Baker will rebound with a bang, for history tells us so
By STEVE KING
Mayfield has proven before that he can bounce back quickly.
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) October 6, 2021
The book on Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield is this: when he’s pushed to the wall by his doubters, he responds with flying colors.
It has happened time and time again during his football career, going all the way back to his high school and college days, and including with his years in Cleveland, so why shouldn’t it occur again?
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As such, then, Mayfield, who pulled a big clunker, both with his passing accuracy and even a few times with his decision-making on when or not to pass, in last Sunday’s 14-7 squeaker of a victory over the Minnesota Vikings, will rebound by going on the road again, this time to Los Angeles, and have a big, big day against the Chargers on Sunday.
Now, there’s an opinion you’re not reading, or hearing, anywhere else, right?
That’s because I’m not interested in sensationalizing the situation with Mayfield, joining “the sky-is-falling crowd” to try to convince you that he has reached the beginning of the end.
No, I’m not going to waste your time with junk like that. You — and your time — are worth more than that.
Mayfield is a fighter, so he is at his best when he is fighting, when he has a chip on his shoulder. The chip is back, and so, too, will be Mayfield.
Every quarterback in history, including the best the Browns have ever had, including Otto Graham, Brian Sipe, Bernie Kosar, Frank Ryan and Bill Nelsen, has bad, nightmarish games. It’s just part of the deal. Do you know that Graham, the greatest of the team’s greats in being a Pro Football Hall of Famer who led the Browns to 10 league championship games, with seven titles, in his 10 seasons, once completed just 2-of-15 passes for 20 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions in a 1953 NFL Championship Game loss to the Detroit Lions?
I’m not comparing Mayfield to Graham, for that’s not fair to either man. I’m simply comparing Mayfield to Mayfield. He’s done it before — have a real dud of a game — and he’ll do it — come roaring back with a gem — again.
Baker will rebound. Just you wait and see.
Browns designate LB Anthony Walker for return (10.6.21)
The Cleveland Browns have designated LB Anthony Walker to return from injured reserve. In addition, the club has signed LB Elijah Lee to the practice squad.
Walker joined the Browns as an unrestricted free agent this offseason and led the team with nine tackles in the season opener. He was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury on Sept. 17.
Lee is 6-3, 230 pounds and in his fifth NFL season out of Kansas State. Originally selected by Minnesota in the seventh round of the 2017 draft, Lee has appeared in 54 career games and logged 71 tackles, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one sack, while adding 14 special teams stops. A native of Blue Springs, Mo., Lee appeared in all four games this season.
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