Browns quarterback stories that are hardly surprises

It seems to be a big revelation in some circles that Baker Mayfield will go into the 2022 season as the starting quarterback for the Browns.

I just can’t understand why.

It also seems to be a big story that the Browns are not interested in San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. I can’t understand that, either.

The Browns are going to give Mayfield a chance to prove he’s the guy because he and several key members of the offense were so banged up last year. The thought is — and it is an excellent one — that if Mayfield, running back Kareem Hunt, left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. and right tackle Jack Conklin can get healthy again, then the offense will run much more smoothly.

Now, did Mayfield struggle in 2021? Sure, he did. But he was playing hurt and trying to make up for the losses elsewhere. He was doing too much, and when a player, especially a quarterback, does that, the production tends to be too little. As Bill Belichick so famously preaches, “Do your job.” You can’t play for someone else. You have to count on that other player to do his job.

As for Garoppolo, why would the Browns pursue him unless the 49ers are giving him away, which they are not. Like the Browns, the 49ers have a good team talent-wise, one that should contend for a Super Bowl berth after getting all the way to the NFC Championship Game last season. But they did so despite the play of Garoppolo, which wasn’t good. The 49ers know he’s not the guy to get them where they want to go, so why would the Browns, who also want to get to the Super Bowl, pursue Garoppolo as a starter, or even a backup? It just doesn’t make sense.

By Steve King