Baker Mayfield loves playing that controversial game

Baker Mayfield has played his whole career in controversy. It’s how he got to this point and it’s why he’ll always play the game that way.

We’ve all met people in our lives that live through controversy and chaos. They’re usually high-energy folks that are driven and determined. One personality trait that they usually lack is that trait of understanding or empathy. If you want to see such a person in the NFL, look no further than Baker Mayfield.

The former Cleveland Browns quarterback, who was traded to the Carolina Panthers this summer is an excellent example of such an individual. It’s how he gets energized and maintains that edge that has made him into a top-notch NFL quarterback.

When you think maybe he’s matured and turned a corner he undoubtedly falters because he’s learned at a very young age for him to become successful, he has to do something that sparks controversy.

Baker Mayfield loves playing that controversial game

The current state of affairs

Mayfield started earlier this week by telling a sideline reporter of the Buffalo Bills that he was planning to beat the Browns in their Week 1 game down in Charlotte. He used an expletive that raised a few eyebrows.

It’s not as if any of us would expect anything less from him. He then tried to step back from the comment. But once it’s out there, one can’t escape the wrath of social media.

Thinking he’d lay low after the earlier controversy was just wishful thinking. So, when Mayfield got on social media this past week to promote a new “off the leash” t-shirt. it only reminded me and many of you of how some just can’t get out of their own way and that likely won’t ever change for guy like Mayfield. Future Hall of Famer and Browns legend Joe Thomas even chimed in on the latest antics of the quarterback.

The former Progressive Insurance commercial star has a knack for bringing along that edge to his persona that will seduce his current team’s fan base while making him a quick enemy of his former team’s fans.

Let’s take a brief look at those past events that have made Mayfield the guy he is today. I like to call him “Mr. Controversy.”

History repeats itself: Flag planting at Ohio State

When Cleveland drafted Mayfield back in 2018 it immediately brought back the memory of the day he planted the Oklahoma Sooner flag at the 50-yard line at Ohio State’s stadium after their upset win over the Buckeyes.

Many Browns fans though were willing to put that moment aside because he was our new starting quarterback. He did bring four years of great effort and the team back from the dead.

“We’re not in Kansas anymore”

This moment in time also captures a lot of people’s attention because Mayfield decided to create controversy against an awful university of Kansas Jayhawk football team. The Jayhawks wouldn’t shake hands with Mayfield at the coin flip.

That led to Mayfield insulting fans throughout the game and doing a few other inappropriate things. I’ve been to a game or two back in the day at Jayhawk Stadium and it’s not exactly the “Mecca of college football” so his antics seemed a little bit too much for a game that mattered very little.

Who’s your Daddy?

Prior to the start of a game between Oklahoma and the Baylor Bears, the Sooner quarterback, along with some of his other teammates created an early game controversy by asking “Who’s your Daddy”  to the Baylor head coach and players.

Run from the cops

Prior to the 2018 draft, there was a video making the rounds that showed Mayfield running and eventually being tackled by police after a night out on the town. There was concern at the time that Mayfield reminded too many of another prominent college figure of the past, a one Johnny Manziel.

From the video, you have to wonder if the Sooner quarterback has fully recovered from that tackle.

What’s next?

Week 1 will be a good test for the Browns as they try and win an opening season game for the first time since 2004 and try and sack Mayfield along the way. The showdown is set.

There will likely be a lull in the Mayfield controversies, but don’t you worry, he’ll be at it again soon enough. Maybe he’ll say something about a Carolina Panther teammate like he did a couple of years back about former Browns player Duke Johnson seeking a trade.

Johnson recently responded back at Mayfield when the quarterback wanted to be traded.

Maybe he’ll say something about his current head coach after a team loss.

Whatever he’ll do we’ll all hear about it and know that that’s just par for the course when we talk about Mayfield.

He’s done a lot of good things for his former Cleveland team. He helped the current organization regain some respectability. His efforts in that resurgence should be respected by fans of the team. He lasted four seasons and brought stability to a position that has been laughed about for decades.

It’s disappointing the way the two sides parted ways when the Browns traded for another controversial quarterback in Deshaun Watson.

In a similar position, many of us would also be upset about how our former employer treated us so it’s not exactly a shock how Mayfield has reacted. However, his whole career has been controversial.

As someone who has supported the Browns and their quarterback, I hope one day Mayfield just sticks to playing the game and becoming an even better quarterback rather than trying to sell a $38 shirt to promote his latest moment in time.