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CLEVELAND -- The Browns arent letting Alex Mack walk away freely. The team locked the free agent Pro Bowl centre into a one-year, $10.039 million contract on Monday by designating him as their transition player. By using the transition tag instead of the franchise tag, Cleveland will have five days to match any offer to Mack made by other teams when free agency opens on March 11. If the Browns had used their franchise tag, Mack would have made $11.654 million next season. In the meantime, the Browns are expected to try and sign Mack to a long-term contract. The 6-foot-4, 311-pounder has been one of Clevelands best and most dependable players since the Browns drafted him in the first round in 2009. He has not missed one offensive play in five years, a run of 4,998 consecutive snaps. Mack may want to play elsewhere. He could draw serious interest as a free agent and he may be dismayed with the teams direction following another coaching change and front-office purge this winter. The Browns have gone just 23-57 since Mack arrived. The decision to make Mack their transition player also means Pro Bowl safety T.J. Ward is now a free agent. Ward had a solid 2013 season. He started all 16 games and made a career-high 129 tackles with two interceptions, returning one for a touchdown. With Ward seemingly no longer in their plans, the Browns could pursue Buffalo free safety Jairus Byrd, who was not tagged by the Bills. A three-time Pro Bowler, Byrd could be reunited in Cleveland with new Browns coach Mike Pettine, who spent last season as Buffalos defensive co-ordinator. Byrd turned down a multiyear offer from the Bills. He played under a one-year, $6.9 million franchise tag last year. The Browns have over $55 million in salary-cap room. As Cristiano Ronaldo continues to adapt his game, Gareth Bale has the chance to become Real Madrid’s most important attacking player, writes Adam Bate. According to Guillem Balague, it was only when it became apparent that Cristiano Ronaldo was likely to be staying at Real Madrid this summer that Robert Lewandowski cooled on the idea of signing for the Spanish club. It was the enormous potential of a Bale-Lewandowski partnership that appealed to the Pole. Competing with Ronaldo was a different matter.Its a nugget of information that puts Bales decision to join Real in the summer of 2013 into context. The Welshman had made his name at Tottenham by showcasing a similar skill-set to Ronaldo with his dribbles down the flank, long-range shots and distinct style of taking free-kicks. Indeed, Bale has visibly modelled his approach on the celebrated forward. So its perhaps understandable that there have been times in his three-year stay in Madrid that finding the right role within the team has not seemed straightforward. While predecessor Mesut Ozils reputation for selflessness complemented Ronaldo perfectly, Bales similarity was seen as something that counted against him. See Bales latest trick as he juggles a golf ball between a club and his feet The statistics bore that out in that first season. While the campaign was a triumphant one, culminating in a Champions League victory in which both men scored, Ronaldos presence did inhibit Bales effectiveness. In fact, he netted more goals in the seven games he started without Ronaldo than the 17 in which they were named in the starting line-up together.Even now his scoring record when Ronaldos not around is a goal a game. In his first two seasons in Madrid, he scored 19 in 44 starts when the Portuguese played too. However, those numbers began to change last season. Bale scored 15 goals in 19 La Liga games alongside Ronaldo and suggestions of issues between the pair began to dissipate. Bale stepping out of the shadow? With Ronaldo Without Ronaldo Apps Goals Apps Goals 2013/14 17 7 7 8 2014/15 27 12 3 1 2015/16 19 15 2 3 TOTAL 63 34 12 12 There were several factors in that.dddddddddddd Rafael Benitez had prioritised Bales positioning, giving him opportunities more centrally, and Zinedine Zidane continued to encourage this freedom of movement. But the biggest change was simply the ticking of time. The 31-year-old Ronaldo is a very different animal to the one that once tore at opposition defences.In their first season together, Bale and Ronaldo averaged 2.5 and 2.4 successful dribbles per 90 minutes respectively. But Ronaldos dribbling numbers have been falling year on year to such a degree that last season he recorded the lowest figures of his career to date. His dribbling days are all but over. Its as an accumulator of goals that he excels now. Dribbling differences Dribbles per 90 Gareth Bale Cristiano Ronaldo Difference 2013/14 2.5 2.4 +0.1 2014/15 2.3 1.6 +0.7 2015/16 2.2 1.4 +0.8 He is now just a goalscorer, La Liga expert Terry Gibson told Sky Sports. He is now almost a full centre-forward. It was in this role that Ronaldo helped Portugal to glory at the European Championship this summer, scoring three times - including the opener against Bales Wales in the semi-final - but seldom being involved in the build-up play.Ronaldos game has changed and the onus is on him to adapt. But for Bale, its an opportunity for him to seize the initiative and become the driving force of this Real Madrid team. The players who were once deemed too similar can now complement each other - the dribbler and the finisher. Those at the club are far from oblivious to the changes. Bale was told next season he would be the focal point of Real Madrid. When he has been given the opportunity, he has embraced it fully and enjoyed himself. Ronaldo has been limiting his influence on the game. Guillem Balague Bale was told next season he would be the focal point of Real Madrid, said Balague recently. When he has been given the opportunity, he has embraced it fully and enjoyed himself. Ronaldo has been limiting his influence on the game. He is picked to play in and around the box so there is more work to do for the others and more work to do for Bale.Bales efforts in France impressed in Spain. In his AS column, Lothar Matthaus rated him alongside Antoine Griezmann as one of the two faces of Euro 2016 while Marca talked of his reputation and importance to Real Madrid continuing to grow. A contract that expires in 2019 is expected to be extended to the summer of 2021 or beyond. In the more immediate future, theres a big season ahead. Bale reports for duty at the end of July having had some time to relax, proposing to his long-time partner and embarking on a golf tour of Scotland. His competitive return will come in the European Mega Cup against Sevilla in Trondheim in the first week of August. Ronaldo will not be fit.The plan for Zidane and Real is that the 2016/17 journey ends with what theyre already calling Duodecima - the clubs 12th European Cup success. And where is the final to be played? Bales home city of Cardiff. He might have lost his personal battle with Ronaldo at Euro 2016, but Bale could yet be the big winner as the power shifts at Real Madrid. Win Sky Q Ultra HD with Sky Sports 43 LG TV plus a Sky Q Ultra HD package including Sky Sports to be won EVERY DAY - enter now! Also See: WATCH: Bales golf skills Ronaldo wants new deal ' ' '