Was Baker Mayfield able to change his national perception?

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield had a rough 2019 campaign. During the week leading up to the Superbowl, the polarizing player did some high-profile media spots and it appeared he was able to win back some favor from some television personalities. Was he able to shift the national perception of himself?

When you are as polarizing a player as Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield, your career is going to be a roller coaster. In 2018, Mayfield was the darling of the NFL and was touted as being the next big thing. Then 2019 happened.

As quickly as the pundits and talking heads had proclaimed Mayfield an MVP candidate, they then labeled him immature and a flash in the pan. As fickle as fans can be, the media is no different. They are slaves to ratings, and they will treat the players accordingly. Once it became fashionable to bash Mayfield it was open season on the second-year signal-caller.

Along the way, Mayfield hasn’t done himself any favors by making plenty of adversaries by responding to hot takes from the likes of Rex Ryan, Damian Woody, and Colin Cowherd. By putting energy into the words coming his way, Mayfield made the target on his back, and his mouth, ten times what they would have been had he just responded, ‘no comment’. But for better or for worse, Mayfield doesn’t give pre-canned answers and often shoots from the hip.

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As is his nature, Mayfield does not shy away from the oncoming fire and instead chooses to take it head-on. During the build-up to the Superbowl last week, Mayfield traveled to Miami and took part in the media smorgasbord. Unlike other times when Mayfield has had the chance to get some face time on television with his detractors, this time he took a different approach.

Mayfield went on ESPN’s Get Up, and Fox Sports’ First Things First and showed a characteristic not usually associated with him, humility. He didn’t duck, he didn’t dodge, he didn’t defer. Instead, Mayfield accepted the criticism coming his way and even took the dread B-word; blame. He owned it, all of it, all of the team’s shortcomings as well as his own sub-par play.

Now whether his words were his own genuine feelings or just a clever media rehabilitation is yet to be seen. But, at least on the national level, it is apparent that Mayfield was able to change the narrative of his future. From cocky and self-assured to looking like a player that is finally starting to “get it”, Mayfield is entering the NFL off-season in the national media’s good graces.

Those appearances will not mean much to the Cleveland media or fan base as only actions can right the ship. Browns fans have heard players talk the talk but fail to put those words into actions; i.e. Josh Gordon. Mayfield will have to win his local detractors back through play and perseverance. The good news is, for him, he will be given the opportunity to do just that.