I’m an Ohio football fan. I’m an OSU alumnus. I was raised a Bengal. And I married a Browns fan. For many years I cheered for both the Browns and the Bengals, except for when they played each other. Over the last 6 years, I have been rooting more and more for the Browns.
Baker Mayfield brought me into the fold. He’s an absolute story: a walk-on who wins the Heisman and is the #1 pick in the NFL draft? That’s everyone’s dream.
So, I will not lie when I said I was very upset with the unbelievable news that the Browns have signed Deshaun Watson to be their quarterback. I’m not going to get into the absurd contract which throws their future ability to sign free agents, retain talent, or even draft anyone. I just want to say a few things.
I can’t root for the Browns now. After all of the years of criticizing the Steelers for keeping Big Ben on their roster after the things he did early in his career, I cannot turn around and act like the many more women making accusations against Deshaun do not matter. As a father of many girls, it does matter. The Browns have lost me.
Moving beyond the highly questionable action of signing someone who has 22 civil lawsuits pending is the fact that Baker Mayfield is a good quarterback.
Here is the Browns’ record the 4 years prior to drafting Mayfield and then the 4 years with him as the QB:
2014 7-9
2015 3-13
2016 1-15
2017 0-16
Total win/loss: 11/53
2018 7-8-1
2019 6-10
2020 11-5
2021 8-9
Total win/loss: 32/25/1
That’s a remarkable turnaround. Especially when you consider that Mayfield’s numbers took place with 3 different head coaches and 3 different offensive systems in…4 years! He had to learn one of the new systems during the pandemic when everything was virtual. And his last year of playing, which was his second-best record, he played with a non-existent offensive line (due to injuries) and a torn labrum in his shoulder which required surgery in the off-season.
According to Cleveland.com’s write-up on Mayfield’s success, he is the 6th best QB to play in Cleveland since the franchise started in 1944. And that is in only 4 seasons.
In all honesty, I hope the Steelers sign him. And I hope he beats the Browns every time they play. And if you happen to know me personally, you’ll understand what a remarkable statement that is.
So long Mayfield. Cleveland did you dirty. Wherever you land, I hope you wake up feeling dangerous.
I wish you all the best and hope you have a long and prolific NFL career.
Three Taverns Brewery 