Alex Mack selected by Cleveland

Coming into today, it was difficult to find a mock draft that had Alex Mack listed as the top center in the 2009 NFL Draft.

Bear Backers were convinced that he was the best center and apparently, the Cleveland Browns also felt the same way.

With the Cleveland Browns fourth opportunity to take a pick in the first round, they finally stood pat and selected Mack with the 21st pick in the NFL Draft.  The Browns, originally slotted with the fifth pick of the draft, traded down three times.  The trades netted them several veterans and five more draft picks in this year's draft.

Maybe the biggest sign of respect for the pick of Mack was that every television draft scout approved.  Mel Kiper, Todd McShay, Mike Mayock, and the rest of their panelists had nothing but good things to say about the former Cal Bear.

Mack's selection makes him only the eigth center taken in the first round since 1988.  It's exactly what he wanted.  While telling me that he liked fellow Pac-10 center Max Unger and saying that he wished him luck, he made sure to also state that he wanted to be the first center taken in the draft.

Cleveland showed signs of interest as late as this last week.  Mack was flown out to Cleveland and apparently that last meeting was what formed the Browns' draft plans.  They must like what Mack says he brings to the table:

I'm a hard worker.  I'll be there probably year round working hard every day, doing everything that needs to be the best as possible.  I never missed a snap for the three years I started.  So I'm pretty durable, and I'm a hard worker, a guy who can do the right things all the time and a good player.

The system Mack will be in is more suitable to his preferences as well.  I had asked if he'd rather be part of a zone blocking scheme or be asked to drive block and he was adamant as a drive blocker.  Part of that reason was due to the fact that it gives him the opportunity to get to the second level and do his favorite thing - cut defensive backs.

I prefer to drive.  I like to drive people than kind of fall off and be at the line of scrimmage.  But I like cutting at the second level when a linebacker or DB or someone gets near you, just to take out their legs.  They're always going to be faster than you because they weigh about 100 lbs. less, at least, and you just, I mean if try and keep up and push 'em it doesn't always do as a good a job as just taking out their legs and make them fall on the ground.  Plus, it's fun to see them fall.  You know, they hate it when you get their legs and it's one of those things where you keep 'em honest so they can't just full out and just hit you, then you might cut 'em and you keep all them honest.  So those are things I like to do and whenever we had pads on in practice, it's a fun hobby sometimes to cut a scout player.  I was smart about it and I'd make sure they'd see me.  I'm not trying to like ruin my teammates knees.  I just think it's fun to keep them on their toes.

He should have a lot of fun in the NFL.  If he plays like he has as a Golden Bear, the Dawg Pound is going to love him.  If nothing else, Mack will bring the sort of mentality and fire that will help keep Brady Quinn off of his back, but it's his mean streak that will help their running game out.

When asked about his mean streak, he was very honest about what kind of player he'll be in the NFL:

I think I'd be one of the nastier players around.  I think I really get after people and I'm definitely full-go.  Between the whistle, I'm a nightmare probably, but when it comes to all the other things, I think I'm pretty civil.  So after the whistle blows, I'll stop pushing and I'll just walk away.

Woof!  Woof!  Woof!  From what I hear, that's Dawg Pound speak for "Heck Yeah!"

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