Mayfieldreachesout toJonesafter biting remarks

BEREA, OHIO (AP) » Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield did some scrambling off the field.

Claiming he was taken out of context in an interview conducted four months ago, Mayfield said Wednesday that he reached out to New York Giants rookie QB Daniel Jones after making some biting comments about the firstround draft pick from Duke.

On Tuesday, a GQ article on Mayfield was published and in it the confident and charismatic former No. 1 overall selection said he was shocked the Giants drafted Jones with the No. 6 pick this year and questioned why the teamwould take a player without a proven track record of winning.

Mayfield acknowledged he told GQ that he was stunned by the choice of Jones — “blows my mind” — but that he didn’t mean any disrespect toward Jones and that other comments in the article were pieced together.

Mayfield said he texted Jones to make sure he understood he didn’t mean any harm.

“I reached out to Daniel because all that stuff was blown way out of hand, and I wanted him to know how I felt, and I’ve heard nothing but great things from Saquon (Barkley) and Sterling Shepard, guys that have a lot of respect for him and respect their opinions,” Mayfield said.

“I just wanted to clear the air with him.”

Mayfield, the 2017 Heisman Trophy winner who has built his reputation on being outspoken and unapologetic, said Jones appreciated the gesture.

“He was very nice,” Mayfield said as the Browns wrapped up training camp. “Everything that people have said about him, he was cordial. He said, ‘no worries, man.’”

Mayfield said a quote about Jones’ college record came from a conversation about himself — not Jones.

“It seemed very disrespectful, and I can understand that,” Mayfield said. “But what people didn’t realize, the conversation entailed of me saying I was surprised I was drafted No. 1 overall, and thenme going on a rant after that about QB evaluation and the frustration from the college recruiting process.

“And so it had nothing to do with Daniel specifically about the

RON SCHWANE FILE - In this June 4, 2019, file photo, Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) talks with head coach Freddie Kitchens at the team’s NFL football training facility in Berea, Ohio. Browns coach Freddie Kitchens says he doesn’t care if controversial comments by brash quarterback Baker Mayfield put a target on his team.