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Baker Mayfield delivers stern plea to Browns fans ahead of Week 11 vs. the Steelers

by Bryan DeArdo


Baker Mayfield liked Freddie Kitchens' decision to go for it on fourth and goal from the three-yard-line during the second quarter of Cleveland's home victory over Buffalo. The Browns ultimately had to kick a field goal on the drive after Chris Hubbard committed an offsides penalty prior to the play.

Mayfield, the Browns' second year quarterback, was not happy with how loud the home crowd was at that moment in the game, with Cleveland's offense trying to score a touchdown after coming away empty during an earlier trip to the red zone. Despite their issues in the red zone, the Browns were able to edge the Bills, 19-16, while keeping their faint playoff hopes alive at 3-6.

"We believed we had a good call," Mayfield of the fourth down play, via the team's official website. "It was just our crowd noise seemed to be a little loud when we needed it to be quiet, which is strange at a home game."

Mayfield, when asked to clarify those comments on Tuesday, said that his comments were indeed directed at Browns fans and not Bills fans who may have added to the crowd noise when Cleveland's offense had the ball.

"When we're on offense, we need it to be quiet," Mayfield said, via Jeff Schudel of The News-Herald. "[Sunday's comments about the fans] might have ruffled some feathers; once again, that's OK. When we're on offense in a critical down, we need to be able to have silence in our home stadium. It's gonna be an advantage for us. And when they get the ball, it's gonna be really loud. It's, you know, basic football."

While crowed noise may or may not have contributed to Cleveland's red zone woes on Sunday, the Browns have done a better job not committing as many turnovers and pre-snap penalties over the past two games. After being among the league's most undisciplined teams during the season's first eight weeks, Cleveland committed just five penalties and no turnovers in their Week 9 loss to Denver. On Sunday, the Browns did not commit a turnover for the second straight week.

Have the Browns done anything differently to help cut down on the self-inflicted mistakes?

"We're just going out and just doing our job," Mayfield said. "That's what it's all about. It doesn't matter who we're playing. You have to do your job each and every play and have that focus throughout the whole game."

While he is surely hoping that his home crowd is receptive to his comments with regard to the noise, Mayfield won't be able to quiet the large contingency of Steelers fans that are expected to make the 133-mile trek to Cleveland for Thursday night's game. The Steelers, who are 7-0-1 against the Browns dating back to the 2015 season, are 15-4-1 at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Pittsburgh's last loss in Cleveland took place in 2014 when Brian Hoyer helped lead the Browns to a 31-10 win. Injured Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who will be watching Thursday night's game from the sideline, owns the record for the most wins at FirstEnergy Stadium by a starting quarterback.

Defense and a gaudy turnover ratio are two of the reasons why the Steelers have won four straight games after a 1-4 start. Through nine games, Pittsburgh is second in the NFL in both takeaways (26) and turnover ratio (+13). In Sunday's 17-12 win over the Rams, the Steelers forced four turnovers that included safety Minkah Fitzpatrick's 43-yard fumble return for a score. Pittsburgh, led by T.J. Watt (9.5 sacks) are also third in the NFL with 33 sacks.

"They're creating turnovers," Mayfield said of the Steelers, "but they're protecting the ball as well, so that's why their margin in the turnover [ratio] is so positive."

While the Steelers' defense is formidable, the Browns' offense seems to be coming together. While their lack of red zone execution remains an issue, the return of Kareem Hunt (who missed the season's first eight games while on suspension) has added a new dimension to Cleveland's offense. Hunt, in his Browns debut, gained 74 total yards on 11 touches while complementing Nick Chubb, who recorded his fourth 100-yard rushing performance of the season. Cleveland also received a solid performance from Mayfield, who completed 68.4 percent of his throws with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

"Internally, yeah, I think we showed that we can come out within a critical game when it is a tight situation and be able to make the plays we needed to," Mayfield said of Cleveland's win over Buffalo. "We needed to have that. Moving forward, we know that we can do that. That goes a long way mentally for everybody in our locker room, but it is a singular focus."


https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/baker...s-the-steelers/

I liked Jim Donovan’s response plea to Baker and the offense: “Just gain a yard”

But, while we easily could say stuff like “Win games so we don’t sell our tickets to the opposing teams fans” ... Baker has a point too. I think one of the big things Baker and the FO have stressed is having a home field advantage. And we haven’t performed well enough to warrant one. It’s frustrating on all accounts

he should plead with his wife not to call browns fans fair weather fans.

Baker's priorities should be:

1. Less talking.
2. More winning.

Beat the Steelers and you'll never have to worry about fan support.

Little known fact these days. Respect is earned, not given.

He really has a problem learning...

HE should have learned to shut up and not talk by now...

That seems to be a theme with u lately ... *L* ...

Another little known fact, sumptin us old timers understand ...

Sometimes (most of the time) its better to just keep your MOUTH SHUT .... bake seems to have diarrhea of the mouth ... yo Bake ... we don’t need to know every single thought u have ... its OK not to SHARE EVERYTHING ...

PS. Timings important to u penchalent little boy ... u promised us the world and u were 2 - 6 going into sunday ... now’d be a good time not to rag on the fans about support ...

PSS. Tell your wife we work hard for our money and would rather not spend it on what up to this point has been a collective bunch of UNDERACHIEVING IDIOTS .... lets worry more about doing our jobs as opposed to fan support or shoes ....

If Browns fans were half as smart as they think they are, they would know to keep it down when the offense has the ball. Sad that he has to remind them.

Well said

j/c...

Complete non-story that's dominated the local airwaves all week.

Home fans should be quiet when the home team offense is going to snap the ball.

In this particular instance, however, the stadium was loudly booing (one of the loudest I've ever heard the stadium), because Freddie decided to go for it yet again (after having failed to score on the previous 10 attempts) on 4th down rather than take the points.....again.

Ironically, it may have been the loud noise and chorus of boos that caused Hubbard to false start and possibly salvage the game.

Baker's comments.....

On Tuesday, Mayfield was asked if he meant that just like he said it, or if he was referring to all of the Bills fans present on Sunday -- the Bills Mafia, as they are known.

“No, it wasn’t that,’’ he said. “It was just the fact that when we’re on offense, we need it to be quiet. It might’ve ruffled some feathers, once again that’s okay, but when we’re on offense on a critical down, we need to be able to have silence in our home stadium. It’s got to be an advantage for us, and then when they get the ball, it’s got to be really loud. It’s just basic football.’’

Business slow on the island?

That actually wasn’t his point ... the Jill’s fans were making all the noise ....

Like Bake u turned it around and blamed us ... ...

Little bit ... *L* ....

More room for me and tabber ...

No, it was his point as he later explained.

I was at the game on the play he's referring to, it was not Bills fans. It was the entire stadium of Browns fans loudly booing Freddie for going for it on 4th down and not taking the points.

Jc

I originally took it as “Our fans sold their tickets” and he said it in a passive aggressive way

Now he clarified to say “Our own fans were just too loud”

Whether or not it’s a backpedal IDK ... but either way, just be quiet

Oooops ....

Good job bake .. i and our fans need to keep our mouths shut ...

Fans should never voice displeasure. I mean it's not like they pay the bills or anything.

Well, you can be as loud or as quiet as you want. You're home on the couch.

There are no bigger fair weather fans than browns fans bro.

Have you been to Pittsburgh when they suck? Look at the Bengals now that they're no good.

Browns fans have had the biggest reason to not show up and yet here we are 20 years later when we haven't had a really one great season.

You never lived in Dallas then.

"Fair weather" and "Browns fans" is a preposterous oxymoron.

San Diego/LA...

she didn't.

https://nypost.com/2019/11/13/baker-mayfield-wife-emily-have-separate-problems-with-browns-fans/

I don't care about this at all. I don't even know why I posted this. I am sick.

This was not a monologue offered by Baker out of the blue. Baker was asked a question and he answered it honestly and correctly. Should he have lied and said it did not happen? Should he have pleaded the 5th?

He's right, get over yourselves and cheer in a way that helps not hurts the team.

3-6 QBs shouldn't be scolding people who paid money and showed up to support him and his teammates. The fans were reacting to an absolutely craptastic display of goal line offense in the prior 7 plays. There may or may not come a time when Mayfield or Kitchens need to address fans about being quiet in those situations, but this wasn't it.

To that I ask ... what fair weather?

I don't even know what penchalent means, but damn...you let him have it!

Crowd noise or not.. these guys are professionals. Execute.

Baker needs to say less.. do more.

Baker's right - silence is golden when the team is on offense.

I hear it all the time when playing at home and I say to myself, do these morons know they should just shut the hell up. Scream on defense, shut the hell up on offense.

Just spitballing here,

On that 4th and goal situation, we were at the three yard line. At that point in the game, we were 0-10 in scoring a touchdown, from the 3 yard line?

Luckily the fans were loud enough to help cause a false start. That could have very well saved the game, you’re welcome.

For what they charge for tickets these days, fans should be able to scream when they want and as loud as they want. It's live football crowd noise, and good teams can deal with it. I love the fact that our fans are emotionally involved enough to shout.

They need to put up big texts on the screens around the stadium when the team is on offense, "Golf Clap Only".

I've never seen a human being get drilled so much for just answering reporters' questions.

j/c

I was at the game. It was loud on that 4th down non-play and irritated Browns fans were certainly contributing to the crowd noise - and deservedly so. Deservedly irritated, but should have been less noisy at that moment for sure.

HOWEVER, the Bills fan were loud and plenty. There were a couple of other plays where it felt a little like an away game for sure.

$.02

J/C

If fans are not smart enough to realize Home Field advantage is being quite when the offense is on the field in goal to go situations, and loud for the defense to make it hard on the opposing team - then maybe they need to sell their tickets.

They don't have this problem in Pittsburgh. Fans here need to wake up and realize that we were hurting the team on the field and making it harder for them.

I agree 100% + 100%. It drives me up the wall when the stadium is loud as can be ...... with the Browns on offense. Scream as loud as possible when the opposition has the ball, and rest the larynx when the Browns have the ball.

This. Hey Baker, talk less and make more plays on the field.

It's hilarious that people here and on social media are giving this guy a hard time for saying this...


Psst.......He's right!