CLEVELAND — Editor's note: the video in the player above is from a previous story.
A Harvard graduate who is considered one of the most analytically driven general managers in football, Andrew Berry is typically known for relying on the data. But when it comes to evaluating the play of Baker Mayfield, the Cleveland Browns general manager admitted that some creativity is necessary.
"It's probably more art than science. I wish I could give you a straightforward answer," Berry answered when asked how he weighs Mayfield's performance in 2021 against the quarterback's body of work. "It is a little bit more feel and about looking at things without emotion and being fair to your team."
As is customary, Berry met with reporters on Wednesday to address the status of his team at its bye week. The bulk of the 30-minute Zoom session, however, focused on Mayfield, whose injury-plagued season has been one of the primary storylines of Cleveland's 2021 campaign.
Only amplifying Mayfield's performance this season -- in which he's completed 62.2 percent of his passes for 2,413 yards, 11 touchdowns and six interceptions in 11 games -- has been the status of the former No. 1 overall pick's contract. Now in his fourth season with the Browns, Mayfield has yet to sign a long-term extension. And his uneven performance -- be it the result of injuries or otherwise -- has only made Berry's decision to potentially commit big money to the Oklahoma product all the more difficult.
"I think we all know Baker's incredibly physically tough. I think he's told you guys at moments in the year where he's been frustrated with his own performance. That being said, he has had stretches this year where he has played well for us," Berry said. "The reality of it is that he's worked through injuries, no different from other players on our roster. I know he expects of himself and we expect of him, whenever he's out on the field to perform at a capable level and winning level."
Asked if he still feels Mayfield is the Browns' quarterback of the future, Berry replied: "With Baker, especially from a long-term perspective, you really try to take a big picture. Really with any player, it's about the body of work really over several years. And also taking into context the environment or particular individual situation. We've seen Baker play a lot good football here. We've seen Baker play good football this season."
The difficulty the Browns might have evaluating Mayfield doesn't change the reality that 2022 is the final season of his current contract in Cleveland. While that makes it possible -- if not likely -- that the former Heisman Trophy winner will be back with the Browns next year, a second straight offseason without an extension would create justified skepticism that Cleveland still views him as its long term quarterback.
Entering the bye at 6-6, the Browns remain very much alive in the AFC postseason picture with five games remaining against five potential playoff teams. And as far as Mayfield is concerned, Berry is hopeful that the week off will help his starting signal-caller bounce back from a 12-week stretch in which he's dealt with injuries to left shoulder, right knee and left foot.
"We expect him to play his best football down the stretch here after the bye," Berry said.
If he does, it could make the most important evaluation of Berry's Browns career a little easier.