Alouettes, Austin Mack interested in completing long-term extension

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With a second child on the way this October, and having had four cracks at NFL employment, Austin Mack knows a good thing when he sees it.

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The Alouettes receiver has come to realize his future lies in the CFL and would like to make Montreal his home.

In the final year of his contract, and having returned to the Als this week following his release by the Atlanta Falcons, Mack has confirmed a report this week in The Gazette that a long-term extension could be imminent.

“I’m ready to make that next step for sure. We’re working with the team to make sure we can dial in on a long-term deal,” Mack said Wednesday, following his first practice with the Als at St-Léonard’s Stade Hébert. “Once that’s done, I’m all in.

“Knowing the situation with my family, returning was a no-brainer. I’m looking for stability. Bouncing around and trying to find a home isn’t the best thing for them. My family comes first.”

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Als general manager Danny Maciocia was believed to have approached Mack on a contract extension following Montreal’s Grey Cup victory against Winnipeg last November. According to a CFL source, the Als were offering an annual deal in the $240,000 range. But after catching 78 passes for 1,154 yards and four touchdowns, along with being named a league all-star, Mack wanted one more crack at the NFL.

He received that in January, signed by the Falcons. Although the deal included a signing bonus initially believed to be near US$100,000, Mack, 26, failed to stick with a team that went 7-10 last season and fired head coach Arthur Smith.

“I gave it my best shot,” said Mack, 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds. “It comes down to politics and the situation. You drafted guys you’re going to put on the field over a guy who’s a journeyman. I was undrafted in 2020. I’m still that borderline 53rd guy.”

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Released by the Falcons on Aug. 12, Mack and Maciocia met for lunch in Orlando last week while the GM was in Florida scouting NFL training camps. Mack made it clear he was prepared to return to the Als and is expected to play Sunday night, when Montreal hosts Edmonton.

To make room on the active roster for Mack, the Als have placed receiver Reggie White Jr. on the practice roster. White, who didn’t play last season while recovering from a knee injury, has been held to 16 catches for 240 yards in six games, while scoring four touchdowns.

“When (Mack) was released he called me right away; I didn’t have to wait for the waiver wire,” Maciocia said. “We don’t have (a contract extension) as we speak. Is it on the horizon? I don’t know. Have we discussed the potential of an extension? Yes. Have we concluded anything? No. I’m open to it and so are the Montreal Alouettes.

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“He provides us with a little more depth. He’s a good player who’s obviously going to garner some attention. Teams are probably going to have to game-plan us a little bit differently. I guess by default that makes us a little bit better.”

The Als have the CFL’s best record at 9-1, and ended last season with an eight-game winning streak, including playoffs and the Cup. Mack’s return comes at an opportune time, with the team already losing starting receivers Tyson Philpot, Kaion Julien-Grant and Tyler Snead to injuries. But Montreal this weekend welcomes back starting quarterback Cody Fajardo, out since July 11 with a hamstring injury.

With only cosmetic changes made to the Als’ playbook, it shouldn’t take long for Mack to get up to speed, according to head coach Jason Maas.

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“We’re gaining an experienced player that we know extremely well,” Maas said. “He had a great season for us last year and is a great football player. We’re just adding depth to our lineup at the right time as well. We’re definitely excited to have him back.

“He’ll catch on,” Maas added. “He has done a good job since he’s been here … looking at the playbook from camp and studying the plays we’ve called, getting acclimated. Not a lot has changed. There are wrinkles everybody needs to learn and he needed to learn. But he’ll be just fine.”

Mack caught seven passes for 91 yards with the New York Giants in 2020, and also had brief stints with Tennessee and San Francisco. While it might take him a game to regain his CFL comfort level, he has no doubt he’ll add production to an already strong club.

“You know what I bring to the game,” he said. “You’re all going to see it. I’m excited to put it out there.”

hzurkowsky@postmedia.com

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