Berea, OH (92.3 The Fan) – Rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield was named the 2018 recipient of the Joe Thomas Player of the Year award and left guard Joel Bitonio the Dino Lucarelli Good Guy award winner Wednesday.
The awards are voted on and awarded annually by the local chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America.
“A pretty good honor considering Joe Thomas is quite the legend around here,” Mayfield said. “I appreciate that one.”
Mayfield, selected No. 1 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, has had a sensational rookie campaign for the Browns leading the team to seven victories in 13 games played – 12 starts. His 24 touchdown passes are just 2 shy of the NFL rookie record shared by Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson but accomplished with 16 starts.
Mayfield has completed 64.6 percent of his passes – 0.1 percent shy of tying Hall of Famer Otto Graham for the franchise record for completion percentage in a single season – and thrown at least 1 touchdown in each of his 12 starts – ranked third all-time in NFL history behind Kurt Warner (23 from 1999-2000) and Brad Johnson (15 from 1996-97).
“Back when I retired in March, our local writers announced that they would be renaming the Player of the Year Award to the Joe Thomas Award. It’s an honor that I take great pride in and I couldn’t think of a better recipient this year than Baker Mayfield,” Thomas said. “He has sparked this team and this city and I can’t wait to continue watching him in the Orange & Brown for many years to come.”
In addition to his outstanding play on the field, Mayfield’s leadership and infectious personality have been instrumental in helping the Browns achieve the greatest single-season turnaround in franchise history from 0 wins in 2017 to 7 this season.
Mayfield can feel the impact the Browns' turnaround is having.
“I had an idea, but it takes having that same idea and mindset to go to work every day because it is a process,” Mayfield said. “I talk about the culture change – the little details, it is all a process. You have to be able to hit the reset button every day and come in with a positive mindset and ready to work. That is just how it is. If you do not have that, it can be overwhelming, but because I had an idea of that and had the right people around me, it has been pretty easy.”
Mayfield has also engaged in several philanthropic endeavors off the field, including recently serving as a secret Santa for families in need this holiday season.
Bitonio, who has started all 15 games at left guard and not missed a snap this season, is the first player to be honored for a second consecutive year for his cooperation with the media as well as professionalism off the field.
“You respect people for the job they have to do, the job that you have to do,” Bitonio said. “You guys are just trying to do your job. It is not hard to give you a day of the week or a couple of times a week to talk to you guys. It is something that you see (former Browns left tackle) Joe Thomas do, something (Falcons and former Browns center) Alex Mack do, (Chiefs and former Browns right tackle) Mitchell Schwartz so you just want to just be a team player about it. Someone has to talk to you guys so you might as well put a good foot forward.”
Selected by the Browns in the second round – 35th overall – in the 2014 NFL Draft, Bitonio was named a team captain for the season. He has started all 61 games he has appeared in for Cleveland.
“He sets an example every day even behind the scenes outside of his play – somewhat of a calming effect on people being able to talk to somebody that has as much experience as we have,” interim head coach Gregg WIlliams said. “We don’t have a ton of experience in the room in there so he has been a good voice, but the voice is only listened to when the example is set. He is a captain so that must have been something for people to vote that much for him and then he sets an example every day on how he prepares, how he practices and how he plays.”
