Baker to Carolina

mjp28

@gumby73 said:

Joel Bitonio on Baker Mayfield and more...

https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2022/06/joel-bitonio-reminds-everyone-that-baker-mayfield-did-a-lot-for-this-franchise-says-deshaun-watson-is-a-special-football-player.html

A couple things Bitonio said were very true about Mayfield, Watson and quarterbacking in the NFL .... without going out too far on the limb.

......“He’s a tough guy and he played his heart out for us and I’ll always respect that. He’s still a friend of mine. We text occasionally and I think like everybody else, he’s kind of waiting it out to see where he’s going, but Baker did a lot for this franchise. He won a lot of games, he was a great player for us and I’ll always be a friend.”.....

..... “He’s always had that chip on his shoulder and I’m sure it’s continued to get bigger and bigger,’’ Bitonio said. “A team’s going to give him a chance. I know the contract situation is working itself out but he’ll get a chance to play. Quarterback is such a scarcity in the league that he’ll get a chance to play and perform again.’’ .....

...... Watson, who has 24 pending civil suits against him, is awaiting word from the NFL on a suspension. A league source said the Browns expect to hear something by the end of the month, and Bitonio confirmed an air of uncertainty over the team.

“[A suspension is] definitely a potential,’’ he said. “I can’t really control much with it, so I try not to worry about those things. And we’ll go into the season, I think we have really good quality backup quarterbacks that have played a lot of football in Jacoby [Brissett] and Josh [Dobbs]. It’s one of those things that it might happen, it might not, we don’t know. And we can’t truly worry about it, but if it does, I think we have the right character in the room to handle that adversity.’’

Bitonio, ever the optimist, believes this team can go the distance......

Westside Steve

That's where I'd like to see him go, I think the Carolina organization is s*** to begin with.

WSS

tiamat63

Baker for Poona Ford...

pipe dream ?

mjp28

@mjp28 said:

Baseball ? I thought we weren't supposed to mention baseball here.

But point made.

Baseball ? What a BOS/CLE game going on, 5th inning 2-2. That's my 2 cents there.

Now on Mayfield I guess someone writes a hot ? story about every 5 days or so.

Orion

Mayfield is fine where he's at right now. His value will not change until we get into training camp and beyond. Odds are someone will decide that they need to get him. I'd probably keep ownership of him at least until the trading deadline. It's a roster spot, I know...and they're valuable...but Baker represents a draft pick...and they're valuable too.

Neo

If Mayfield didn't try to play hero and make a shoulder tackle on a DB with a full head of steam off of an interception, we would not be talking about this. And the fact that he went on as long as he did with that injury.

PoeticG

I do not believe that Watson is a better QB than Baker.

Just when I believed things were going well we had to go and try to fix what wasn't broken.

QB was not the only problem last year. Chubb and Hunt both missed games and were hurt. Landry was hurt. OBJ and his daddy screwed us over...

On top of that Baker was injured. This reminds me of why Jim Brown left before his time. This reminds me why Kosar got a ring AFTER he left. I really believe that the Cleveland Media revel in the Browns losing or being bad. As soon as we climb out of the basement they chase off the #4 all time best QB that we've ever had for a headcase that is D. Watson.

I'll never understand.

Baker should get this season to finish what he started.

tiamat63

@poeticg said:

I do not believe that Watson is a better QB than Baker.

Fortunately, Watson being a better on-field player doesn't require your belief.

mjp28

@neo said:

If Mayfield didn't try to play hero and make a shoulder tackle on a DB with a full head of steam off of an interception, we would not be talking about this. And the fact that he went on as long as he did with that injury.

True. A quarterback macho move.

TexasAg1969

@neo said:

If Mayfield didn't try to play hero and make a shoulder tackle on a DB with a full head of steam off of an interception, we would not be talking about this. And the fact that he went on as long as he did with that injury.

So the Browns are wrong about cutting ties to a QB who made two really bad decisions? Ok, got it.

mjp28

@tiamat63 said:

Fortunately, Watson being a better on-field player doesn't require your belief.

I have to agree, DW is a top 5 QB.....on the playing field. His decision making elsewhere is kind of " questionable "..

Dutch Oven

People are more than welcome to have the opinion that Watson is a scumbag. I get that.

But saying that Baker Mayfield is as good, or better than Watson on the field?

That's ridiculous.

Dutch Oven

@neo said:

If Mayfield didn't try to play hero and make a shoulder tackle on a DB with a full head of steam off of an interception, we would not be talking about this. And the fact that he went on as long as he did with that injury.

I get what you are saying, but I don't know if I totally believe it.

You would have thought the Browns would have offered Baker a contract extension after his 2020 season, but I really get the impression that this front office and coaching staff always had one eye looking for an upgrade.

mjp28

@texasag1969 said:

So the Browns are wrong about cutting ties to a QB who made two really bad decisions? Ok, got it.

We've seen Baker Mayfield at his best, worst and playing injured the FO has determined that the BROWNS needed a true franchise quarterback if/when one ever became available regardless of the cost to move to the next level.

And now we're here one big swing and a miss from that perfect play. How long until the stench wears off and maybe we find out how good of a quarterback DW can be....if that's possible.

Or every time he steps on the field wearing a BROWNS uniform he still will be "that guy" no matter what.

And we'll miss Bernie, Brian, Otto, Frank, Bill and even some of the other quarterbacks that also wore a BROWNS uniform. Character matters especially at quarterback more than any other position in team sports.

tiamat63

@texasag1969 said:

So the Browns are wrong about cutting ties to a QB who made two really bad decisions? Ok, got it.

For someone like yourself who follows my posting and play/film breakdowns, you should know the Browns FO didn't base their decision on ONLY two really bad decisions.

I gave examples of Bakers lack of growth dating back to the KC & HOU game... before his shoulder injury.

Neo

@tiamat63 said:

I gave examples of Bakers lack of growth dating back

Even if that's true, things may have turned out very differently if Baker didn't play all but one game of the 2021 season injured. It could have made all the difference in Baker's value and the Haslam's desperation move for Watson. A healthy Baker and playoff berth and we wouldn't talking about Baker wanting out of Cleveland. That's just my opinion.

TexasAg1969

@tiamat63 said:

For someone like yourself who follows my posting and play/film breakdowns, you should know the Browns FO didn't base their decision on ONLY two really bad decisions.

I gave examples of Bakers lack of growth dating back to the KC & HOU game... before his shoulder injury.

I was being facetious. And yes, I did follow all that and understood exactly what you were saying. I don't disagree with any of it.

tiamat63

@texasag1969 said:

I was being facetious. And yes, I did follow all that and understood exactly what you were saying. I don't disagree with any of it.

My bad. I need that sarcasm font, big dog.

@neo said:

Even if that's true, things may have turned out very differently if Baker didn't play all but one game of the 2021 season injured. It could have made all the difference in Baker's value and the Haslam's desperation move for Watson. A healthy Baker and playoff berth and we wouldn't talking about Baker wanting out of Cleveland. That's just my opinion.

It's possible you're not wrong. Maybe a healthy shoulder bails out a few of his more disastrous throws based on 50/50 alone. But you still have to contend with the post snap decision making at the end of the day.

Orion

As the seasons went on I found myself having less and less confidence that Baker could take us down the field for the game winning score when needed. I watched Stef try and nurse leads throughout second halves.

And as Dutch has pointed out many times, the FO never tried to get him signed to an extension. And that decision was made prior to his injury this past season. They'd already figured out that they didn't have their Championship caliber QB in place.

mjp28

@orion said:

As the seasons went on I found myself having less and less confidence that Baker could take us down the field for the game winning score when needed. I watched Stef try and nurse leads throughout second halves.

And as Dutch has pointed out many times, the FO never tried to get him signed to an extension. And that decision was made prior to his injury this past season. They'd already figured out that they didn't have their Championship caliber QB in place.

This whole BM and DW thing has been a slowly unfolding story with a bit of an unpredictable ending.

How will the Cleveland BROWNS football team end up when it's over -and- of course the long loyal fan base. We deserve a decent team to hit the field in September 2022.

GO BROWNS !