The Relentless Infighting Amongst Browns Fans Over Baker Mayfield

Photo via ESPN

Mayfield history reminder

Baker Mayfield was selected first overall by the Browns in the 2018 draft. He got his chance to take the field in Week 3 replacing injured Tyrod Taylor. Cleveland was down 14-3 when Mayfield entered. He went 17 of 23, passing for 201 yards. The rookie quarterback led the team back prevailing over the Jets 21-17. This victory ended the Browns 19-game winless streak.

Mayfield became the first player since Fran Tarkenton in 1961, to come off the bench in his debut and throw for more than 200 yards while leading his team to the first win of the season.

The rookie helped the team to a 7-8-1 record in his first year with the Browns. It was their best record since 2007. That’s 11 years of disappointment he was able to assist in relieving. Mayfield finished the season with 3725 passing yards surpassing Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson for the most TDs thrown in a rookie season (27).

Playoffs and more

Baker’s most successful season was in 2020. He led Cleveland to their first playoff appearance since 2002 and first victory since 1994. It was also the team’s first playoff road win since 1969. In 2020, the Browns finished the regular season 11-5. This was Cleveland’s first winning record since 2007.

In the Wildcard game that year against the Steelers, Mayfield played well. He went 21 for 34 with 263 passing yards and three TDs in the team’s 48-37 win over the division rivals.

Things spiral

In 2021, Mayfield played through a shoulder injury that he suffered in Week 2. He would go on to reaggravate the injury in Week 6 thus causing him to miss his first game since becoming a starter. After the Browns were eliminated from the postseason, Mayfield would undergo surgery to repair this torn labrum. He threw for 3010 yards, 17 TDs and 13 interceptions in the 14 games he played.

Some fans saw him playing through injury as grit and determination. While other’s felt it was negatively impacting the team. Regardless if Baker felt he could play through the injury, the organization is responsible for sending him on the field.

It causes speculation on what the motives of the front office were. Did they want to see Baker fail? No one knows for sure however one thing is certain his play was poor. It would have been benefited all parties to have Mayfield heal and give the Browns the best chance to win.

The Drama

When Odell Beckham Jr was cut from the team in 2021 rumors swirled around Mayfield. The popular receiver’s father put out a video to display what he believed was lack of effort for Baker to throw to Beckham Jr. His son never played a full season in his first three seasons with the Browns.

The former Pro Bowler saw his numbers significantly drop from when played with the Giants. Speculation began to grow that there was blame on Mayfield for Beckham Jr’s performance with the Browns. The receiver felt Baker was ignoring him while he was wide open on plays.

Media, rumors, and name calling

Reports from “sources” began to flow. The once beloved QB was said to be “viewed as childish and immature.” It was also reported that the organization wanted “an adult in the room.” Mayfield’s fiery attitude that had made him a fan favorite was viewed differently as the team was no longer winning.

Watson to Cleveland

In the offseason the Browns courted Deshaun Watson which in turn led to the largest guaranteed contract in NFL history. Mayfield requested a trade from the team after they signed Watson. Many felt Baker was wronged by the Browns organization. Cleveland had exercised Mayfield’s fifth-year contract yet acquired Watson.

Baker to Carolina

Mayfield landed with Carolina this season and the first game was against the Browns. It could not have been set up more perfectly for Baker fans and Baker haters. The Browns were victorious in the season opener – due to a Cade York 58-yard field goal with eight seconds left. Nonetheless, they beat the former Browns QB, and one would think that would be the end of it. No way.

Fans and media alike, would pick apart each of Baker’s games throughout the season. Those who dislike the QB were ecstatic in Week 12 when Sam Darnold got the nod as starter over Mayfield. Then Carolina released Baker after a combination of poor play and the firing of head coach Matt Rhule. The Panthers were doing a wholesale reboot of the team. However, they parted ways with Baker in a fashion that was best for him. The Panther’s organization agreed to release him in the most optimal way for him to finish the season.

Mayfield stuns everyone

The Los Angeles Rams picked up Mayfield. He joined the team Tuesday and hit primetime for Thursday Night Football. Without even knowing where the locker room was much less the play book, Mayfield did the unthinkable. He threw for 230 yards with a 91.4 passer rating. In the last minute of the game, he led a 98-yard drive throwing to receivers he’d never played with. Stunning the Raiders in a 17-16 comeback victory he shined on the national stage.

It’s irresponsible to think Mayfield will perform like that in every game or possibly ever again. However, to state that he is a washed up quarterback headed for the XFL is just not accurate. The man has played under seven different head coaches. He will be fine. That isn’t even the issue…the issue is why are Browns fans so obsessed with what Mayfield is doing? Those who were happy to see him pull off the improbable feat against the Raiders, are fans of Baker, the player. Also, fans of the game, as that comeback was historical.

Other athletes took to Twitter to show their support for his amazing drive on Twitter.

Joining the team on Tuesday and winning a game on Thursday at the quarterback position is absolutely incredible.

There are some positions that you can plug into a new team/system somewhat easily. QB has to be by far the hardest.

Damn impressive Baker.

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) December 9, 2022

 

“Baker Bros” and “Watson Warriors” continue to collide

For as bad as Baker Bros are made to seem, Watson Warriors are just as bad. They want to magnify everything Mayfield did wrong yet excusing the poor play Watson had in his first game back. “He’s rusty” and “he hasn’t played in 700 days” are phrases thrown around yet prior to his return the same fans said he’d be “consistently dropping 40.”

It’s rather sad that so much disdain exists within the Browns fan base toward Baker. How do fans so quickly forget what #6 did for their franchise? A friend of mine called it revisionist history and I tend to agree. Mayfield was near Rookie of the Year in his first season. He led his team to it’s first playoff berth in 18 years. He was far from perfect, but he turned around the Browns losing years. They seem to forget when they once “rode with six.”

It’s almost that in order to be able to accept Watson some fans need to make themselves believe Mayfield was never good at all. This way of thinking is not new to Browns fans, and I believe if Watson doesn’t play extremely well the next few games many will start to turn on him. Almost guaranteed if he doesn’t lead them to a Super Bowl win next season the hate will flow. Many fans are that fickle and are quick to turn on players.

The Mayfield hate is puzzling. I could understand if he left the Browns in a way like Lebron left Cleveland with “The Decision.” That was a slap in the face to fans and the city. Yet Baker didn’t leave that way.

It’s time for both sides of the Baker Bro battle to move on. Fans who genuinely wish him well should continue to do so. Those who do not like him need to focus on their new quarterback. There’s plenty to pick apart there but that’s another story.