Despite his 2020 playoff run, Cleveland Browns’ quarterback, Baker Mayfield, still has his critics.
After all, what has he done to really be considered a top-notch quarterback?
Does being a successful 2-time walk-on college quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner amount to anything?
How about owning the NFL’s best deep-ball passer rating and one of the historically-best NFL playoff debuts?
Apparently, none of that counts, according to the crew- or at least the social media manager- at NFL Game Day.
View this post on Instagram
Besides the argument over Mayfield’s superior statistics and success, there is one blatant matter that Game Day seems to ignore.
Mayfield still has a few years ahead of him as the leader of the Cleveland Browns’ excellent offense.
While the future is never certain, there are two dominant questions circling Mayfield’s career at this time.
The first is, “When will Andrew Berry extend Mayfield’s contract?”
And the second is, “Will Mayfield lead the Browns to a Super Bowl this season, or the next one?”
Regardless, Baker Mayfield’s career is far from over, making the Instagram post ridiculous out of hand.
Mayfield, to his credit, limited his response to a zip-mouthed emoji.
View this post on Instagram
His subdued rebuttal was fine since his fans were quick to berate Game Day for their slight.
ESPN’s Mike Clay Piles On With a Subtle Jab
NFL GameDay was not the only major NFL entity to diss Baker Mayfield this week.
ESPN’s Mike Clay drew some fans ire with this post on Twitter.
Browns. Broncos. Football Team. 49ers. Patriots. Giants.
If we remove QB from the discussion, these are teams with ~top 10 (if not top 5) rosters on paper right now. The team(s) that get the most from the QB position have a shot for a big 2021 season.
— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) March 23, 2021
Clay threw an underhanded compliment at the Browns. calling them a top 5 or 10 team.
But only if you take the quarterbacks out of the equation.
The respected ESPN analyst was quick to follow up with some love for Mayfield in response to a question.
Clay asserts that if Mayfield builds on last season’s performance, the Browns could be in the next Super Bowl.
I think the Browns have the best roster in the NFL if we ignore QB. Baker Mayfield took a big step forward last season and another leap in 2021 could get them in Super Bowl contention. https://t.co/fneVDXG2wb
— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) March 23, 2021
Mayfield is not among the statistical leaders in most quarterback categories, lending credence to Clay’s statement.
But there is a lot more than statistics that makes Mayfield an excellent quarterback.
You can’t blame the passer if the offense is focused on the run and the defense can’t get off the field.
Why Baker Mayfield is Not a Bust
Baker Mayfield’s trajectory could always take a turn for the worse.
And it is far too early to measure his NFL career against other former quarterbacks.
But there is overwhelming evidence he is the perfect quarterback for the Cleveland Browns.
Baker the touchdown maker 😏@bakermayfield pic.twitter.com/oCDqgL0I5b
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) February 24, 2021
Or for any team with a good offensive game plan and personnel.
Whether a quarterback can be a leader is almost as important as passing skill and statistical numbers.
And Mayfield’s enthusiastic presence, on the field and off of it, makes him such a leader.
Every one of Andrew Berry’s free-agent acquisitions mentioned Mayfield as the first new teammate to reach out.
Mayfield’s fan interactions propel him to even higher regard.
Last season’s efforts to assure a dying cancer patient’s desire to attend a Browns game is just one example.
This week, he responded to a fan’s plea to help him convince his wife to name their baby, “Baker.”
Hopefully I’m not too late on this…
— Baker Mayfield (@bakermayfield) March 23, 2021
Regardless of what happens in the years ahead, Mayfield will have fans who defend his record.
But a Super Bowl run or two will certainly serve to make NFL GameDay eat their awful “Bust” take.
It’s amazing the certain crowd that wants to make Baker the reason why the Browns are successful, when in all actuality, he was a benefactor of a great offensive team around him. I’d rather have Garner Minshew, Jimmy G, and Alex Smith just to name a few QB’s who would out perform Baker with this squad and cost a lot less.
This same demographic wants Baker to make it soooo bad ~ it’s disgusting how you all pretend not to see the faults.
That’s dumb Baker is better than those weak armed passers.
Idk how u call urself a browns fan. This kid has been thro more BS then any number one drafted QB. Or any rookie QB for that matter. 4 head coaches in 3 years and new offenses. Other then them joke if a season with kitchens as our coach, hes been great! His first year with a good coach and he shined! He was a top 5 QB in almost every category the second half of the season. I think Rogers was the only QB rated higher. This has been an awful organization for years! People forget that were only a few years removed from a 0-16 and 1-15 season. Hes done nothing but win! Im tired if people talking about the talent he has around him. Like its so much better then other teams have. Landry was our leading wr and he barely broke 1000yds. Injuries and covid killed us last year and still he made it to the post season and won a game. He also gave KC all they can handle. Hes got a great line and great running game. But didnt have any true no. 1 or 2 wr. It was Jarvis then wr by committee. I can name 20 teams that have more weapons and they didnt do shit. Idc who says what! This kid will never get the credit he deserves! He cant win no matter what he does! We win and its because of the talent around him, we lose and its because of him lol.
Please name factual top rankings because pff has Baker in 1 top 10 category.
This is the most ridiculous take yet…. it’s rather disgusting how a fake fan would troll and pretend not to see all his assets….
“I’d rather have Garner Minshew, Jimmy G, and Alex Smith”
Yeah, we get it, you’re a fool who would run a team into the ground if given the chance.
No, none of those QBs would outperform Baker given the same situation. Jimmy G is the only one who might get even sort of close (even if he still doesn’t see linebackers after 7 years in the league) – and he’s made of glass.
The 49ers would of won the Super Bowl Jimmy G lost Baker is way superior rm talent
When Modell moved the team to Bal football died for me. After years of losing I burned all of my Browns stuff, I had had enough. Last season was different, I even watched some games. It was nice to have a good team around. When they beat Pit twice in a row one a playoff game , I am feeling good about them. Give the kid a chance, now that it looks like there is some stability there. We need to remove the owner from the football operation though. GO BROWNS!!!
Make Mayfield the highest paid cheerleader in history. Get a quarterback and have Megaphone Mayfield cheering his team to victory.
He’s a great cheerleader!
You are a very sad person.
If Baker continues to improve and hits more receivers in stride, eliminates the high throws then I think he will become a great Browns Q.B. Football is a team sport and this team seems to rally around Baker. The Browns have had their share of busts but I don’t think Baker is one of them.
Mayfield is doing the best he can in a city that a lot of players dread to come to. Baker took the Browns. QB position and Cleveland as a challenge that he will in my view overcome. He is learning and maturing as a QB and person. Give him time, patience, and respect for the best is yet to come from Baker Mayfield.
Mike Clay doesn’t know crap, were was he the last 20yrs? Baker has been the best Qb we’ve had in a long time and this guy wants to run him down, it seems to me after my 50 years of following the Cleveland Browns that Clay is nothing more than a basher of players and not giving them a chance to prove themselves, Baker may not be one of the best qb but he’s certainly not a bust.
The further Six gets from Freddie and Jack’s 2018 “plan”, the better he gets. Let’s recap… Jack decides, “Yeah, these 2 Harvard guys (Andrew and Paul) want to hire this Stefanski guy, but what do they know? I’ll convince Jimmy and Dee that Freddie’s OUR MAN! Sure, he was a running backs’ coach 10 seconds ago, but he might be a brilliant offensive mind, plus our rookie QB likes playing grab-ass with him on the sideline.” Next, Freddie and team tell Baker to pack on EXTRA WEIGHT! “Don’t worry, Bake. You might be less mobile but you’re throwing mechanics won’t suffer AT ALL (wink)!” Meanwhile Jack downgrades the OL, with fingers crossed on bets like Austin Corbett (oof!), as Freddie installs a more complicated offense featuring longer developing passing plays. Freddie asks, “But wait, if anything, shouldn’t we upgrade our O-line?” Jack just grins and replies, “You just work on how to abandon the game plan each week in favor of head-scratching chaos, and together, we’ll show those Harvard guys how REAL football guys drive a Moserati off a cliff, er, I MEAN!…”
Under such circumstances, what rookie in the league WOULDN’T develop bad habits and a crisis of confidence? It was so bad, that it took several games into the ’19 season to wash the stink off!
But look how things are trending now. Pull your head out, haters! Go Bake and GO BROWNS!
Baker M’s a ” KEEPER” when it comes to Football, BUT…NOT so Much a Good Actor ! He’s got 1 FORGIVABLE Action Against Him in College. That’s…when He “Planted” The OU Sooner’s Flag in the Center of OSU’S Football Field at the ” SHOE”.
Baker’s biggest job is to turn that Cleveland negativity into a positive one. He’s off to a good start. Just imagine how great he and the Browns will be, if he gets a little cooperation from the sad sack pundits that always seek to destroy that. The true Browns fans are excited about this team, along with Baker, all others please stay off the bandwagon on the way to the Super Bowl. And lose the negativity! Helps nothing.
The only thing about a bust with Mayfield, will be the one of him in the Hall of Fame in Canton. And it won’t be made of Clay…
Baker Mayfield had the THIRD highest QBR in the last 10 games of the 2021 season. According to PFF, Baker had the highest PFF rating in the AFCN. Baker is #8, Lamar #16, Joe #19 and Ben #25. Now, take in the fact that it took Baker 6 games to get comfortable under his 3rd offense coordinator in as many years and we could see Baker in the top 5.