2018 Browns' Chronicles: Week 16

By: Kris Mead

It was the first time since 2002 that the Browns were able to sweep their in-state divisional rival, the Cincinnati Bengals. Baker Mayfield played lights out with statistics that propelled him to be the front runner for this year’s Offensive Rookie of The Year. The two aforementioned sentences are true, but they aren’t prevalent when one does a Google search under “Cleveland Browns” or “Baker Mayfield.” Instead the two most popular headlines deal with Baker’s in game antics (specifically staring down his former head coach, and now Bengals Special Assistant to The Head Coach, Hue Jackson) and the sale of the Cleveland Browns’ Quarterbacks RV, which was featured in this year’s HBO series called, Hardknocks.

The best way to sum up Baker Mayfield, from a Browns fan’s perspective is, “He is an asshole, but he is our asshole.” Baker’s stare down of Hue “Clueless” Jackson was conducted after Baker completed a pass to tight end (and drop expert), David Njoku. As Baker was running down the Bengals’ sideline he passed Hue “Clueless” Jackson and proceeded to stare him down as he ran by. This antic was not needed, but Baker’s press conference answers, as he was inevitably asked questions about his action, were not only chauvinistic, but economically stupid. Take this priceless gem from Baker:

  "I don't get why people have a problem with football being a competitive sport. You're supposed to play with emotion, you're supposed to play with passion. Quite honestly, if you don't like it, whatever. Football's not meant to be a soft game. Could care less."

Some would say Baker’s dismissive attitude and refusal to even consider how his antics could not only hurt his team, feed the competitive fire of other teams, and hurt his own future hiring prospects, is how he gets his team “fired up.” That’s a load of crap. If getting paid millions of dollars isn’t enough motivation to play well, but rather having a rookie quarterback create a circus act on the field is, then the priorities in the organization are at an all-time low. What is causing the team to play well isn’t Baker’s antics, but his ability to play extremely well. If Baker didn’t commit his silly antics, then the only topic that we would be discussing would be him being the favorite to win the Offensive Rookie of The Year. His on-field play should be what inspires other teammates to play well. Baker is correct that football is not a soft sport. So the question then becomes if football isn’t “a soft sport,” why is he acting like a child on the field? What is permitting him to act like a child is his play, but if his play were to decline then any antics he might commit would become an annoyance to not only the opposing team, but his own teammates. He then would become another cancer that has become all too common in the Browns’ locker-room (Johnny Manziel, Kellen Winslow Jr., etc).

Here is another gem from “my favorite asshole” Baker Mayfield:

"I don't have to make any friends outside of this locker room. I'm not trying to do that. Once they're in here, they know exactly what they're gonna get. And that's what really matters."

This is evidence that Baker has no idea that the NFL is a for-profit company. In short, Baker is correct in that he doesn’t have to “make friends” but, and more importantly, he needs to make sure he doesn’t make enemies. Every time he goes against another team, he is essentially going up against a possible future employer. For instance, look at Brett Farve. He destroyed the Vikings during his time in Green Bay, but he did not commit the antics that Mayfield has made us all so accustomed to. The Vikings had no issue signing Brett Farve as their quarterback, regardless of him previously and repeatedly whooping them. Another example would be the great cornerback, Darrelle Revis. Revis talked trash but he did not do the explicit and personal antics that Baker has committed himself to. Further Revis played for the Jets and then was signed by the Jets’ archrival, the Patriots.

Just today the NBA released an “Anti-tampering memo,” reminding teams to respect employment contracts and that team’s should be focused on this year’s competition. This all came after Lebron James admitted that he would enjoy playing with current New Orleans Pelicans center, Anthony Davis. Although not the NFL, this should put Baker on notice. Other people throughout the league observe other players. Those teams court those players, whether ethically or unethically, hoping to sign them. However, to be courted it behooves Baker not to antagonize every other franchise outside of Cleveland. It would do him well to remember that if he is approached by another team, it would be due to his successful play on the field, not his ability to act like a toddler.

If Mayfield thinks his play will absolve him of his poor sportsmanship, he may be right. But why chance it? The NFL, although legally not allowed to, will collude to black-ball certain players. For instance, look at Collin Kaepernick. He was a good quarterback and probably should be on a team (my finger is pointing towards the Redskins).  He wasn’t even making personal gestures towards the other team. He was black-balled due to his form of social justice protests. Kaepernick will go down as a martyr.  Mayfied, should he be black-balled, would go down as a, “spoiled rich kid who ran his mouth too much.”