Rookie Mack could be the center of attention

Akron Beacon Journal

BEREA — After one of the Cleveland Browns’ training camp two-a-days, rookie center Alex Mack couldn’t take the heat.

So the longtime California resident headed to Wal-Mart and purchased the proper tools to give himself a buzz cut.

“I couldn’t handle it anymore and I didn’t have time for a haircut, so I did it myself,” Mack said, shooting down the notion that he’d been the victim of a mad clipper during rookie hazing.

But when it comes to perhaps the second-best position battle of preseason, Mack has handled the heat just fine.

Last week’s depth chart still had 10-year veteran Hank Fraley listed as the starting center. But Mack and Fraley alternated series with the first team in last weekend’s preseason victory over the Detroit Lions. How Mack performed in Saturday night’s Game 3 against the visiting Tennessee Titans could go a long way in determining who wins the job for the Sept. 13 opener against the Minnesota Vikings.

“Every game has been a big game,” Mack said. “I’m looking forward to seeing what this game is, what kind of plays we’re going to run, how I do with them.”

When he took over as coach of the New York Jets in 2006, Browns coach Eric Mangini drafted Ohio State center Nick Mangold with the 29th overall pick. Mangold became the first center in the Jets’ history to start every game of his rookie season. He hasn’t missed a start in three seasons and was voted to his first Pro Bowl in 2008.

When Mangini got frustrated with Mack, who ran a lot of penalty laps the first two weeks of training camp, he looked at the notes he kept from 2006 on Mangold.

“You go through a lot of the same ups and downs with rookies,” Mangini said. “What’s important for me is to remember all the things these guys are going through. It’s different from guys who have been in the league for a year or two.”