Baker Mayfield may have lost his starting job to Deshaun Watson, but he’s still a Sooners legend. The Oklahoma alum returned to Norman Friday night, receiving a statue in his honor at a ceremony attended by fellow Heisman winners Jason White, Kyler Murray and Sam Bradford.
Though well-intentioned, the bronze visage—which depicts the quarterback’s famous stiff-arm of Ohio State linebacker Justin Phillips—was widely disparaged, drawing unfavorable comparisons to a similarly flawed bust of soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo that went viral in 2017.
Many noted the statue’s resemblance to Dennis Reynolds, a main character in FX’s long-running sitcom, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, as well as T-1000 from Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
It’s been a trying offseason for Mayfield, who celebrated his 27th birthday earlier this month. The former top pick was a no-show for Browns OTAs this week, keeping his distance while the team looks to trade him.
Having your team give up on you is one thing, but having to fake a smile while your alma mater unveils a statue that looks nothing like you is a hell you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy. For his trouble, Mayfield now gets to relive that agony at halftime of Saturday’s spring game, where Oklahoma will dedicate his statue in front of fans at Owen Field. Just brutal.
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