Ask Kansas if he cared when he taunted their players by grabbing his crotch after they refused to shake his hand prior to the start of that game.
Ask any traditional football junkie if he cared when they called him a kid or a show-off for nearly every day during his college career.
The point in Baker Mayfield’s mind is this: one should take greater note of him when he’s on the field, not when he’s off of it, because when push comes to shove in critical moments of a game, he shows up and seizes the issue for his team. All the stuff in the real world ought to be shoved to the back burner since his career takes higher precedence, Mayfield believes. He is a football player after all, and football players with the honorable distinction of being the first overall selection should be scrutinized about the very thing that brought them to this point.
But—and this is a big “but” here—the NFL is not college. It’s a whole ‘nother animal. Defenses are more complex and difficult to read, the players are infinitely times smarter, and the level of competition is fiercer. Sure, Mayfield can prepare himself in training camp and the preseason to get accustomed for the big show, but if he is required to step in for the team’s #1 quarterback in an emergency, will he be ready to perform? And even if he does do well in the beginning, will he revert back to the status quo that Cleveland is all too familiar with? Or will he usurp those woeful tropes and be the kind of quarterback the Browns franchise have been craving for 20 years?
These were the kind of questions Browns fans were asking themselves when he did indeed replace the injured Tyrod Taylor in Week 3 of this season. Starting from the end of the second quarter, he completed 17 of 23 passes for 201 yards which culminated in a Browns win, their first since 2016 (Week 16 vs Chargers). His performance, coupled with Taylor’s elongated injury, earned him the starting job and he has not looked back since.
Though Mayfield experienced major setbacks in his maiden season like seeing the dismissal of head coach Hue Jackson from the team, he was unperturbed by the consequential noise. As a matter of fact, he is relishing in the adversity, as is customary in his case. In his first 8 weeks where Jackson was still the coach, Mayfield threw for a completion percentage of 58% with 1,471 yards, 8 touchdown passes, and 6 interceptions to his name. Since then, he has been lights out. His completion percentage bumped up to 71% while his TD/interception ratio improved drastically as well (16/5).
Now, I don’t want to sound like a rocket scientist, but I think this new leaf might be because of Jackson leaving. I know it’s crazy, but it’s possible this might be the cause. Such is the happenings of a professional sports team when a disappointing coach of Jackson’s caliber leaves.
Regardless, instead of cowering in the face of the Browns’ atrocious past, Mayfield said “**** that” and began writing his own story out of spite. His approach to the game is exactly what Cleveland fans were waiting for as their devotion to the team has been mocked by the form of them being compared to masochist. No, they’re not weirdos looking for pleasure out of constant suffering. They’re football fans like me and millions more. They just want to see their team contend for a spot in the playoffs like the Texans, Ravens, and Colts, not flounder around in the league’s basement for all of eternity. Nothing more and nothing else.
It’s because of this desire that they continue to attend games to show their loyalty to the lowly yet beloved Browns. The team is not just anyone’s team. It’s their team; and with the emergence of Mayfield, it’s his team too. His attitude against the outside world–ergo anywhere that’s not Cleveland–perfectly encapsulates the city’s. You’re either with them or against them. If you are, then great. If you’re not, well, too bad. Off you go to the shadow realm or whatever. Cleveland’s not going to cry over you not joining him. They’ll work with what they have right now and make the best of it, because in the end, that’s all they have—each other.
Mayfield has adopted Cleveland as his third home. He teamed up with organizations to create charities all throughout the Cleveland community. One noteworthy action is his raising of more than $100,000 to a nonprofit organization called Providence House which works in offering shelters to troubled children. He wants to leave an everlasting impact on the city, and the fans will truly appreciate his efforts.
But above all else, he wants to win to relieve the fans of their never-ending pain. He has led the Browns to their best regular-season record since 2014 where they had the great Brian Hoyer calling plays behind the center. In due time, Mayfield hopes to turn the fabled “Factory of Sadness” to the “Factory of Happiness”.
Finally, Cleveland have found their starting quarterback. The 29th time is the charm. If you’re distasteful of that notion, then guess what Mayfield may say in response. He’ll just not care.
