Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield and ESPN analyst Rex Ryan met Friday months after the two traded a war of words.
The two men sat side by side during ESPN’s “Get Up” morning show at Lummus Park in Miami Beach ahead of Super Bowl LIV.
Friday morning’s commentary came after Ryan called Mayfield “overrated as hell” and a “one-read quarterback” in September.
Mayfield responded at the time by saying there’s a reason Ryan doesn’t have a coaching job.
“My comments were based on expectations, and I think when I look at it, you had a tremendous rookie year, and you add one of the best receivers in the game Odell Beckham Jr., and then it’s just like ‘what the?’ I had you guys winning the division,” Ryan said to Mayfield on Friday morning. “What the hell happened? Like, what went wrong?”
Before the start of the 2019 season, oddsmakers agreed with Ryan, making the Browns the preseason favorite to win the AFC North.
Odds to win the AFC North (Bovada):@Browns +120@steelers +195@Ravens +295@Bengals +1500
— Odds Shark (@OddsShark) August 13, 2019
“Well, none of the stuff that happens the year prior carries over. We all at this table know that,” Mayfield said. “It comes down to me doing my job. I’ve never turned the ball over so many times. I mean that might have been the most combined over my whole career, and you can’t win like that.
“And so, the falls back on me. I’ll take all the blame for that, and so it comes back on communication. Just being on the same page. Doing my job the best I can, and not worrying about the outside stuff.”
Mayfield said he was focused on doing his job and helping the Browns win headed into the 2020 season.
Baker Mayfield and Rex Ryan make up on @GetUpESPN.
“…Doing my job the best I can and not worrying about the outside stuff. Not replying to you…” — Mayfield
“That tells me right there that you’re starting to get it.” — Ryan#OUDNA | #Browns pic.twitter.com/Lx8Q00IxWP
— Sooner Gridiron (@soonergridiron) January 31, 2020
“The thing that shows me right there, is if things go bad, when you start with ‘I’ when things go bad, that’s a great thing,” Ryan said.”
“And, ‘we’ when it’s all going right,” Mayfield said.
“At the time, I’m a mouse turd and you’re a hunting elephant. You know what I mean?” Ryan said to Mayfield. “So to me, that’s why I was surprised that you were not just going back at me, but going back at other people because that doesn’t help you win games.”
Ryan and Mayfield shook hands after Friday morning’s television segment.
Great respect for the way @bakermayfield handled this whole conversation. Look forward to watching him win a lot of games. #Browns @GetUpESPN https://t.co/VndDDkxhbD
— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) January 31, 2020
Headed into his third season, Mayfield holds a 12-17 record as the Browns’ starting quarterback.
The Browns went 6-10 during the 2019 season, missing the playoffs for the 17th straight year.
It marks the longest active playoff drought in the NFL.
In 2019, Mayfield had 22 touchdown passes, 21 interceptions and two fumbles lost.
Mayfield had the second-most interceptions thrown last season, behind Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston’s 30.
The Browns’ quarterback called his transition from the University of Oklahoma to the NFL a “humbling” experience.
“Let’s just be honest, I put my foot in my mouth a lot this past year,” Mayfield said. “I’m [going to] internalize that, and I think that’s the way I need to handle it.
“I mean, rest in peace Kobe [Bryant], but that’s the way he did it. He motivated himself. He didn’t talk a lot. He talked to his teammates, drove them to be better people, better men, and so that’s the way I need to handle it. I don’t need to respond to the things that don’t matter. Things that don’t help us win.”
ESPN’s Mike Greenberg asked Mayfield what it was like playing the San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 31, when the Browns lost 31-3.
The 49ers play the Kansas City Chiefs during Sunday’s Super Bowl.
“I don’t know if you would call what I did playing against the [49ers] defense,” Mayfield said. “I was on the field at the same time.”
“It’s two of the best things in the league right now: The 49ers defense and the Chiefs offense going up against each other. I think it’s going to be a great game.”
.@espngreeny: "You played against the 49ers."
Baker Mayfield: "I don't know if you would call what I did playing. We were on the field at the same time."😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/6XAMB83PSJ
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) January 31, 2020
I’m glad he acknowledged hid past behaviour. He has some maturing to do, but if he can say this about himself, that’s a good start.
We’ll see what happens in Mayfield’s third season. Thanks for reading and thanks for your comment!