CLEVELAND — Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield led the offense down the field for a late score in the annual Orange and Brown Scrimmage at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland Saturday night, but it was what he did after the practice concluded that had people talking.
Dozens of children stood along the back line of the west end zone after the scrimmage, and following a brief press conference, Mayfield jogged over to the group that had assembled and not only signed autographs for the kids, but also, posed for several selfies along the way as the crowd in the stands serenaded him with chants of “Baker…Baker…Baker.”
Mayfield signed more than a few t-shirts, and also, several headbands, which is something he wears under his helmet every game.
Mayfield became one of the most popular members of the Browns’ organization since emerging as the starting quarterback in Week 3 of the 2018 season.
After taking over the first-team offense in the second quarter of their come-from-behind Week 3 win over the New York Jets, Mayfield completed 310 of his 486 attempts (63.8 percent) for 3,725 yards and 27 touchdowns against 14 interceptions.
Under the direction of new Browns coach Freddie Kitchens, the interim offensive coordinator for 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.
Although Mayfield does not get official credit for the victory over the Jets because he came on in relief of an injured Tyrod Taylor, the first-year quarterback guided the Browns to seven wins and the greatest single-year turnaround in franchise history.
The Browns finished the 2018 season plus-7.5 in victories, but Mayfield has designs on improving and leading the team to new heights this year.
“We are taking it a step in the right direction each day, which is the key,” Mayfield said following the scrimmage. “We will be ready come Week 1, but no, we are not satisfied yet. We need to continue to work.
“Today was a good showing of once you get in front of the fans and once you get in the stadium, you have to be able to block that out and execute. We will go back and watch this tape. It is never as good as it seems and never as bad. We have to continue to work and be game ready by September.”
