CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Baker Mayfield no longer wants to play for the Cleveland Browns.
But apparently the Browns are prepared to try and make him.
Divorces are always messy, and this one is going to be no different between Mayfield and the Browns.
Mayfield requested a trade Thursday, hours after the Browns were informed that they were out of the running for Deshaun Watson, however the team has responded by saying they will not honor his request.
Tom Pelissero of NFL Network first reported the trade request from Mayfield and the team response.
Now a combustible situation has turned into a standoff.
Mayfield did not respond to a request for comment be he told Adam Schefter of ESPN Thursday afternoon, “It’s in the mutual interest of both sides for us to move on. The relationship is too far gone to mend. It’s in the best interests of both sides to move on.”
Following Tuesday’s meeting in Houston between the Browns, led by EVP/GM Andrew Berry, and Watson, Mayfield took to social media and posted a thank you to Cleveland, which read more like a goodbye.
“I have given this franchise everything I have,” Mayfield wrote in part. “That is something I’ve always done at every stage, and at every level. And that will not change wherever I take my next snap. Whatever happens.. I just want to say thank you to the fans who truly embraced who I am and the mentality that aligned so well with this city’s hard working people.
“Cleveland will always be a part of Emily and my story. And we will always be thankful for the impact is has had and will have on our lives.”
Mayfield also removed “Browns QB” from his social media profiles Tuesday night.
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Seattle and Indianapolis are both in the market for quarterbacks after the Seahawks traded Russell Wilson to Denver and the Colts moved Carson Wentz to Washington.
Should Carolina also miss out on Watson, the Panthers could also express interest in Mayfield as well.
There is a chance this is all posturing on both sides with the same goal in mind, a separation.
The Browns want to move on from Mayfield as indicated by the meeting with Watson, and because of that meeting Mayfield now wants to move on from them.
By saying they won’t honor Mayfield’s request, the Browns can publicly maintain some negotiating leverage with interested teams.
The bottom line is all of this is simple, the end for Mayfield as a Brown is here and the franchise is back to the drawing board at the position and poised to start their 18th different Week 1 starter since 1999.
Berry now has to go find said starter.
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