Baker Mayfield hits back at beef claims with Kevin Stefanski

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After apparently making progress last year, Baker Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns are back outside the playoffs. Mayfield himself has had a disappointing season that was cut short due to injury. His interception rate nearly doubled as he scored nine fewer touchdowns and over 500 yards less than last season (albeit two games less).

Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com has offered a possible reason 2021 didn’t go Mayfield’s path. She reported that he and Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski had differences to resolve, writing:

Mayfield’s issues with Stefanski boiled beneath the surface for most of the season, with Mayfield feeling Stefanski’s play didn’t always put him in a position to succeed or play with his strengths, sources said at cleveland.com.

Stefanski did not necessarily dispute that on Tuesday after announcing that Mayfield would not make the season finale against the Bengals and would have his torn labrum repaired as soon as possible.

“As a team we’ve been very, very inconsistent this season – in attack certainly,” Stefanski said. “All the things that we will be looking at long term here after the season is over and have a chance to look at it all, but certainly there are frustrations there.”

Mayfield hit back at Cabot, calling his report click bait and the Cleveland media stoking the drama.

Click bait. You and many other local Cleveland media continue to be touching reporters without sources or facts. Don’t put words in my mouth so you can put food on your table. I am not your puppet. https://t.co/MfHnqWk65s

– Baker Mayfield (@bakermayfield) January 6, 2022

Cabot’s report contains no quotes from Mayfield other than a previous one on criticism of the Browns’ game. The angle of the story is that Mayfield needs to understand the differences with his coach, although he does mention other issues that Cleveland has dealt with, such as the injury of All-Pro tackle Jack Conklin.

While Mayfield may think he’s been portrayed unfairly, the best thing he can do is improve himself and show that he and Stefanski can be a true playoff-caliber duo.

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