End of the day… Baker needs to be a professional and play ball. This is a business and every position is up for upgrade. I currently have a negative attitude toward Watson, enough so that I would have stopped supporting the Browns had he come here. At the end of the day, he’s proven he is an upgrade to Baker, so the business side I understand.. it’s the moral side I take issue with, which is personal not logical. They need Stefanski and Berry to meet with Baker, get permission from Haslem to throw him under the bus on this whole flying to Houston crap and let him know he is the best option for the Browns. I still feel he is the best option as long as the locker room is fixable.
Still blowing my mind... Baker Mayfield, from Week 7 2020 (once he got comfortable in a new offense) through Week 6 2021 (once his fractured shoulder also was torn and the season was effectively over) and including his two post-season games: 362 of 560 (64.6%), 4,409 yards (7.9 YPA), 26 TD (4.6%), 6 INT (0.1%), 99.7 QB rating (plus 217 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground) for an 11-7 record That's 18 games, one more than a standard regular season. That's with 2020's defense (the league's third-worst secondary and 21st overall) and 2021's defense through Week 6 (the league's worst secondary through that game). That's in Kevin Stefanksi's conservative offense that features the running game and tight ends. That's with primarily Jarvis Landry, Donovan Peoples-Jones (rookie into second-year), and Rashard Higgins as the top recievers. Those numbers would qualify for... Yards = 1st in franchise history Touchdowns = t-6th in franchise history Int = 1st in franchise history QB Rating = t-2nd in franchise history (behind only the GOAT Otto Graham) So confirmed, Baker is the second-best QB (behind only HOF Otto Graham) in our franchise's history. "But SAS", you'll say, "the Browns have always been a RB team and our QB history is not good. Excluding Baker we've only had two good ones in the last four decades." Fine. Adjusted for a 17-game season, those numbers would qualify for... 2020 Yards = 11th (behind Rivers, ahead of Carr) TD = 17th (behind t-Jackson/Murray ahead of t-Rivers/Brees) INT = t-2nd (behind Rodgers, tied Mahomes/Brees) QB Rating = 11th (behind Carr, ahead of Jackson) 2021 Yards = 10th (behind Cousins, ahead of MVP Rodgers) TD = t-11th (tied Wilson) INT = 2nd (behind MVP Rodgers, ahead of Wilson) QB Rating = 9th (behind Murray, ahead of Garoppolo) Again, this is with top receivers being Austin Hooper (cut), Jarvis Landry (cut), Donovan Peoples-Jones (6th round rookie), Rashard Higgins (not re-signed), and Odell Beckahm Jr., (cut/quit on team). Sorry... I'm not even buying the guy who won't have played professional football in over 600 days by the start of the 2022 season, has 22 civil suits pending, quit on his previous team, does not have the arm strength to play through bad weather in the AFC North, and who's winning percentage in the post-season is worse than Mayfield's is an upgrade.
Agreed 100%. I think they need to give him a few days/weeks to cool down, but do the damage control once he's ready to talk. They've already declined his request for a trade -- that's fairly standard. Once this Watson Saga has settled, meet up, discuss the upcoming season, lay out the options. Baker knows the Browns won't trade him. He's damaged right now (cannot pass a physical) and coming off a horrific season. His trade value could not be lower and I can't imagine the Browns willing to part with a starting QB for a Day 3 selection. So he's going to stay rostered (at least through the start of the season before the trade deadline). Lay out, as a team, what the options are: 1 - You play, and you play well. Browns offer a market-level contract. $200 million / 5 year deal. 2 - You play, and you play poorly. Browns won't tag you, we'll let you walk and sign where you want. 3 - You play, you get hurt. We'll shut you down, you won't be forced to play through it. You'll get a tag season in 2023 (fully guaranteed contract) to "prove it" then. And you probably have to sweeten the pot, right? We traded for Amari Cooper. Go get at least one more weapon -- ideally a reliable tight end to pair with Njoku. As a token of good will (and selfishly because he's the best WR in the class, too) we'll make every push possible for Garrett Wilson and you two can practice in Austin since y'all live 15 minutes apart. Some consolations from the team for the way they conducted themselves during the Watson ordeal. And if Baker still wants to pout? Well... put him on ice for the season, eat the $18.8 million, and threaten the tag again in 2023.
Not to be too negative, but I think 2021 showed us the roster and coaches are at least 2-3 years away from that. Stefanksi is a poor head coach. Joe Woods is a poor defensive coordinator. Chad O'Shea (wide receivers) is a garbage postion coach. Roster-wise... we haven't replaced Clowney. We have a very thin wide receiver and tight end room now. We cut some very good veterans (Tretter, Landry) and don't have near-peer output behind them. Nick Harris may be ready to assume the role but it's foolish to think he'll come in playing at a Pro Bowl level like Tretter. At right tackle, Conklin probably won't be ready to start the season and thankfully the re-signed Chris Hubbard, but we need to ensure that our backup tackles aren't named Hance, Dunn, or Hudson (yet). The defense and running game turned up big in the games Baker Missed in 2021 (Denver, Las Vegas, and Cincinnati). But the team went 2-1 with a combined score of 52-46 (average 17-15). That's not a realistic way to approach a 17-game schedule facing off against: Lamar Jackson (x2), Joe Burrow (x2), Mitch Trubisky -- seriously... don't sleep on that signing (x2), Tom Brady, Deshaun Watson, Justin Herbert, Josh Allen, and McCorkle Jones. The only "easy" games well get next year are: Dolphins, Jets, Panthers, and whichever team between ATL and NOR doesn't get Watson. We're probably on-par with Washington. If we trot out ABB (anyone but Baker) and attempt that defense/run approach, we're going 5-11-1, no questions asked. Bad enough to need a QB, not bad enough to guarantee a choice between C.J. Stroud (QB1) and Bryce Young (QB2).
Non-Baker Free Agency Items... Jakeem Grant is a Pro Bowl return man who's only had one season (out of six) without a punt or kick return touchdown. He's a definite improvement to our special teams unit and offers replacement-level ability at receiver. Taven Bryan, a former first-round pick, never really made a name for himself on some bad Jacksonville teams and never really cracked the starting lineup. Basically, his scouting report came true - he's a physically gifted athlete who lacks "instincts and feel for the position", which accounts for lack of production. Low risk, high reward -- not unlike Malik McDowell. Again, addition by subtraction here: we traded lameduck LB Mack Wilson for DE Chase Winovich. Winovich, a situational pass rusher with New England, posted 11.0 sacks in his first two seasons but was blanked last year. At worst, a replacement for Takk McKinley in the DE rotation but his scouting report promises more: Bought another year of Anthony Walker Jr.'s time, who led the team in tackles in 2021. Nice move to keep some leadership and talent in the middle of that front seven. Not a lot of fanfare on this one -- even within social media -- but Browns bringing back Chris Hubbard on a one-year deal. Insurance in case Jack Conklin isn't ready Day 1 or either tackle gets injured during the season. Transactions to Date Added: Amari Cooper (WR), Chase Winovich (DE), Taven Bryan (DT), Jakeem Grant (KR/PR) Lost: Jarvis Landry (WR), J.C. Tretter (OC), Austin Hooper (TE), Rashard Higgins (WR), Mack Wilson (LB), M.J. Stewart (S/CB), Andy Janovich (FB) Retained: Anthony Walker Jr. (LB), Chris Hubbard (OT) Open Needs: QB(?), WR, TE, OT, DE, S
This is as much repairing the front office's image as it is mending fences with Baker. Consider this: Russell Wilson was available and the Browns were looking into "top tier QBs". Allegedly, the Broncos were the only team he was willing to waive his NTC for. Do we know if Cleveland made an offer or a call? No... but pretty hard to believe they didn't ask about him. Deshaun Watson had four suitors come calling and the first one he ruled out was Cleveland. Either those top tier guys viewed the Broncos, Saints, and Falcons rosters as superior to Cleveland, and my position that this roster is further away than most think has some validity. OR those guys have major concerns with the top of the organization (owner, GM, and coach), how they conduct themselves, and what type of stability they'd be afforded. Obviously, in either of guys' case, Baker wouldn't be around so maybe, just maybe we can't keep pinning it all on 6?
Very good read, here. Couple of notes from the article I found fascintating. Lends credibility to the thought that they were looking to move on from Mayfield before and/or during 2020 but the success meant they couldn't. But sure... Baker's not a "team player". Again, as I said... it was the very public display of overtures at a pervert QB and not even a courtesy heads-up it was happening. A call could have sufficied and saved a lot of tension. Whichever disaster in the F/O (Stefanksi, Berry, or Haslam) that's throwing that word around obviously did it enough times that Mortenson's source latched on to it and repeated it.
Free Agency News... $12 million a year seems a bit low but there also hasn't been much movement with him in free agency so far. Would be *very* nice to keep Jadeveon around another couple of seasons.
I thought his market would be closer to $15M per.. Hopefully this get sit done though and then he can have another good year in 2023. Since it’s a 2 year deal, im writing off 2022…
Whelp. Nice knowing you, fellas. @Tim - how do I go about getting the "Browns" removed from my avatar/logo?
They also going to give Watson an extra 48M on top of his current contract. Wow EDIT: I can't confirm but a buddy of mine just said it'll be a 5 year, $230M deal......FULLY GUARANTEED. EDIT #2: Three first round picks are included in the deal. Baker is not included so they may try and trade him somewhere else
Browns fans, I know some of you are more focused on the morality aspect, but if this goes through Cleveland will likely be, on paper, the best team in the division without much question. This is coming from someone who has never actually thought this previously. Watson would be the best QB in the division until proven otherwise. Pending he's not looking at a suspension or anything
C'mon now... The bridge with Bake was burnt to the ground regardless. It's going to take a minute to settle in, but I think at this point it is probably best that we got this deal done. Otherwise what, another 40 year search? IDK...It's so strange. One of the biggest trades in NFL history, and I don't know how to feel about it..... Everybody knows we desperately wanted him anyway. Well we got our true franchise QB....This should be interesting.
Granted that this guy has a shit ton of baggage, it does kinda feel good that a star player with tons of options on the table, chose Cleveland.
Sorry, TD... some things are bigger than football. I'm gutted about losing Mayfield but this isn't about Bake. I'll apply for re-instatement once DW is no longer on the team and/or Jimmy sells the franchise. Right now, I need to process.
