Normally, we hate the expression “Only In Cleveland”. Usually, we associate it to a “woe is us” mentality that only bad things happen to our sports franchises, when really the squads from northeast Ohio just aren’t as good as their opponents.
However, we will use the phrase in this regard. Only here does the football team’s defense allow 47 points in a game and there is discussion about how good the quarterback is.
The Cleveland offense put up 42 points against the Los Angeles Chargers last Sunday. That’s enough to win most NFL football games.
Yet, questions continue to concern Baker Mayfield. This summer we thought we did an honest evaluation of Mayfield and ranked him 11th among NFL QBs, but we didn’t included Justin Herbert because he was a rookie last year, and we would put him above the Browns’ signal caller now, so let’s say 12th.
We also said advancing further in the playoffs would likely move the former Heisman Trophy winner up in these rankings.
That said, until the reason the Browns can’t advance in the playoffs or get to the playoffs is the play at quarterback, why even start this discussion.
First of all, it is okay to say Mayfield isn’t the answer, but if that is your opinion, what can you possibly do about it?
Are you going to play Case Keenum? The draft isn’t really an answer either unless you are very fortunate and someone like Aaron Rodgers drops to you in picks 20 through 32.
And you saw what the Rams gave up to the Lions to get Matthew Stafford, right? They had to give up two first round picks plus their current starting quarterback. That’s a hefty price, but if the Rams win the Super Bowl in the next few years it will be totally worth it.
We aren’t saying Mayfield is the answer, but we also aren’t saying he’s not the answer either. We simply don’t know.
What we do know is he has quarterbacked the Browns to a playoff win, becoming the first one since Vinny Testaverde to do so. Browns’ fans are impatient, we get that. No titles since 1964, and the franchise has been a perennial doormat since re-entering the NFL in 1999.
We’ve seen fans pining over guys like Herbert, Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, and Josh Allen, and we get that. But out of that quartet, only Mahomes has been to a Super Bowl (two of them) and only Allen has been to a conference championship.
For all of Jackson’s spectacular play and an MVP award, he’s won as many playoff games as Baker Mayfield.
Again, we aren’t claiming Mayfield is one of the best QBs in the NFL. He needs to continue to get better and without question, he needs to lead a comeback victory late in the fourth quarter against a quality opponent. A signature moment.
However, he has not proved to be holding this team back either. Defeating Arizona, the league’s last undefeated team this Sunday in Cleveland could help change people’s opinion.
Probably, that won’t change until Mayfield wins an AFC Championship and sends the franchise to its first Super Bowl. No pressure there.
Cleveland Sports Perspective 