It is Thursday, July 7, 2022, and for Cleveland Browns fans, this is the beginning of the post Baker Mayfield era.
After months of speculation, the Browns traded Mayfield to the Carolina Panthers on Wednesday afternoon.
Though it was a long-time in the making, saying goodbye to Mayfield, always a polarizing figure among Browns fans, was met with mixed emotions.
That is our main story on the Thursday edition of Browns Nation news and notes.
Fans’ Emotions Are All Over The Place
There is plenty of relief given how imminent training camp is (just weeks away beginning on July 27) and an understanding among some that Mayfield was not as good as the franchise and city hoped he would be when he was drafted No. 1 overall in 2018.
I'm a #browns fan and although I did enjoy Bakers fire and intensity in all fairness he's not a top 10 QB in the NFL. Baker had weapons and a great O line with a running attack. No matter what you think DW IS a better option for the #browns. Speaking purely as a fan nothing else
— browns4life (@grw0531) July 7, 2022
Gratitude is also an emotion fans are feeling.
Mayfield will forever be known as the QB1 who led the Browns back to the playoffs in 2020 after an 18 year drought.
Thanks Baker! ❤️🏈 #ClevelandInThePlayoffs!!#Browns https://t.co/Wchm5WteCQ
— Proud Rep of #CLE (@CLElover312) July 7, 2022
The only thing everyone can agree on is that Week 1’s Browns game against the Carolina Panthers is even more interesting now.
It’s literally July and the #Browns already have a “must win” game week 1 😂
— Dat Hitta Al (@AlPants300) July 7, 2022
Beyond seeing a prepared statement from GM Andrew Berry and Jimmy and Dee Haslam, we did not hear from any of Mayfield’s Browns’ teammates yesterday.
This Nick Chubb contrived tweet made its rounds again yesterday.
RB Nick Chubb released this statement on the Browns trading QB Baker Mayfield earlier today. pic.twitter.com/88vkWmXoUh
— McNeil (@Reflog_18) July 7, 2022
Players are ready to move on and to stop answering questions about Mayfield.
Carly Teller, the wife of offensive lineman Wyatt Teller, sent her support to the Mayfields; these two couples are close friends so this is not surprising.
It’s bittersweet, this NFL life…but we are so happy for our friends!! Love you @emilywmayfield6 & @bakermayfield 💙🖤 Panthers got some good ones!! https://t.co/NVAwOkvva4
— Carly Teller (@carlyteller) July 6, 2022
What’s Next
Clearly, the next step in this offseason/preseason process is finding out retired judge Sue L. Robinson’s ruling on the Deshaun Watson case.
That is expected before training camp opens.
We will finally know who the Browns’ Week 1 QB1 will be: Watson or Jacoby Brissett.
Happy Thursday Browns fans!
NEXT: NFL Fans React To Browns' Return On Mayfield Trade
