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An open letter to Damien Woody, concerning the Cleveland Browns’ Baker Mayfield

By Elliot Kennel

CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 01: Head coach Hue Jackson of the Cleveland Browns and head coach Marvin Lewis of the Cincinnati Bengals hug after the game at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Aller /Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 01: Head coach Hue Jackson of the Cleveland Browns and head coach Marvin Lewis of the Cincinnati Bengals hug after the game at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Aller /Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 24: Former NFL player Damien Woody celebrates Nickelodeon’s largest ever Worldwide Day of Play at the Ellipse on September 24, 2011 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for Nickelodeon)
WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 24: Former NFL player Damien Woody celebrates Nickelodeon’s largest ever Worldwide Day of Play at the Ellipse on September 24, 2011 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for Nickelodeon) /

An open letter to Damien Woody after he ripped Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield for not giving Hue a hug

Dear Mr. Woody,

So you want to rip Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield because he didn’t give Hue Jackson a hug? Come On, Man! Look, you have two Super Bowl rings and are entitled to say whatever you want, but the fact is that you were an offensive lineman and not that well known.

Similarly, as a broadcaster you’re not that well known, so the best way for you to boost your ratings is to blast Baker Mayfield. We understand that that is what you are up to. All this anti-Mayfield press is complete nonsense. Even former Browns GM Joe Banner has tweeted to that effect:

"“Criticism of Baker is total BS. He should be applauded for being real and everything he said is true.”"

So we’re on to you. In fact, it’s not just you. ESPN is losing ratings points to Fox Sports and others, so the best way for you, Stephen A. Smith and all the other guys with sagging ratings points to boost your numbers is to latch on to Baker Mayfield and say stupid things about him. It’s a good business plan and it’ll probably work. I don’t mind telling you I am doing the same thing in rebutting your arguments.

Who made up the rule that you have to shake hands and hug the opposing coach? I don’t fault Hue for being a touchy-feely guy. Hue is a player’s coach and likes to give hugs and be friendly. That’s his prerogative.

And yeah, Hue did nothing wrong by moving over to a Division rival after being fired by the Browns. We’re happy for him. We’re also happy for ourselves because we figure that he will help Cincinnati find new ways to lose. But… how do we get from there to the ethical obligation for the quarterback having to play nice with a guy who is trying to beat your team? Does Baker have to give hugs to John Harbaugh and Mike Tomlin now too?

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