Mayfield can take heat, according to Kitchens
Browns quarterback denies criticizing Giants pick Jones
BEREA, OHIO — Baker Mayfield’s mouth may have made any target on the brash quarterback or the Cleveland Browns a little bigger.
“We don’t care,” coach Freddie Kitchens said Tuesday.
Mayfield, who has never been afraid to speak his mind on any subject, made puzzling comments about the New York Giants and their decision to draft rookie quarterback Daniel Jones in the first round this year.
“I cannot believe the Giants took Daniel Jones,” Mayfield said, according to GQ. “Blows my mind.”
The 24-year-old added he thinks National Football League teams are flawed in how they evaluate quarterbacks.
“Some people overthink it,” Mayfield said. “That’s where people go wrong. They forget you’ve gotta win.”
Mayfield’s remarks, which seemed to come out of nowhere, filtered back to Giants’ training camp where coach Pat Shurmur and Jones chose to take the high road and not directly comment about them.
“I try not to listen to much that’s said,” said Jones, who was taken No. 6 overall in April. “I think I’ve done a pretty good job of that. I heard that before, I kind of have the same mindset, I certainly have a lot to focus on here, I have a lot to worry about here and I’m focused on that. It’s been good, but just focused on what I’m doing here.”
Jones said he doesn’t know Mayfield, and was a little stunned by his comments.
“I have never spoken to him,” Jones said. “He has an opinion, a lot of people have opinions.”
Kitchens had one on Mayfield and whether his actions could be detrimental for the Browns, who have major expectations coming off a 7-8-1 season and an off-season rebuilding their roster with top-flight talent.
Kitchens said he isn’t worried about the Browns having a bull’seye on their backs.
“It is already on there so it does not matter. We will be ready to play. I do not know what a ‘bull’seye’ is,” he said. “I do not know what that is. Does anybody know? Does anybody know what a bull’s-eye is? If they are not trying to beat our ass and we are not trying to beat their ass, I do not know what else you do. That is what we are going to try and do, and hopefully, they try and do the same.”
Following practice, Mayfield posted on Instagram that he was taken out of context.
“This is not what I said ... just so we’re clear,” he wrote. “I also said I was surprised I got drafted number one. Then was talking about the flaws in evaluating QBs. Where I brought up winning being important. Reporters and media will do anything to come up with a clickbait story. Heard nothing but good things and wish nothing but the best for Daniel.”
Mayfield is scheduled to meet with reporters Wednesday.
Superstar wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. also took another swipe at his former team.
In a Sports Illustrated cover story, Beckham said New York turned down better trade offers to send him to Cleveland in March.
“This wasn’t no business move,” he told SI. “This was personal. They thought they’d send me here to die.”
Shurmur chose not to engage any further with the three-time Pro Bowler.
“Quite frankly on our list of issues of the day it really doesn’t matter what Odell or Baker says,” Shurmur said.