Every single week, it’s something new with Baker Mayfield. Lately, none of the items have really pertained to football all that much. Furthermore, the Browns suffered a disaster defeat this past Sunday. It wasn’t just losing as a favorite and a quarterback starting his first game for the Denver Broncos.
It was the charade following the game – even if you don’t count the in-game mess with the receivers and their cleats.
Jake Trotter covers the Cleveland Browns for ESPN, and has more on the story. And that story is all about why Baker Mayfield shaved his handlebar mustache. Such an important topic, you know? Surely, Trotter would not ask Mayfield about his 71.3 passer rating; or he might go on a tirade.
"I was undefeated before Sunday with the handlebar mustache."
Baker Mayfield didn't feel worthy of his handlebars anymore, so he shaved them off 😂https://t.co/nwUFmzYYW3
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) November 7, 2019
First off, Mayfield said that the handlebar mustache was because of a superstition.
“The original thought for me, do handlebars. I was undefeated before Sunday with the handlebar mustache. So I shaved it off because I didn’t deserve it.”
Now, I want to preface we are here to report the news. Equally important, we are not picking on Mayfield. Still, the guy just doesn’t make it easy on you. Finally, he ends up talking a little football.
“Now we just have to make the plays when they’re there. We have to execute when it’s in the red zone. We have to do those obvious things. … We know that right now, eight games left in the season, just have a single-week focus coming into it and do our job.”
Still, that just reads like a quote where a player is going through the motions and saying what he thinks he should. At this point, Mayfield really can’t win. That’s what happens when you paint yourself into a corner talking trash before the season begins, and you’re a brash personality. You must back it up, or people will subject you to a little harsher criticism.
In addition, Mayfield says that just because he has Odell Beckham doesn’t mean football is easy.
“People had this picture-perfect thing where it was going to be sunshine and rainbows and he was going to have a whole lot of one-on-ones,” Mayfield said. “It’s Odell Beckham. He’s going to have double coverage.”
In closing, the Cleveland Browns are a mess. I had people tell me that they have been following this team for anywhere from 30 to 50 years. This was the season they were most excited for in their lifetime. Truly, it’s been one week after another of complete letdown. I’m not sure how the Browns turn this around, or if they ever will. Certainly, they need guys who are different than Mayfield leading the way.
Looking at the headline football, he looks more like a dad stopping by for Saturday visitation rights than a player who is supposed to be a leader of men.
