After the Browns upset the Atlanta Falcons two weeks ago, rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield (who threw for three touchdowns in the game) told reporters he has a feeling it would be a good day for him because he “woke up feeling pretty dangerous.”
The phrase has since taken on a life of its own among fans (even spawning its own t-shirts), but according to Mayfield himself, it’s nothing new to those who know him best.
“I’ve been saying that every game day to my family for a long time,” Mayfield told WKYC’s Jim Donovan in an interview this past Friday.
As the No. 1 overall pick gets more comfortable in his role as Cleveland’s QB1, he understands he has to “bring the energy” each week. While waking up with a “dangerous” feeling can only help with that, the 23-year-old says it’s more about better dealing with the complexities of being an NFL quarterback.
“You’re going to see different things throughout the week,” Mayfield said. “You just have to adjust on the fly and see what they’re going to bring game plan wise...That’s the difficult part, but if you just stick to your rules and your basics, it can take care of itself.”
Mayfield believes he and all other quarterbacks in the league are, in some way, "chasing greatness." To him, how one does that depends on the person.
"There's just different things that everybody does to try to perfect their craft," he said. "It's highly competitive, and that's why I love it."
Just seven starts into his career, many have already pegged Mayfield as the best Browns QB since the team returned to the league in 1999. Yet the rookie insists he has not “arrived” just yet, even if he has a phrase on a t-shirt.
“We’re still working,” he said, “but it’s fun to have that kind of support...The support and the energy around this place is unbelievable."
You can watch Mayfield’s entire interview with Donovan in the player below:
