Cleveland Browns: Lack of success had impact on Baker Mayfield

Baker Mayfield discusses the Cleveland Browns recent struggles

It has been a long offseason but we are finally here, the Cleveland Browns opened training camp in Berea, Ohio on Friday. After much specuation it looks the NFL is moving forward with their season.

Although no fans or media are allowed at the team facility for obvious reasons, the players were still made availabe to the media via Zoom call. All eyes were on third year quarterback Baker Mayfield who is usually good for an explosive soundbite.

But that hasn’t been the case since the end of last season for the most part. Mayfield has sounded mature and fully aware of the things that have gone wrong for him which is a grea sign because you can’t fix a problem until you recognize it.

He worked on becoming leaner this offseason while also adding muscle to withstand the punishment an NFL quarterback faces. He seems to have flipped a switch and is becoming a true professional.

It took some work to get here however, Mayfield spoke on Friday about how he was in a better place mentally and phsically. A follow-up question gave some more insight into what was weighing on him he past two seasons.

"“The past couple years have been a rollercoaster of emotion” Mayfied said via the team’s official Twitter account, “I lost myself not having that success, not finding out what was working.”"

Those feelings are undersandable for a player the caliber of Mayfield who was a superstar and Heisman Trophy winner in college. He went from playing in the college football playoffs to only winning seven games as a rookie and six last year.

The Browns are in good hands with Mayfield leading the show. He has stopped making headlines off the field and is focused on improving. We have seen how good he is when he is right and that is the form he needs to return to.

If that is the effect failure can have on him, imagine the impact success will have on him. Mayfield has the kind of electric personality that rubs off on those around him which should make for a much different 2020 for the Cleveland Browns.