Austin Hooper wasted no time, even in the midst of a global pandemic. Once the Pro Bowl tight end knew he was going to sign with the Cleveland Browns, he went straight to his new quarterback, Baker Mayfield.
Hooper and Mayfield connected together during the unusual offseason, with the new Browns TE traveling to Mayfield’s home in Austin, Texas to get some in-person work done.
In his Zoom teleconference with reporters on Wednesday, Hooper trumpeted the fruits of those labors.
“Especially in a super-condensed offseason and a super-condensed training camp format, banking those few hundred reps, in my opinion, has really helped us already,” Hooper told reporters. “I got in contact with him early on in the process so when I did sign, I already had an idea of where I’m going, who is my quarterback and what is he all about. I told him that I like to work and I like to do stuff in the offseason. He was more than ready and willing to do that.”
Mayfield’s willingness to work with him made a positive impression on the prized pass-catcher.
“That’s just how it works between players, if I’m being honest,” Hooper said. “You just want to get a feel for the person you are going to work with for years.”
So what did they do, outside of working on their budding pitch-and-catch connection?
“I had a good time with him on and off the field and just kind of got a feel for him, his personality, his wife, his family and his friends and just kind of really see Baker the person. It was a good time.”
