BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – While some national – and even local pundits – didn’t think Baker Mayfield handled his reunion with Hue Jackson as well as they believed he should, Mayfield’s offensive coordinator with the Cleveland Browns had his back.
Freddie Kitchens, who took over for Todd Haley Oct. 29 when Haley and Jackson were fired, defended his rookie QB emphatically Thursday afternoon.
“First of all, I don’t have a problem with Baker saying anything like that. The guy spoke what he felt to be true and I don’t know when it became big news to speak the truth,” Kitchens said. “And if that’s what he feels then, he should voice it. I mean, 'Hard Knocks' is in here, everybody’s looking for a story. Well, he’s giving you a story. He’s telling you the truth. Everybody’s wanting an inside look at the truth, well hell, that’s the truth.”
Mayfield avoided hugging Jackson after the Browns beat the Bengals 35-20 and after the game said he didn’t appreciate Jackson taking a job with a division rival so quickly after being fired.
The victory ended Cleveland's 25-game road losing streak that dated back to the 2015 season.
“I know there’s people in that locker room that have never gotten on a plane to come back here on a road game with a victory,” Kitchens said. “So they didn’t know that feeling until then. But suddenly it’s big news if we didn’t want to turn it into a kumbaya after the game and turn it into fist bumps and hugs.
“I don’t think Baker disrespected anybody with what he said. He spoke what he felt and…I don’t have a problem with it. At some point, at some point, everybody’s going to realize what anybody else says It doesn’t matter what anybody says in Cincinnati, Baltimore, Pittsburgh. Nowhere. It’s about what’s said here. And more importantly it’s about our fans, our organization and our locker room most importantly. It’s about what those guys feel in there. And when they start believing that – which they do – then you have something. And that’s the point we’re getting to.”
Kitchens declined to comment specifically on Mayfield calling Jackson “fake” in a comment below an Instagram video posted by ESPN’s First Take showing Mayfield being criticized for how he handled the postgame handshake and presser in Cincinnati.
“I don’t know anything about that so I’m not going to speak for that,” Kitchens said. “But again, I promise you this, Baker’s not going to blow smoke up anybody’s ass. So, if he said it, that’s what he feels, and I’m standing behind Baker Mayfield. I don’t care about anybody that doesn’t work in this building and what they think about what he said, alright. That’s what I stand behind is him and these players in this locker room.”
