DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Baker Mayfield part IV a New Hope

I don't worry about that stuff anymore. I don't care what they think.

As much complaining about QB play as I have been involved in over the years, I am finally pretty happy with what we have. We can win with Baker.

I am good with that.

Let them. That's the stuff that keeps Baker motivated. You can tell he absolutely loves sticking it to the media.

I could be wrong, but I think that website uses the term "big time throw" as a throw that meets certain defined criteria. I think think some of that criteria relates to the score of the game, and since we were up 2 scores for most of the game, Baker never met that criteria.

So, I don't think it was a slight against Baker.

That's what I assumed, and with that it's probably even a pat on the back. Kinda sounds like it's hard to pump up your score if you're not heaving it (kinda the opposite of garbage time stat-padding).

FROM PFF:

The system accounts for the timing and difficulty of the throw, while also gauging the decision-making with respect to the quarterback’s progression on a given play.

The better the throw, the higher the grade, and passes that earn a +1.0 or better are considered big-time throws.

The key to remember is that the result of the play doesn’t change the quarterback's grade, so pinpoint downfield passes that are dropped will still earn the same grade despite showing up as 0-for-1 in the boxscore.

Big-time throws have different levels of credit as the passes are thrown further down the field or the windows are tightened.

https://www.pff.com/news/pro-how-pff-grades-quarterback-play

That is correct. It's a specific defined category with parameters. No knock on Baker at all.

Leastways that is how I understand it.

j/c:

When you have a 3 score lead for most of the game, there is no incentive to throw riskier passes downfield or to try to fit the ball into tight windows.

Game manager.

Who wants somebody who can't manage the game?

I wouldn't normally clarify this, but it was a joke.

He is too busy shooting commercials to be a good quarterback.

I got it.

It gave me a wry smile.

I remember reading earlier in the season that some thought darn near 100% GMs would take Lamar over Baker.

I refuted that.

I think the correct answer is that darn near 100% GMs would take Baker over Lamar.

I was one of those people. Obviously things have changed since then. At the time I believe it was correct. Then Baker improved by leaps and bounds.

And Lamar has not improved.

People talk about Baker being a front runner, myself included, and what I mean by that is they play great when there is no pressure, and they are beating up on the dregs of the league. But Lamar is exactly the same.

Baker has exercised some of those demons this year. Lamar hasn't. The maddening thing is every talk show host explains Lamar's shortcomings away, but goes to great lengths to point them out in Baker.

I'll keep saying this until it isn't true. Baker is the most hated guy I've ever seen in sports. Guys that hate him personally use the personal bias to fuel criticism of his game. Even in wins, it's the Browns are good despite Baker.

Baker has a real chance today to shut these guys up once and for all. I think he does it. He's playing great.

Nahhhhh.... He had already done enough for any sane person. Haters will continue to hate. And I agree he has more than this fair share.

He just has to continue playing well and hopefully continue to improve. It was only the most agenda driven that wanted to only ever focus on his shortcomings and never acknowledge his good play or the additional challenges of things like playing for a team that had gone 1-31 and was on his 4th head coach in 3 years.

Jc

Sign baker to a massive extension and be done with it. He’s our guy going forward. Finally got a QB we don’t have to worry about.

Proud of how he led this team this season.

Rappaport reported this morning there is no rush, but the team believes he is the franchise QB. Extension could be after next season.

That would be stupid. If you want him, lock him up. If he goes out next year and has an even better year and we go even deeper into the playoffs or win it all... he's not going to get cheaper.

Based on when we signed Garrett to an extension I’d bet we get out in front of the situation.

What's the benchmark right now for resigning him? Lamar Jackson's deal?

Lamar Jackson doesn’t have a deal yet.

article already on it it seems:

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news...8x17x0jvo60q06i


a contract extension means he makes 30 mil in his 5th year because Mahomes, (avg of top 10 qb contracts in the league) a franchise tag after that would mean he make 40 mil.... but I doubt anyone sits on their hands and pulls a Jerry.

There is also the balancing factor of what Allen and Lamar get IMO. Gonna sort of set the tone of what everyone gets. Luckily, Baker's agent isn't also tied to any other agent atm either. So there's no conflict of interest.

I would expect something in an extension sooner rather than later. Aside from Baker's improved performance, he's always available injury-wise, his prime years are ahead, he has coaches who are tuned in to his abilities (and he respects), and he has demonstrated much-improved media skills for someone who is the face of the franchise. Speaking of media skills, his speech skills are excellent. He is extremely loquacious. Yeah, I said it: "Loquacious." Just drop the "It is what it is" line and he's absolute perfection, lol.

I love the "is what it is" line.

Often times that's the best answer.

i agree... wouldn't be surprised (and actually would be happy) to see an extension this off season... could also depend on what the salary cap does this year... I've heard a lot of talk that it could come down due to Covid... though the league didn't lose a ton of money this year because most of their revenue comes through TV deals....

My bad. Who am I thinking of that just signed a new deal this offseason? Mahomes?

Mahomes and Watson are the two most recent I think...

So Mahomes new deal averages $45 mil/year. Watson averages $39 mil/year. After that is Russell Wilson at $35 mil/yr..

So Baker is going to be in that $40 mil/year range.

I disagree. If you pick up his 5th year up option and have the conversation with his agent that a long term deal is forthcoming, this would buy the Browns an extra year at lower cap figure.

The Browns could use the extra cap space to spend more in FA and make a more aggressive run at a SB in the short term.

Holding off an extra year gives the Browns more flexibility cap wise. Particularly, considering the salary cap may shrink next year given the lack of fans in the stands and decrease in team revenue this past year.

Just another angle to consider.

this off season or next won't effect whether the 5th year option counts. Just like Garret (or any of the QBs), the extensions pick up starting in year 6.

No rush.

I think the decision on this off-season or next depends on when you need the cap space.

If you don't sign Baker this year - then he counts something like a $1 million salary and whatever % of the bonus he signed. Say $2-2.5 million total.

If you sign him to a 5-6 year deal - and his value is $25-35 Million per year ... then it's reasonable to suggest he's being paid an extra $23-33 Million for next year that he wouldn't get without the new deal .... that might come off the new deal (or a portion of it).

There are many facets to looking at this. Personally I'd send the message that he's our guy and sign him now - try to generate the sort of good will and relationship that allows you to keep tinkering with the contract in the future like Brady and others have when they helped their team out.

Mayfield’s strong first season under head coach Kevin Stefanski wound up lifting No. 6 into the top 10 passing grades as determined by Pro Football Focus. Mayfield graded out with a passing grade of 81.6, which places him 10th in the NFL in PFF throwing scores. Sandwiched between Matt Ryan and Kirk Cousins, Mayfield’s passing graded out higher than some notable other QBs including Justin Herbert, Lamar Jackson, Drew Brees and Matthew Stafford.

I would like to go on record saying at the start of the season I thought Baker would be a top 10 QB

I admit I was thinking he was going to bust. I was wrong. I actually think he is going to be even better next year.