The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Mayfield pressures himself to improve
The Browns are no longer Baker’s Buddies, and that alone might prove to be an important step in getting the football team to meet expectations in 2020 it failed to reach in 2019.
Baker Mayfield, appearing on the ESPN set of “Get Up” with his antagonist, Rex Ryan, during Super Bowl week, was more humble than ever before while reflecting on his role in the Browns’ 6-10 season.
He threw 21 interceptions. The only NFL quarterback with more was Jameis Winston of Tampa Bay with 30 interceptions thrown.
“It comes down to me doing my job,” Mayfield said. “I’ve never turned the ball over so many times . ... You can’t win like that. And so that falls back on me. I’ll take all the blame for that.”
Former general manager John Dorsey needed a head coach after deciding 2018 interim head coach Gregg Williams wasn’t fit for the job. Dorsey carried on a sham of a coaching search and decided the best candidate was right down the hall — offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens because Kitchens developed such a rapport with Mayfield, then a rookie quarterback, in the second half of 2018.
In Dorsey’s defense, Mayfield’s production the second half of 2018 showed Kitchens should have been retained — as offensive coordinator. Mayfield needed a firmer hand as a head coach.
Mayfield was fined $10,026 for gesturing toward his groin in front of Kitchens after throwing a 1-yard touchdown pass to Darren Fells in a game against the Bengals on Dec. 23. That one moment symbolized how close Mayfield and Kitchens had become.
The Browns needed a backup quarterback. Dorsey accommodated Mayfield again by signing Garrett Gilbert, Mayfield’s pal from before Baker was in high school.
Ryan Lindley was unqualified to be the quarterback coach last season, but that nevertheless was his title. Lindley and Mayfield became fast friends.
Dorsey, Kitchens and Lindley are gone and Gilbert doesn’t seem to fit the profile the new regime desires.
It is impossible to predict how Kevin Stefanski will fare as head coach of the Browns, but he will hold Mayfield accountable.
New offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt isn’t here to chum around with Mayfield. He has a long history of working with star quarterbacks, including Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay. Rodgers was unhappy when the Packers fired Van Pelt after Green Bay finished 7-9 in 2017. The Bengals quickly hired Van Pelt to coach quarterback Andy Dalton.
“It comes back on communication — just being on the same page,” Mayfield said on Get Up. “Doing my job the best I can, and not worrying about the outside stuff. Not replying to you (Rex Ryan). ... Just doing my job and doing what really matters — being a quarterback.
“The focus needs to be about is what can I do to help this team win? What can I do to make our franchise better, head in the right direction? Do the things of why I was picked in that spot — and make it happen.”
Talk is cheap. It is easy to say all the right things in January. It will be up to Mayfield in the offseason, training camp and next fall to show he is sincere.