BEREA, Ohio — After Odell Beckham Jr.'s father, Odell Beckham Sr., posted an 11-minute and 24-second long video clip of Baker Mayfield missing his son on various throws throughout the 2021 season to his verified Instagram account on Tuesday, one might think it'd be natural for the Cleveland Browns quarterback to feel hurt.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, however, Mayfield said that it was a different emotion he felt upon learning about the viral video.
"Hurt? No. Surprised? Yes," Mayfield said.
Mayfield's comments came at the conclusion of a practice that Beckham had been excused from by the team. Speaking to reporters before practice, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski declined to comment on the three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver's future with the team and said that general manager Andrew Berry was currently discussing the matter with Beckham's representatives.
"Today he's excused and we'll see where this goes," Stefanski answered when asked about a report that he had told the Browns that Beckham wouldn't be a part of the team moving forward.
As for Mayfield, the fourth-year quarterback said that he hasn't talked to Beckham since seeing the video, which was posted after the 2014 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year caught just one pass for six yards in Cleveland's 15-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Asked if he wants Beckham back to the Browns, Mayfield deferred to whatever is best for the team.
"I would take anything to have a winning team right now," he said. "Our focus needs to be on winning. Anything like this, stuff created on the outside drama-wise, takes away from the focus, attention to detail that we need to have."
Mayfield also said that he understood where the older Beckham was coming from as a father, as the Browns' passing game has struggled to get on track this season. Through eight games, Cleveland ranks 26th in the league in passing yards, with Beckham having totaled just 17 catches for 232 yards in six games.
"I think naturally he wants his son to succeed," Mayfield said. "I can't blame him for that. I want Odell to succeed. So that's where we're at."
But when it came to the accusation that Mayfield has been purposefully avoiding getting the ball to Beckham, the No. 1 pick of the 2018 NFL Draft couldn't help but scoff at the notion.
"Deliberately not throwing the ball to an extremely talented player that I've put in a lot of work with? It's an opinionated statement, I'll say," Mayfield said.