BEREA, Ohio — Former NFL coach Rex Ryan probably should not expect a holiday card from Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield anytime soon.
Mayfield is used to hearing criticism about his game, 6-foot-1 stature and ability to lead an offense, and during his weekly pre-game press conference following Wednesday’s practice, he did not hold back on Ryan, who in his television analyst role called the second-year quarterback a “one read” guy and said the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft was “overrated as hell.”
“It’s whatever,” Mayfield said. “In the wise words of Freddie Kitchens, ‘if you don’t wear orange and brown, you don’t matter.’ Rex Ryan doesn’t have any colors right now for a reason, so it’s okay.”
With Browns coach Freddie Kitchens calling the plays as interim offensive coordinator over the second half of the 2018 season, Mayfield completed 180 of his 263 attempts (68.4 percent) for 2,254 yards and 19 touchdowns against eight interceptions, but it has been a struggle for him thus far in 2019.
During Sunday night’s 20-13 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Mayfield completed 18 of his 36 attempts (50 percent) for 195 yards and one touchdown with an interception on the Browns’ last offensive play of the game, a fourth-and-goal from the four-yard line that was taken away off of a deflection.
Three games into his second NFL season, Mayfield has completed 62 of his 109 attempts (56.9 percent) for 805 yards with three touchdowns, five interceptions, 14 20-yard throws and one 40-yard pass, all while taking 11 sacks for 81 lost yards.
Over 17 games played, including 16 straight starts, Mayfield has completed 372 of his 595 attempts (62.5 percent) for 4,530 yards and 30 touchdowns against 19 interceptions.
“Here’s the thing, people are going to commend me when I extend the play and make a scramble play, and if I leave the pocket too early, they’re going to harp on it, so I could really care less,” Mayfield said. “I’m going to do my job and continue to improve.”
Mayfield was not the only one to speak on the criticism of his game.
Prior to practice, Kitchens spoke with the media and addressed Ryan’s comments succinctly, “That’s asinine to even say.” Like the first-year head coach, Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. came to Mayfield’s defense.
“When we go out there, no offense to Rex, I love him, but we don’t really care what you said,” Beckham Jr. said. “We go out there and play football for our livelihood. You’re risking your life every time you go out there, so ‘overrated as hell,’ none of that is really ever going to matter once you get on the field.
“It’s about being exactly who you are, knowing what you’re capable of doing and doing it. That’s really it. All the words go out the window. It’s just a bunch of words.”