The Cleveland Browns were a mess on the field with an injured Baker Mayfield at quarterback. They remain a mess off the field, even with the young veteran opting for shoulder surgery this week.
Mayfield took to Twitter to dispute a dispatch from longtime Browns beat reporter Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. Cabot reported the former top overall pick was frustrated with head coach Kevin Stefanski’s run-heavy playbook. He felt it played a role in a season that was, statistically, about as bad as the year Mayfield had with Freddie Kitchens as head coach.
“Mayfield’s issues with Stefanski bubbled below the surface most of the season, with Mayfield feeling like Stefanski’s playcalling didn’t always put him in a position to succeed or play to his strengths,” Cabot wrote.
Without assurances things would improve in 2022, the fourth-year quarterback would “consider asking to be traded.”
That report was disputed by offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt early Thursday. Mayfield was a bit more aggressive when it came to refuting Cabot’s story.
Clickbait. You and many other Cleveland local media continue to be drama stirring reporters with no sources or facts. Don’t put words in my mouth so you can put food on your table. I’m not your puppet. https://t.co/MfHnqWk65s
— Baker Mayfield (@bakermayfield) January 6, 2022
Mayfield has had a trying year. A promising start to 2021 was undone by a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder and a passing offense that dropped from 10th to 19th in total DVOA. For the Browns, that meant the chance to earn their first playoff streak since 1989 crumbled into dust. For Mayfield, the outcome was boos on his home field and threats in his DMs.
If Cabot’s report is accurate, Mayfield could be on his way out of Cleveland. If not, he’ll have one more chance to prove he can be the Browns’ franchise quarterback as he plays out the final season of his rookie contract in 2022 and that he can co-exist with his head coach after all.
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