Baker to Carolina
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It became clear during the 2021 season that the relationship between quarterback Baker Mayfield and the Browns was beginning to be strained. Now, a report following his trade from Cleveland to the Panthers shows just how he and coach Kevin Stefanski fell out.
On Friday, The Athletic's Jason Lloyd detailed how Mayfield and Stefanski began to lose trust in one another following a successful 2020 season, and how throughout a tumultuous 2021 campaign, an eventual split became increasingly likely.
Writing a post-mortem to Mayfield's time in Cleveland, Lloyd reported the team viewed Mayfield as "childish and immature" and that his behavior in the locker room divided the team and annoyed teammates, and often made him a difficult player to coach.
The day after a 45-7 dismantling by the Patriots in Week 10, Mayfield was reportedly annoyed Stefanski missed a meeting and believed he should be at each meeting. Stefanski instead met with defensive end Myles Garrett, who had called out the coaching staff's lack of adjustments during his post-game press conference. Stefanski reportedly never missed another meeting and privately called out Mayfield during film sessions.
As the season went on, Stefanski continued to lose trust in Mayfield, Lloyd reported. Mayfield was no longer feeling confident in himself, and during the Week 17 clash against the Steelers when he was sacked nine times, he questioned why rookie offensive tackle James Hudson wasn't receiving more support against T.J. Watt.
The team, however, believed Mayfield had plenty of time to pass, but that he lacked confidence in himself or what he saw available on the field.
Lloyd also reported the team wasn't faced with a power struggle, but rather that it felt Mayfield was not good enough to be the starter moving forward.
The 2021 season was a major step back for the Browns and their 2018 first overall selection. Mayfield built excitement around his future in a breakout rookie season in 2018 when he started 13 games and threw 27 touchdowns and 14 interceptions with 3,725 passing yards.
Following a sophomore slump in 2019, Mayfield put together his best season when he completed 62.8 percent of his passes for 3,563 yards, 26 touchdowns and only eight interceptions, leading the Browns to an 11-5 regular-season record, a wild-card spot and the team's first playoff win since 1994.
But the 2021 season was rocky from the start. He injured his left shoulder in the second week of the season, but continued to play through the ailment throughout the campaign despite it clearly hampering his performance.
MORE: Why Browns are paying most of QB's 2022 salary after trade
Midway through the campaign, wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. forced his way out of Cleveland, beginning with an Instagram post from his father of Mayfield missing throws to his son.
Mayfield struggled throughout the season and finished with 3,010 passing yards, 17 touchdowns and 13 interceptions as the Browns finished 8-9 and missed the playoffs.
After the season, the Browns began to explore other quarterback options, though maintained publicly that Mayfield was likely to be the starter in his fifth and final year under contract with Cleveland. After a report emerged the Browns wanted an "adult" at quarterback, it became more clear the team was likely not going to see him play another snap.
When the Browns traded for Deshaun Watson, who at the time faced more than 20 accusations of sexual assault and misconduct, Mayfield officially requested a trade, and later said he felt disrespected by the team.
Now, after eating more than $10 million of his salary, the Browns were able to trade Mayfield to the Panthers, after he agreed to give up $3 million to play for the team. The team and player collectively absorbing more than $13 million for him to play in a different city is about as good a sign as any that neither Cleveland nor Mayfield wanted anything more to do with one another in the end.
It's worth mentioning that while calling Mayfield's character into question isn't a new venture, the timing post-trade cannot be overlooked.
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"As the season went on, Stefanski continued to lose trust in Mayfield, Lloyd reported. Mayfield was no longer feeling confident in himself, and during the Week 17 clash against the Steelers when he was sacked nine times, he questioned why rookie offensive tackle James Hudson wasn't receiving more support against T.J. Watt. "
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Stephanski lost a lot of confidence from fans over this one - and other stupid crap. When a star player like Garrett lambasts the defense for not making adjustments - Stephanski looked like he should only be an assistant coach. Throwing Anthony Schwartz out there well before he was ready, led to Baker getting injured on a tackle that was an int because Schwartz made a mistake.
T. J. Watt was incredulous that the Browns simply didn't try to stop him from getting to Baker. Just stupid. Stephanski will show he hasn't learned much of anything since he was with the Vikings - the browns simply need a new, non slimy owner and a new head coach. and a new, DRAFTED qb.
Deja vu all over again.
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Zombo said:
160 more starts.
Z
It's a bold prediction, but I've been waiting for one of the Baker guys to put it on proverbial paper that Baker has a good ten more years of starting ahead of him. He just turned 27, and if he's the franchise QB some on here think he is, 160 more starts is not a ridiculous prediction.
I see some are already starting the "well, see, Carolina isn't that great a situation for him, so if he isn't great there, it isn't his fault..." narrative.
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Baker being evicted and Watson moving in... Baker's like, "Good Luck... there's some weird stuff happening in there. Some little Brownie Elves hiding in the stands... Looking around all suspicious... a foot of snow on the ground...
Watson can't play in Cleveland like he did in Texas. It's a different...it's different here.
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Baker being evicted and Watson moving in... Baker's like, "Good Luck... there's some weird stuff happening in there. Some little Brownie Elves hiding in the stands... Looking around all suspicious... a foot of snow on the ground...
Watson can't play in Cleveland like he did in Texas. It's a different...it's different here.
Baker being evicted and Watson moving in... Baker's like, "Good Luck... there's some weird stuff happening in there. Some little Brownie Elves hiding in the stands... Looking around all suspicious... a foot of snow on the ground...
Watson can't play in Cleveland like he did in Texas. It's a different...it's different here.
That might be a legitimate concern.
Watson played in a bad weather game here in Cleveland in 2020, and to me didn't look comfortable.
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what a poorly written story.
how many teammates, eh? 1? two?
says who? oh yeah, te from ...Texas Tech. No bias there, lol.
oh, yeah, some guy. lol.
A lot of players need to grow up a bit.
We'll see how it goes - especially on Sept 11.
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what a poorly written story.
how many teammates, eh? 1? two?
says who? oh yeah, te from ...Texas Tech. No bias there, lol.
oh, yeah, some guy. lol.
A lot of players need to grow up a bit.
We'll see how it goes - especially on Sept 11.
what a poorly written story.
how many teammates, eh? 1? two?
says who? oh yeah, te from ...Texas Tech. No bias there, lol.
oh, yeah, some guy. lol.
A lot of players need to grow up a bit.
We'll see how it goes - especially on Sept 11.
What do the older gentlemen you pick up at the doctor offices and check-out lines have to say about this?
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Back in reality:
1] Watson plays through brutal hand injury, finishes with 324 yards
He played the next week, throwing for 361. On an injury everyone told him to shut it down for the year.. likely because it was the last week of the year.
2] Watson threw a game-winning TD with his eyes closed a half-second after getting kicked in the face
If Watson has a tummy ache, the tummy ache sits.
So what was the reason he couldn’t play for the entire 2021 season?
I think we both know the answer to that question.
Physically tough…mentally weak.
Physically tough…mentally weak
DW is so mentally weak that he had a NFL MVP season on a team with a losing record. 2020 Texans redefined train wreck and stupid roster mgmt outside of DW's single-minded focus. [That Texans self-dismantle does have to be one of the top 15 wastes of a good roster in NFL history.]
The only time "focused" is in the same sentence as Baker is when it's right after the word "Not."
The more labels you have for yourself, the dumber they make you. "When you win, say nothing. When you lose, say less." Paul Brown -
Here is the bottom line of baker.
if he was a true franchise QB, we wouldn't have replaced him
If we made a mistake in that assessment, we would have had leverage, there would have been at least 6-8 teams lined up seeking his services. Teams wouldn't have been waiting for his release.
Nobody wanted the guy at any kind of significant cost.
If everybody had like minds, we would never learn. -
This story does very little to support its own claim. I'd like to hear some actual testimony.
So how is that we are just now learning that BM was immature and a locker-room cancer? The story in the Athletic was written by a local homie, possibly intended to make fans feel better about acquiring Watson.
Gotta suppress the increasing regret somehow.
NFL fans on former Browns QB Baker Mayfield and current Browns QB Deshaun Watson (sportskeeda.com)
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Around 30 more starts for 3 different teams over a handful of years
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Considering the competition where he's going, he has a good a chance to remain their starter. But then he will no longer have the Brown's OL protecting him so .................injury maybe?
The Browns o l wasn't particularly stellar with Tretter hobbled by injury Conklin out and Will's not really living up to the expectations of his draft position.
Am I mistaken or is Carolinas front office and staff in some sort of turmoil?
But still I think the question is a little bit vague so..
WSS
Carolinas front office and staff in some sort of turmoil?
Panthers staff greatest chance of being fired of any NFL team
Back-to-back 5-win seasons will do that.
The more labels you have for yourself, the dumber they make you. "When you win, say nothing. When you lose, say less." Paul Brown -
Here is the bottom line of baker.
if he was a true franchise QB, we wouldn't have replaced him
If we made a mistake in that assessment, we would have had leverage, there would have been at least 6-8 teams lined up seeking his services. Teams wouldn't have been waiting for his release.
Nobody wanted the guy at any kind of significant cost.
If we made a mistake in that assessment, we would have had leverage, there would have been at least 6-8 teams lined up seeking his services. Teams wouldn't have been waiting for his release
eh....injury. Playing while injured. Surgery.
Meanwhile, the browns dumped Landry, who wanted to stay with the Browns - and drafted wr, and signed a star deep threat, Cooper.
Nov 4, 2021Doug Dieken explains the issues with the Browns offense including protection, getting open, etc… How Baker's effort of cutting down his turnovers has affected his passing? How to defend Bengals' offense. ... Doug Dieken: Browns are out of sync; offense has underachieved and defense has been inconsistent Listen to the podcast below -
Ah yes, the part of the ugly breakup where the team that got a 5th for their former first overall pick starts "leaking" stories to the press about the player being a "diva" and "hard to work with".
This story has only played out hundreds of times in sports...
Probably better that everyone just moves on
Ja.brill Peppers - Cleveland Brown OldBrownsFan, on 02 Jun 2017 - 5:09PM said: "No you are not the work of the devil but you are deceived by the devil." Who's got it better than us? Nooooobody! -
This story does very little to support its own claim. I'd like to hear some actual testimony.
So how is that we are just now learning that BM was immature and a locker-room cancer? The story in the Athletic was written by a local homie, possibly intended to make fans feel better about acquiring Watson.
Gotta suppress the increasing regret somehow.
NFL fans on former Browns QB Baker Mayfield and current Browns QB Deshaun Watson (sportskeeda.com)
This story does very little to support its own claim. I'd like to hear some actual testimony.
So how is that we are just now learning that BM was immature and a locker-room cancer? The story in the Athletic was written by a local homie, possibly intended to make fans feel better about acquiring Watson.
Gotta suppress the increasing regret somehow.
NFL fans on former Browns QB Baker Mayfield and current Browns QB Deshaun Watson (sportskeeda.com) <--- so who is sportskeeda .com ?
OK this main story line "sounds " like it could be at least partly believable or is it a headline looking for a story ?
Report: Baker Mayfield Viewed As ‘Childish And Immature’ By Teammates
By Robert Marvi July 8, 2022
●----> Next question who is Robert Marvi ? Well he's been an avid NFL and NBA fan since he's been a little kid. ●---> WOW, so have many of us (maybe minus the NBA part).
About Robert Marvi...from the article.
Robert is a Los Angeles-area native and has been an avid NFL and NBA fan since he was a little kid. He feels strongly that pro sports aren't just a form of entertainment, but also a great way to learn life lessons and find inspiration. That's it ?
●----> Well just because it's a Saturday morning I did a little more checking. Google Robert Marvi (got nothing) add LA Sports (almost nothing more)
Well from Robert Marvi himself on LinkedIn (don't laugh, yet)
About.....(OK this is our BROWNS, Mayfield, etc. author).....
Everyone needs some type of copy written for their website - whether it's copywriting, articles, a blog or something in between. If that sounds like you, I'm your guy. My areas of expertise include writing product copy, sports, politics and current events. My work has been used on prominent websites such as Amazon, Movoto and Staples. As someone who has his fingers on the pulse beat of America, I can convey what you need written in a way that not only educates and informs your clients in a light and authoritative way, but also speaks to them and invokes emotion.
Through getting my degree in sociology and simply observing and studying successful people and leaders in all walks of life, I've found that bringing people value and empowering people to do better is the best way to make a living and have balance. Because no one in this world is self-made, yet only a few successful people are humble and strong enough to admit it.
Putting people ahead of profits is something I strongly believe in. When businesses and entrepreneurs do that, the profits flow naturally. EOM.●----> Ok, next question is he writing our of mom's basement or his dorm room ? Sounds like a resume for his first job.
Ok now laugh.
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