Cleveland Browns: Baker Mayfield put pressure on himself for 2020

Making several media appearances at the Super Bowl, Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield is going to have deal with the pressure he put on himself.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield received his fair share of criticism during the 2019 season. Not only was he statistically one of the worst starting quarterbacks in the NFL, but he also generated negative attention off the field.

Mayfield was clearly frustrated with his and the team’s performances on the field. He would often let that frustration boil over as he would regularly go after his naysayers in the media during the season.

There is no question that Mayfield is viewed as the leader of the Cleveland Browns. However, when he would let his frustrations create news off the field, it showed he had a lot of maturing to do before he could be trusted as the leader of the organization.

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However, just a few weeks after the extremely disappointing season, Mayfield made several appearances on media row at Super Bowl LIV in Miami, including an appearance on ESPN with Rex Ryan. Ryan called Mayfield “overrated as hell” during the season, while Mayfield responded by saying there was a reason Ryan was no longer coaching in the NFL.

Despite their back-and-forth during the season, Mayfield and Ryan buried the hatchet during Mayfield’s appearance on ESPN’s morning show Get Up. Mayfield admitted that he has to do a better job of keeping his emotions in check and not be as much of a loose cannon with the media. Ryan, and many others, have credited Mayfield for acknowledging what he needs to do to change and improve as a leader.

Throughout all of Mayfield’s media appearances at the Super Bowl, it was clear Mayfield has matured when it comes to how to handle the media. He understands he cannot be so emotional and instead stay focused on the team and his performance.

However, Mayfield has now put the pressure on himself for the 2020 season. He has to continue to prove he is growing as a leader and be more in control of his emotions. Mayfield has learned that he needs to apply his focus in the right areas and not listen to his naysayers as often.

Mayfield’s third season in the NFL will be an extremely important season for the Browns quarterback. Not only does he have to prove he can be a leader of an organization, but that 2019 was an anomaly and he is a better quarterback than what he showed during his sophomore season.

There will be plenty of pressure on Mayfield in 2020 and he has applied a good amount on himself. If Mayfield continues to show he has learned from 2019 and continues to mature, there is reason to believe Mayfield can handle the pressure and truly become the franchise quarterback the Browns believe he is.