OF BIG SURPRISES, AND NONE AT ALL

By STEVE KING

Yes, it was absolutely no surprise that the Browns the other day finally picked up the fifth-year contract option on quarterback Baker Mayfield.
The only absolute surprise — or any surprise at all, in fact — is that it took the Browns so long to do it.
What were they waiting on?
Really, what in the world were they waiting on?
I have been — along with just about everyone else in the free-speaking world — extremely complimentary toward the members of the Browns front office for the great moves they’ve made to pull this team out of the abyss to put it back onto the NFL map. Great, great job, y’all.
But when the need arises to offer some criticism, then we need to point that out, too. And so I will.
Let’s be really clear, and frank, about that, with all due respect to backup quarterback Case Keenum and all the other top-tier players, the Browns last season wouldn’t have finished 11-5, advanced to the second round of the AFC playoffs for the first time since 1994 and then darn near beaten the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs without Mayfield. No how, no way, not even close. It simply wasn’t going to happen.
The Browns make the playoffs for the first time in 18 years and they’re hesitant — or tardy or whatever — about picking up that option, let alone signing him to a big, fast new contract? Are you kidding me?
Why mess at all — with the mind — of a player like that at the most important position in team sports? Why not just lock him up for the long term and be done with it so you can concentrate fully on the issues — like the NFL Draft, perhaps — that might not be so clear-cut?
By doing so, you’d be letting Baker Mayfield know that he’s wanted and needed, which a quarterback, especially a young, developing one like him, needs to hear.