Baker Mayfield stepped to the podium on Wednesday, and his comments about the upcoming Week 2 clash with the Cleveland Browns were not what anyone expected. Just this summer, Mayfield had practically drawn a target on the game, circling it as the one he truly wanted. But now? He’s playing it cool, real cool.
The Cleveland Betrayal and the Fire That Fueled Him
Mayfield’s journey in the NFL has been a wild one. He was the No. 1 overall pick, hailed as the guy who would save the Cleveland Browns, even helping them clinch their first playoff game since way back in 1994. Then, bam! He was traded for a conditional fifth-round pick after the organization decided to move on to Deshaun Watson. Seriously, that whole Watson trade is still called the worst in NFL history, and Mayfield was absolutely a casualty of it. After getting wheeled to the curb in 2022, he bounced from the Carolina Panthers to the Los Angeles Rams, then finally landed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Now he’s a two-time Pro Bowler with a fresh three-year, $165 million contract extension! You can’t make this stuff up.
Mayfield’s competitive spirit has always been a “pro” and “con” on his scouting reports, but there’s no doubt it’s been his fuel. He thrives on the criticism, the doubters, anyone who counts him out. Remember last year when the Buccaneers played the New York Jets? Mayfield sure didn’t forget that Jets defensive coordinator Steve Wilks was the one who “cut him” in Carolina. That’s the guy who plays with a chip on his shoulder, right? And just this summer, on the “4th and South” podcast with Jarvis Landry and Leonard Fournette, he was asked what game he circled on the Bucs’ schedule. His answer? The first home game, Week 2 against the Browns! “It’s time to show them which home is better,” he declared. The fire was palpable.
A New Demeanor for the Grudge Match?
So, with all that history, you’d think the fire would be absolutely blazing as he preps to host his former team this Sunday. But nah. He stepped up Wednesday, and there was no bulletin-board material whatsoever. He was asked about the history, and he gave a pretty tame response: “Yeah I think any time there’s history between a franchise, a coaching staff, anybody, you want to come out on the winning side of that, no matter what.” Then he mentioned that the staff is “very different” now, how he spent four years there and is going into Year 4 with the Bucs. He said he “started my career there, lot of ups and downs,” but for him, “this week is doing the little things right, continuing to try and place the ball where it needs to go and making the corrections I need to and ball security.” So nonchalant, right?
It got even more interesting after that. Several minutes later, he was asked what he’d remember from his time in Cleveland. And get this: he actually said the good was *more memorable* than the bad! “I mean with any experience there’s ups and downs, good and bad. Ultimately, you re”
This Sunday, Mayfield finally hosts his old team. He played them once before during his brief stint with the Panthers, but Carolina lost that game, 26-24. So he’s still chasing that first career victory against the Browns. What’s at stake? A chance to finally get that W and cement his new narrative. Will the calm demeanor last, or will that competitive fire we know so well ignite once he hits the field? We’ll find out Sunday.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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