs near the end zone don’t fit his personality. Even though Mack is a kid from California, he is Cleveland through and through.

Just like those who were born and raised in Cleveland, Mack had thoughts of leaving for greener pastures. It has crossed just about all of our minds at some point. It isn’t always easy being from this part of the country. Through five full seasons in the NFL, Mack had never been a part of a team that won more than five games.

In his short and prosperous NFL career, Mack has seen four head coaches, two owners and countless front-office personnel saunter through the building in Berea. Even though everything around him was in a constant state of chaos, Mack never gave less than full effort.

It would have been easy for a two-time Pro Bowl center to miss garbage time at the end of a season. he could have easily faked an injury. It would have been understandable.

Despite the built-in excuse, Mack never cut a corner. He played every snap of all 85 games since entering the league in 2009. He has played through countless nicks and small injuries that every NFL lineman gets.

How tough is Alex Mack? In 2011, Mack played an entire game with appendicitis. He was vomiting during practice on Thursday, played through the “flu like” symptoms on Sunday and by the time he finally went to the Cleveland Clinic on Monday they had to rush him into surgery.

Mack was back to start the very next game after the bye week.

"One of the first things he asked for (after surgery Monday) was his grade sheet from Sunday," former head coach Pat Shurmur told The Akron Beacon Journal the day after Mack’s surgery.

That’s just the way Mack is. He is a lunch-pale, blue-collar kind of player. He takes great pride in his teammates being able to depend on him and takes even greater pride in his opponents hating his guts.

Last week, I spoke to rookie guard Joel Bitonio about his ever-growing reputation of being a nuisance to defensive lineman because he blocks all the way through the whistle. It was no surprise that his answer immediately made reference to Mack.

“I think any good offensive lineman wants to try and play as hard as they can to the whistle,” Bitonio told me after practice. “Playing with Alex Mack, he is probably the best I’ve seen at it. He plays right up to the whistle and he gets under people’s skin better than anybody.”

I then asked him if he minded that he and Mack were considered agitators around the league.

“No, we’re just playing football.”

And that is exactly what Mack does. He plays football as hard as he can, as often as he can and does not stop until the whistle blows. Just like the citizens of Cleveland, Mack does his job and tries not to make excuses.

That is why it was so tough to see Mack get loaded onto a cart against Pittsburgh with a 14-3 advantage and the offense driving down the field. No one on the roster would have enjoyed a thorough beatdown of the Pittsburgh Steelers more than Mack.

"

The league’s highest-paid center, Alex Mack, is on the cart in Cleveland. He’s never missed a snap in his @nfl career.

— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) October 12, 2014"

"

Every member of #Browns goes to greet Alex Mack, who responds to cheers with thumbs up. Left leg wrapped.

— PatMcManamon (@PatMcManamon) October 12, 2014"

“The only thing I can say is; Alex Mack is one guy who deserved to be out there with us today,” left tackle Joe Thomas told the media after the game. “I think it was a shame that he wasn’t able to do that and that is a very huge disappointment.”

Thomas was obviously emotional and admitted as much to Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer after the game.

"It was pretty emotional for me,” said Thomas. “We've played every snap together for six years. … I was shocked to see a smile on his face. That just says everything you need to know about him. He is the most unselfish guy I know.''

That character trait is the exact reason why Browns fans love Mack so much. He embodies what they feel their town represents. He is hard-nosed, fearless and never takes crap from anyone.

That character trait is also why his teammates, current and former alike, love him so much. He is the type of guy who will go down fighting for you before he ever lets an opponent get the better of you.

"

I can't tell you enough how freakishly gifted Alex Mack is. Or how much he means to this team.

— Scott Fujita (@sfujita55) October 12, 2014"

According to The Cleveland Plain Dealer, Mack broke his fibula and will likely miss the entire season. That is a terrible break (no pun intended) for a guy who just wants to play winning football. He was all but guaranteed the highest winning season of his career.

The Browns already have three victories, and their next three opponents have won just one game combined. One of those opponents is the Jacksonville Jaguars. That was nearly where Mack would have played this season.

I am sure Mack had thoughts about playing near the beach and being in a place like his hometown of Santa Barbara, California for the next four seasons. It was probably a pleasant vision at the time.

But that just would not have fit Mack. He is a Cleveland guy, and this is where he belongs. Even though he won’t be on the field to help the Browns when they travel to Jacksonville next week, I guarantee he won’t let himself think about what could have been.

That’s not how Mack is built. The only thing on his mind will be the hope that his brothers on the field pull out the victory. Mack is winner. He is the best kind of teammate. That doesn’t change with him on the sidelines.

In fact, it only boosts the fact that he is type of guy everyone in the NFL wants to play with. It only boosts the fact that he is exactly the type of guy Clevelanders want representing their city.

He deserves that respect and recognition, but he would never ask for it. That’s just not how Mack rolls.

All quotes and observations were gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted.