BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) - The Cleveland Browns have excused quarterback Baker Mayfield from attending next week’s mandatory minicamp.
The team and Mayfield mutually agreed that the quarterback could remain away from the team without any discipline.
“I mean, obviously that was a decision made between our organization, Baker and Baker’s team,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday. “Felt like that was the best decision for both sides.”
Stefanski declined to comment on his or the organization’s communication with Mayfield.
“I’m not going to get into my communication with the players, but just felt like that was the best decision for the organization and for Baker,” Stefanski said.
Under terms of the collective bargaining agreement, players could be fined by teams just over $93,000 for not participating in the three-day minicamp unless excused by the club, which Mayfield now has been.
Cleveland has been trying to trade the 2018 first overall pick since acquiring Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans on March 18.
Excusing Mayfield, who underwent surgery in January to repair a torn left labrum, should – but won’t – kill unfounded speculation that the Browns could turn to him this season should Watson be suspended.
“I am not going to speculate on those type of things,” Stefanski said when asked if the door was open for Mayfield to play for the team again. “We are just going to deal with it day to day.”
For now, the team and Mayfield prefer to deal with it by having Mayfield stay home.
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