Baker Mayfield: Fire The Cannons

[bgfalcon]

Outside the box idea but does anyone think there would be any shot at talking Andrew Luck into coming out of retirement? Him with our O Line and running game would be legit.

 

[Dr. Claw]

For the same reason Nick Foles isn't a starting QB right now...

Also, being a better option than Case Keenum isn't the flex you think it is.

Foles, playoff GOAT... somehow could never hack it as a starter. Even with the Eagles. He had one of the worst nationally televised games ever with the Eagles, to the point there were questions if he should even be in the league. Yet, he also set a in-game record for touchdown passes, and famously made Boody mad in a game where the Bears beat the Bucs by one point. I dunno if it was coaching or what. One of the most enigmatic legends of the NFL

 

[DirtyDan]

Does Matt Ryan have anything left in the tank?

Wonder if you could get a good year or two out here when he isn't asked to carry a dead carcass of a team every week. Was under the impression he was over the hill but he's putting up slightly better numbers than Baker, but on a bad team.

Outside the box idea but does anyone think there would be any shot at talking Andrew Luck into coming out of retirement? Him with our O Line and running game would be legit.

That dude is finished physically. iirc he retired in the preseason after battling hard to come back from a severe injury.

We're probably better off with Baker or scouting out a QB that is in a situation that is clearly holding him back. Derek Carr is the perfect example of this. Wanna hear what more well-versed fans would think of Ryan, Hurtz, or maybe Winston?

Not trying to advocate for those guys, but the Browns would be a prime spot for someone to revitalize their career with our line and run game. A defense loaded with talent, hopefully soon playing to their potential. The ball is in Baker's court, but I worry he maybe damaged goods by the end of year, since he has shown no signs of improvement in his game and he's taking a beating. Guys don't healthier as their career goes along and Baker's playstyle leads to a shit ton of unnecessary hits. Betting on his health feels risky.

 

[Dr. Claw]

Does Matt Ryan have anything left in the tank?

Wonder if you could get a good year or two out here when he isn't asked to carry a dead carcass of a team every week. Was under the impression he was over the hill but he's putting up slightly better numbers than Baker, but on a bad team.

That dude is finished physically. iirc he retired in the preseason after battling hard to come back from a severe injury.

We're probably better off with Baker or scouting out a QB that is in a situation that is clearly holding him back. Derek Carr is the perfect example of this. Wanna hear what more well-versed fans would think of Ryan, Hurtz, or maybe Winston?

Not trying to advocate for those guys, but the Browns would be a prime spot for someone to revitalize their career with our line and run game. A defense loaded with talent, hopefully soon playing to their potential. The ball is in Baker's court, but I worry he maybe damaged goods by the end of year, since he has shown no signs of improvement in his game and he's taking a beating. Guys don't healthier as their career goes along and Baker's playstyle leads to a shit ton of unnecessary hits. Betting on his health feels risky.

Hurts with the Eagles? Is getting similar criticism as Baker is right now. I don't completely agree as they should be running the ball more, and outside of Devonta Smith, their WR corps is late 90s-early 00s pitiful. Only 2 guys I like that aren't TEs in that group.

I'd be down with Winston, since the Aints seem to want to throw tens of millions of dollars at their version of Marcus Mariota.

Matt Ryan would be cool, if he didn't seem to be on the downside. Never really had anything negative to say about the Extonian, he just had some of the worst luck of any QB out there.

 

[Dr. Claw]

Frankly, if Foles is available as a backup, I want him in Cleveland next season. This offense is the kind that he thrives in.

 

[DirtyDan]

Frankly, if Foles is available as a backup, I want him in Cleveland next season. This offense is the kind that he thrives in.

Upgrading to a backup that can move and has a functioning arm should be a lower priority, but still a priority. Keenum is not worth that contract.

Just would make it easier decision to have Mayfield sit out and heal. Since Baker's few flashes of brilliance a game are probably better than Keenum's dink and dunk play style at this point. Baker is capable of throwing deep and Keenum simply is not.

 

[CBBI]

Option 1. Let Baker play out the final year of his contract and re-evaluate.

Option 2. Replace Baker after this season via one of the following scenarios:

• Draft
• Trade for a high level improvement at the position
• FA/trade for small improvement at the position and still high draft pick

Option 3. Hybrid approach: allow Baker to play out his 5th year AND draft a QB in April. Lay out the expectation with Baker that the job next year is his, but the team won’t leave themselves empty handed going into 2023 in the event it doesn’t work out for both parties.

Option 4. Extend Baker at a team friendly deal and cast our lot with him for the future.

I'd rank your options like this in order of ny own personal preference.

Option 2B
Option 2A
Option 2C
Option 1
Option 3
Option 4

Option 4 seems completely out of the question. I suspect Baker would much rather gamble on himself than lock himself into a contract he and his people deem to be under his worth.

In my option, Option 3 is out of the question as well. I just don't think Baker has the personality to be a good soldier and accept that the Browns have drafted his replacement before he's even off the roster. Plus, we just saw a very similar scenario play out with the Eagles and Wentz. They picked Hurts in the 2nd round and then Wentz, perhaps looking over his shoulder, went on to have a horrible season and the bottom fell out for Philly as went 4-11-1. And instead of using their 2021 1st rounder on Justin Fields or Mac Jones, they opted to stick with Hurts because they just invested relatively significant draft capital in him and didn't know what they had in that yet.

Option 2A is tough because this draft class is really not as good compared to previous draft classes and if the Browns are going to commit a top 50 pick on a QB, that guy is very likely going to be given at least two years to develop and get better.

Option 2C is pretty much the same as 2A to me, because I'd be starting the rookie regardless.

Option 2B is obviously the most preferred of all the options, but Option 1 unfortunately seems like the most likely given Baker's contract situation and the fact that the high end veterans at the position who could be available for trade will have pretty much full say over where they end up.

 

[Vee-Rex]

By the way @ZooCrewDude that was a damn good post.

My order for the list of options would be:

2B
2A (only if front office got someone they really like, otherwise it's 1>2A)
1
3
2C
4

 

[ZooCrewDude]

By the way @ZooCrewDude that was a damn good post.

My order for the list of options would be:

2B
2A (only if front office got someone they really like, otherwise it's 1>2A)
1
3
2C
4

Thanks! It went under appreciated as an email to my wife … I figured if just one person read the whole thing here, then I made progress.

 

[Deezus]

For the same reason Nick Foles isn't a starting QB right now...

Also, being a better option than Case Keenum isn't the flex you think it is.

Project your feelings on people much?!

Nick Foles won a superbowl. I'd take that all day.

Again, who the fuck are you going to replace Baker with? I'm waiting!

Run it back, have a better "plan B" than Keenum, and see what happens. Baker has proven to be a good QB when healthy. He isn't now. Bailing on him after one injured season is stupid.

 

[Triplethreat]

I think this was taken on the vacation where she got mad fans kept calling him fat!

Only one thing fat in that picture and it ain’t Baker.

 

[adam81king]

I think we roll with Baker again but that's a high stakes move. Although I am down on him, it can't be argued that there have been games where he absolutely played to perfection. Heck he set the rookie touchdown record. So there is something there. This year for whatever reason - it's really really bad. I'd say it's his injuries that snowballed into some bad habits (that you've pointed out), and his eyes just stop progressing, and his clutching is screwing with his mechanics as well. But yeah, the worst part about yesterday is that the fans are starting to realize that it isn't even about this year, it's about "the window" and how that's constantly changing.

Me? I fucking refuse to give up high draft picks with Andrew Dingle Fucking Berry drafting. Not when he brought us Newsome and future HOF JOK. So whatever, keep him, maybe we get a comp pick (?) if he walks, and if he plays great, he'll still not have a top-tier track record. If he doesn't play well, then we pivot.

Project your feelings on people much?!

Nick Foles won a superbowl. I'd take that all day.

Again, who the fuck are you going to replace Baker with? I'm waiting!

Run it back, have a better "plan B" than Keenum, and see what happens. Baker has proven to be a good QB when healthy. He isn't now. Bailing on him after one injured season is stupid.

Right. Nick Foles won a Super Bowl and *still* cant get a starting job, but you're surprised folks aren't thrilled about giving Dr Jekyll and Mr Mayfield the keys going forward?

I'm not an NFL GM, but my list of players I'd give a look at (for different reasons: like cost, play, fit, etc): Russ, Rodgers, Watson, Carr, Mariotta, Trubisky, Heinike, Winston, Jimmy G.

Baker absolutely has wins under his belt, but how many of those are *because of* Baker and not just because he's on the team? He's 2-8 when he has the ball in his hands at the end of a game and needs a TD to win/tie. He's lost 8 of 9 games he doesn't have a 100yd rusher. He's something like 0-15 when his RB gets outrushed by 50yds. He's absolutely the best QB the Browns have had since 1999, but thats also not a flex when your competition is Spergeon Wynn, Johnny Manziel and Brian Hoyer. I want a guy that can put a team on his shoulders. I'm not betting on a guy who plays solely because "the coaching staff decided he's better than Case Keenum."

 

[Triplethreat]

Right. Nick Foles won a Super Bowl and *still* cant get a starting job, but you're surprised folks aren't thrilled about giving Dr Jekyll and Mr Mayfield the keys going forward?

I'm not an NFL GM, but my list of players I'd give a look at (for different reasons: like cost, play, fit, etc): Russ, Rodgers, Watson, Carr, Mariotta, Trubisky, Heinike, Winston, Jimmy G.

Baker absolutely has wins under his belt, but how many of those are *because of* Baker and not just because he's on the team? He's 2-8 when he has the ball in his hands at the end of a game and needs a TD to win/tie. He's lost 8 of 9 games he doesn't have a 100yd rusher. He's something like 0-15 when his RB gets outrushed by 50yds. He's absolutely the best QB the Browns have had since 1999, but thats also not a flex when your competition is Spergeon Wynn, Johnny Manziel and Brian Hoyer. I want a guy that can put a team on his shoulders. I'm not betting on a guy who plays solely because "the coaching staff decided he's better than Case Keenum."

Mariota, Trubisky, Winston, Heineke, Jimmy G are all way fucking worse players. It doesn’t take a brainiac to see that.

Carr is even debatable as fuck when Mayfield is healthy.

Best bet is to bring in a rookie like Sam Howell and tell Baker listen, you gotta beat this guy out now for your contract. Push him with competition.

 

[Malacogary]

Wins when you go up 20+ points and 'hold on' are still wins. Far too much store is put into 4thQ comebacks and Game Winning Drives. Those are important, sure, but consistent, winning teams do not need to live or die by having the ball last in a shootout. That is unsustainable.

The Stefanski blueprint of last season was to get aggressive early, score heavily and run out the clock. Of course we all wish we could see signs that Mayfield can be be the kind of player who can continually answer late but when healthy he has largely not needed to be. I'd rather Nick Chubb be handling the ball late because we have a lead and there's nothing the opposition can do to stop him.

I don't think there was a single person in the stadium or watching the broadcast who thought Mayfield in his current condition would score the seven points needed to win the game Sunday, but let's not claim that he's simply incapable of ever doing that.

I'm not going to pretend I know what Berry and Stefanski plan with the QB position moving forward, but I'm pretty sanguine about whatever they choose to do. I think it's important for them to take a rounded approach to Mayfield's play and his potential. That evaluation should include context, mitigation and nuance and I'm sure it will.

 

[Jack Brickman]

Nick Foles won a superbowl. I'd take that all day.

Philly's defense won a Super Bowl. Nick Foles just did enough to not fuck it up.