Five Cleveland Browns whose stock is down after humiliating 49ers’ loss
1. Baker Mayfield
Monday Night Football marked the worst game in Baker Mayfeid’s NFL game career. It’s like he’s channelling the 25 or so names on the back of that one jersey that’s gone viral on social media.
Against the 49ers, he was 8-of-22 for 11 yards, two four sacks, was picked off twice and lost a fumble. He quarterback rating (13.4) makes Bruce Gradkowski looks like Johnny Unitas.
To make it all worse, Nick Bosa got revenge for Buckeye nation. On a play in which he pressured Mayfield into committing an intentional grounding penalty, Bosa got up, waved an imaginary flag and proceeded to “plant it” into the turf at Levi’s Stadium.
Mayfield planted a real flag in the turf at Ohio Stadium following Oklahoma’s 2017 win in Columbus, an act that, as Bosa showed, still reverberates to this day.
Quick side story: I was at that game and didn’t fully recognize how big a deal Mayfield planting that flag at ‘The Shoe was in the moment. I still don’t think it’s a big deal. I guess have simpler of view of sports after the game ends. To the victor, go the spoils.
Got the opportunity to meet and talk to Toby Keith this past summer at the Ohio State Fair. Keith is a noted Oklahoma fan and had plenty of Sooner tailgating chairs in his backstage area. I told Keith he must be a Browns fan now that Baker is the King of Cleveland.
The country-hit maker was quick to bring up the flag planting, reminding me how many people in the state were angered by the Heisman winner’s actions. Toby certainly hadn’t forgotten and he spoke about it with the same Okie sized chip on the shoulder that Mayfield is known to carry around.
Back to the game, it’s hard to admit, but Baker’s stock is down. Now, Bernie Kosar has always told me that the quarterback is a product of those around him. Freddie Kitchens basically said the same thing in the postgame.
But the league’s record holder for rookie passing touchdowns in a season failed to throw a touchdown for the first time in his career. Of his five starts this season, four could be considered clunkers. He leads the league in interceptions (8) and he’s getting passes knocked down.
A long-time high school coach I talked to before Baker’s rookie season wondered if the 6-foo-1 quarterback would be able to find the passing the lanes required to move the chains.