Mayfield denies trashing Giants QB Daniel Jones

Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield is getting national attention for a remark in an Aug. 20 GQ article.

After 20 years of annually being one of the worst teams in the NFL, the Browns are back, they’re relevant and they’re talking. They are talking in words that grab national headlines.

Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield is getting national attention for a remark in an Aug. 20 GQ article that strays from the main thrust of the story, which is about how he and the Browns are expected to challenge for a playoff spot for the first time since 2002. It is a remark he denies making.

Clay Skipper, the story’s author, is interviewing Mayfield in a restaurant with ESPN on a television in the background. “SportsCenter” is doing a segment on the Giants and, according to the article, Mayfield says, “I cannot believe the Giants took Daniel Jones. Blows my mind.”

Giants general manager Dave Gettleman surprised many people by using the sixth pick in the draft on Jones. Jones was 17-19 as the quarterback at Duke. Gettleman expects Jones to eventually take over for Eli Manning, who won two Super Bowls with the Giants but is 38 years old as he begins his 19th season in the NFL.

Gettleman passed on former Buckeyes quarterback Dwayne Haskins, who was selected by the Redskins with the 15th pick. Haskins was 13-1 last fall in his only season as a starter at Ohio State.

It is highly unusual for one NFL quarterback to rip another NFL quarterback. Mayfield is not typical.

“Some people overthink (drafting quarterbacks),” Mayfield is quoted saying in the GQ article. “That’s where people go wrong. They forget you’ve gotta win.”

Mayfield denied the remark was directed at Jones.

“This is not what I said,” Mayfield wrote on Instagram.

DAVID RICHARD — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Baker Mayfield gives a signal during the first half of a preseason game against the Redskins on Aug. 8.