The Cleveland Browns have Week 1 circled on their calendar. They’ll be travelling to Carolina to take on Baker Mayfield and the Panthers.
Mayfield’s time in Cleveland came to a thud early in the offseason and he was traded to the Panthers in early July.
Andy Baskin and Darryl Ruiter talked about what the Browns must be thinking about the Week 1 matchup on Audacy’s “It’s Always Gameday in Cleveland” podcast.
“They’re treating it just like any other game,” Ruiter said (7:28 in player above). “Now, do I believe that? 100% no.”
It won’t just be any other game. Not only is it Week 1, but it’s Mayfield facing the team that outcasted him.
“What’s going in that locker room?” Baskin asked. “What do you think they think about when they heard – when guys in that locker room heard – that Baker was the starting quarterback? And you can make up a fictional player if you want to. I’m not saying name a name, but you can put like six or seven players together.”
“I think they’re looking forward to the matchup. I think that –” Ruiter started, much to Baskin’s chagrin.
“I didn’t say in a press conference. I said what are they really thinking.”
“Oh, Myles Garrett wants to add like three Baker Mayfield tombstones to his front yard,” Ruiter said.
“See? Now that’s the stuff I’m looking for,” Baskin laughed.
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“Here’s the thing though. It’s a competition thing, it’s not a spite thing,” Ruiter clarified. “Joel Bitonio talked about that on Wednesday. Like hey, I talked to Baker all throughout the offseason and wish him well and whatever, but obviously September 11th, I’m not gonna be a big Baker Mayfield fan that day.”
It’s all just a part of the business.
“Certainly Baker has it in for the Cleveland Browns. There’s no question about it,” Ruiter said. “He wants to really give it to the Cleveland Browns.”
Mayfield doesn’t hold a personal grudge against the players he’s playing against, it’s more about the front office.
“Like you don’t think if the Panthers win he’s not gonna know what box they’re sitting in,” Baskin said. “And I would not be surprised if we saw another Hue Jackson-type movement.”
“Every person in the building that did not want him to be the quarterback of the Cleveland Browns anymore, Baker Mayfield is basically wanting to tell them you’re number one,” Ruiter said. “And he wants to do that with a lot of touchdown passes, a lot of passing yardage, and ultimately, a win.”
History is on Mayfield’s side as the Browns are 1-21-1 in Week 1 since 1999.