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The bridge between the Browns and Baker Mayfield grew to become hopelessly obliterated when somebody from the staff instructed Chris Mortensen of ESPN that the staff wished an grownup within the room on the place. It’s no shock then that, with Mayfield now the Panthers’ drawback, some extra leaks are coming from Cleveland.

Jason Lloyd of TheAthletic.com lately wrote that the Browns “extensively seen [Mayfield] as infantile and immature.”

Added Lloyd of Mayfield: “His habits aggravated teammates and divided the locker room. He was typically tough to teach.”

None of it’s stunning, primarily based on the issues that performed out within the public eye. Mayfield at occasions grew to become surly throughout press conferences. After a 2021 win over the Lions, he refused to speak to reporters.

He had an obvious a beef with Odell Beckham Jr., one which resulted in most aligning behind OBJ. And Mayfield reportedly was miffed about a wide range of issues that occurred final 12 months, together with the truth that the in-house radio present dared to criticize him.

That stated, it feels at occasions as if the Browns didn’t correctly respect Mayfield, particularly since he did all he might to play final 12 months after injuring his shoulder in Week Two. Then, after the season, the Browns made it identified that Mayfield would nonetheless be the quarterback in 2022 — till they determined that they’d preserve him provided that they couldn’t discover somebody higher.

It’s unclear who deserves the blame. In all probability each side. With the G.M. who drafted him and his unique head coach lengthy gone, it simply acquired to the purpose the place issues didn’t work. It was time for everybody to maneuver on.

Each side can leak their variations of the occasions to reporters, and each side doubtless will. The perfect information is that we’ll get to see Mayfield make his debut with the Panthers in Week One in opposition to the Browns, if he wins the beginning job over Sam Darnold.

If Mayfield doesn’t, the Browns can have their vindication even when they lose the sport.