Cleveland should follow 49ers’ lead, excuse Mayfield from minicamp
ROCKY RIVER, OHIO — The Browns should excuse Baker Mayfield from the mandatory minicamp June 14-16 the same way the 49ers did with Jimmy Garoppolo this week.
Coach Kevin Stefanski, when asked about minicamp plans for Mayfield at the Cleveland Browns Foundation Golf Tournament at Westwood Country Club here, said, “I’m not going to get into that, but I will tell you for minicamp, really looking forward to that” because of plans to practice in Canton on June 15 and attend the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and practice at Firstenergy Stadium on June 16.
Pressed again on if he’ll announce the decision before minicamp, Stefanski said, “with all of that, this whole offseason, we’ve been pretty consistent that we’ll take it day-by-day, so if there’s something to update we will.”
But in many ways, the situations of Garoppolo and Mayfield are similar, and the Browns should follow suit: both quarterbacks are rehabbing shoulder surgeries, and both have been replaced as the starter, Mayfield by Deshaun Watson and Garoppolo by Trey Lance. Both are also on the trading block and neither has any idea where he’ll be in 2022.
In fact, both could be stuck in limbo with their current clubs.
49ers coach Kyle Shanahan, during the first week of Organized Team Activities, acknowledged that Garoppolo, who underwent surgery on his throwing shoulder after the season, might not find a new home.
“I expect him at sometime, most likely, to be traded but who knows?” he said. “That’s not a guarantee.”
With the 49ers excusing Garoppolo, he won’t be fined the the collectively bargained amount of more than $95,000 for the three-day camp: $15,900 for Day 1, $31,961 for Day 2 and $47,936 for Day 3.
The Browns should do the same for Mayfield and not invite the distraction of having him around for minicamp. In fact, they should extend that through training camp and not create the circus atmosphere of him taking reps behind Watson, Jacoby Brissett and Josh Dobbs - in front of thousands of fans, including some in Mayfield jerseys.
The Browns can also do what the Texans did last year with Watson — have him come to the club facility each day but work out on his own
instead of with his teammates.
But even that presents an enormous distraction, and the Browns already have enough on their plate with Watson’s continuing legal issues and looming possible NFL suspension.
Even during Monday’s golf event, a 24th civil suit was filed against Watson by another massage therapist alleging misconduct during an appointment, this one in August of 2020.
On a day when the Browns were trying to focus on their “Stay in the Game” initiative to keep kids in school and abolish absenteeism, Watson’s ordeal stole the headlines.