Hit on Browns QB Mayfield expected to draw fine

CLEVELAND (AP) >> Baker Mayfield’s head snapped back violently from a nasty hit that seemed illegal and unnecessary.

The officials on the field didn’t think so. The NFL feels otherwise.

Tampa Bay safety Jordan Whitehead is expected to be fined for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Mayfield during Sunday’s game, a person familiar with league discipline told the Associated Press.

Whitehead struck Mayfield in the fourth quarter of the Buccaneers’ 2623 overtime win as Mayfield was starting to slide at the end of a 35-yard scramble. Whitehead should have been flagged for unnecessary roughness or unsportsmanlike conduct, said the person who spoke Wednesday on condition of anonymity because the league has not commented on calls from last week’s games.

Fines are typically announced on Saturday.

Mayfield said there’s no satisfaction in learning Whitehead will likely be punished.

“After the fact, it doesn’t really matter,” he said Wednesday as the Browns began preparing for Sunday’s game in Pittsburgh. “That’s just one of those things that in the moment you’ve got to be able to call that.”

After the play, Mayfield popped to his feet and jawed at Whitehead, saying later he wanted to “let the guy know he’s gonna have to hit me a lot harder than that if he wants to affect me.”

The play was initially flagged, but officials conferred and decided not to penalize Whitehead. Firstyear referee Shawn Hochuli then added confusion by announcing to the crowd: “The quarterback is still a runner and therefore is allowed to be hit in the head. He had not yet begun his slide. There is therefore no foul.”

The league implemented a “helmet” rule that prohibits players from lowering their heads to deliver a blow, and there has been a greater emphasis placed on protecting quarterbacks.

In the heat of the moment, Mayfield said he was unaware of Hochuli’s puzzling explanation.

“I didn’t hear it at the time because I was so fuming mad, but to hear the ref say he’s allowed to be hit in the head, I thought that’s why they put in the rule,” he said. “But we’ll see.”

Mayfield was asked how he feels about Hochuli’s ruling now.

“No words,” he said. “Honestly. No words.”

On Monday, Browns coach Hue Jackson the noncall was “disappointing.”

Mayfield feels the NFL might consider adopting the college “targeting” rule in which players are subject to ejection and suspensions if called for using their helmets to deliver a blow.

“I definitely know it affected our team,” said Mayfield, who played at Oklahoma. “When anytime you have guys that are flying around trying to impose their will on an offense and a hit like that can take them out of not only that second half but then the first half of the next game, that can affect a lot of guys.”

It’s the most recent questionable call to go against the Browns, who had a potential defensive touchdown against Oakland on Sept. 30 nullified by a quick whistle — a play the league later acknowledged was called incorrectly.

Last week, defensive end Myles Garrett risked a fine by saying hewas tired of the Browns not getting calls.