Please, don’t call Baker Mayfield an underdog because he’s not

The Cleveland Browns are again coming off a loss but let’s please not start the underdog talk regarding Baker Mayfield because it’s far from factual

At this point, we can all predict what’s about to happen. The Cleveland Browns were just humiliated by the New England Patriots and a poor outing from Baker Mayfield contributed to that loss.

Now, we will hear all week two things.

One, how everyone else contributed to the loss and we shouldn’t put it all on Baker. And two, how great Baker is when he’s doubted because he’s the ultimate underdog.

There’s truth to the first statement but we all know quarterbacks get all the glory when their teams win and all the blame when they lose — it comes with the territory. As for the second argument, just stop. Baker Mayfield is not anywhere close to an underdog so please don’t go down this road.

Baker Mayfield was the No. 1 overall pick, underdogs don’t go first

Whenever you think of an underdog, do you think of the first player picked in the NFL Draft? No, of course not. Myles Garrett was not an underdog. Jadeveon Clowney, Peyton Manning, Kyler Murray, Matthew Stafford, and Trevor Lawrence are not underdogs.

So why do we buy this bogus claim that Baker Mayfield is the only No. 1 overall pick to be an underdog? Is it because he walked on twice in college? Fine, when that happened he was an underdog. But by the time his NCAA career ended he was a Heisman Trophy winner and ended up being the first player taken in the 2018 NFL Draft.

That’s about as far as you can get from being an underdog.

But what about this claim that Baker plays best when his back is against the wall? Well, that may be true right now but that’s the absolute worst way to build an NFL team. With this flawed logic, the only way to ever win it all will be to play in the Super Bowl following a tough loss — and that’s not exactly how the NFL works.

Instead, Mayfield — and his fans — need to let this ‘underdog’ and ‘back against the wall’ mentality go. He’s a fourth-year pro who should be able to do his job without any external motivation — and we are doing no favors by buying in and verbally attacking anyone who criticizes Mayfield following a game where he deserves criticism.

Week 10 was one of those games. And while we all hope he gets better, we have to hope he gets better because he’s a professional. Not because his back is against the wall and not because he’s an underdog.

So please, let’s avoid falling right back into this cycle. At least for one week.