Browns: Colin Cowherd congratulates Baker Mayfield with a caveat

Colin Cowherd finally gave Baker Mayfield praise on his show after years of denigrating the Browns quarterback but it wasn’t very sincere.

When someone congratulates another person there usually aren’t any “buts” in that acknowledgment. “Hey, great job, but…” It’s very insincere to put a caveat at the end of a compliment. Almost as if you were trying to maintain your original position on the topic. That’s exactly what Colin Cowherd did in his segment with regards to the Browns, Baker Mayfield, and his impressive play against the Tennessee Titans.

Cowherd started off talking about how he’s going to give the Browns a pass for their second-half collapse, which is 100% on the shoulders of Kevin Stefanski for going conservative on offense. Cowherd then goes on to acknowledge this is, in his words, “the biggest win of Mayfield’s career.” What’s the next thing he says?

"“But I want to say this, and let’s add context. When you have the number one quarterback on a rookie contract, you should be winning.”"

Gee, that’s great. Cowherd then goes on to talk about how Russell Wilson, Patrick Mahomes, and Jared Goff, of all people, all won on their rookie deals mostly because of the talent that was signed around them. Something he immediately puts on Mayfield.

He then goes on to target Mayfield’s maturity.

"“We know those guys (Wilson, Mahomes, Goff) are mature. The question is…are you mature enough and steady enough to move the luxury liner down the river. And I never thought Baker was.”"

After that, it was a slide right into condescension

"“It was a really nice moment for Baker.  …Is he just stable and mature enough to guide all of this talent down the river? …And yesterday was the first time I thought he could win a playoff game.”“Baker proved ‘I can go on the road and win a big game. I can win a game like (Jarred) Goff did, (Patrick) Mahomes did, like Russell Wilson did.’ But the difference because of those three players temperaments, that win wouldn’t unravel them.”"

He then goes on to that Mayfield now has to work even harder because the Ravens, Giants, and Steelers defenses are all better than the Titans. Though, what Cowherd fails to note in his barely complimentary take, is that the Browns already handled the Washington Football Team (2nd in yards against, 8th in points allowed), the Philadelphia Eagles (15th in yards against), and the Indianapolis Colts (7th in yards against, 10th in points allowed).

The Ravens (6th in yards against, 3rd in points allowed), Giants (10th in yards against, 9th in points allowed), and Steelers (1st in yards against, 1st in points allowed) aren’t going to be some new puzzle to figure out. The Ravens have fallen off since that opening salvo against the Browns, and the Steelers will more than likely have their entire team sitting when they roll into Cleveland.

With respect to the Giants, they’ve played Washington twice, and as good as Washington’s defense is, their offense is so much worse. Same thing for the Eagles (twice) and the Cowboys (once). Not just that but they’ve had the offensively stagnant Bears and Bengals on their lineup too. Their defensive prowess isn’t exactly being tested and when it is, (Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Tampa Bay), they lost by a combined 68-48.

So of course, Cowherd is building up the Browns opponents while telling Mayfield he can’t shoot any more commercials, as if that’s something he’s ever done during an ongoing season, or go out partying. Again, another thing he’s never shown to do during the season.

But at the end of the day, Cowherd will claim he gave Mayfield praise. He even had the gall to say he doesn’t root against “good” quarterbacks before stopping and changing to “I never root against young quarterbacks.” Except when he does.

With one final lie, Cowherd ends the segment by saying after Mayfield started to “go downhill” as he claimed, he, “…stopped watching and talking about him”.

Really, Cowherd? You did?