Baker Mayfield needs to remember his own advice

The Cleveland Browns desperately need a leader. Baker Mayfield is hoping to become one.

Mayfield had a terrific rookie season in 2018 before struggling mightily in 2019, throwing 22 touchdowns and 21 interceptions in the Browns’ awful 6-10 campaign. After adding the likes of Odell Beckham Jr., Olivier Vernon, Sheldon Richardson and others to the team, Cleveland was expected to be a playoff team perhaps contending come January. Instead, the Browns were virtually out of the playoff picture by Thanksgiving.

On ESPN’s Get Up in Miami for the Super Bowl, Mayfield spoke to the show’s talent about what happened this past season and how he needs to better going forward, via NFL.com.

“It’s a humbling experience. It’s a different ballgame. Let’s just be honest, I put my foot in my mouth a lot this past year. And I’m going to internalize that, and I think that’s the way I need to handle it. Rest in peace Kobe, but that’s the way he did it. He motivated himself, he didn’t talk a lot, he talked to his teammates, drove them to be better people, better men. So that’s the way I need to handle it. I don’t need to respond to the things that don’t matter, the things that don’t help us win.”

If Mayfield can truly change and become a better player and teammate, new head coach Kevin Stefanski’s tenure is already off to a promising start. Last year, Cleveland. was never hurting for talent on either side of the ball. The main problem was a complete and total lack of maturity and accountability, starting with the quarterback. A first-overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Mayfield came from the University of Oklahoma with the reputation of being a lightning rod. Over his first two years in Cleveland, he’s lived up to it.

Now, entering his third season on a team no longer with the general manager (John Dorsey) or head coach in the building when he was drafted, there are murky waters. If Mayfield and the Browns struggle one again, there could be real thought to cleaning out the roster for Stefanski and new general manager Andrew Berry.

Cleveland hasn’t won a playoff game since Bill Belichick was its head coach back in 1994. It hasn’t won a division title since 1989. The Browns haven’t even seen the postseason since 2002.

The talent is on the roster to make those ugly facts change in the recent future. Hopefully, the necessary attitude adjustment is coming with it.