I nor anyone else really knows what is going on in the FO or Stefanski's head about Mayfield. What seems to be very obvious though is that during the 9-game stretch of 2020 and the first 2-games of 2021, Mayfield performed at a high enough level of expectation that would make one believe that after 20 plus years the Browns had finally found their franchise QB. The W-L record was acceptable, the completion % was there, a playoff appearance and win was on the resume and even though the offense was not built to his skill set, Mayfield seemed to have a fairly accurate grasp as how to execute it successfully. Mayfield was doing all of this without a #1 WR who as it turns out was disgruntled the entire time, lack of an effective TE due to the scheme being played, and a defense that was leaking like a bucket full of holes even after it being the entire focus of the off season. That 11-game stretch, combined with what Mayfield was able to accomplish on the field his first 2-years with a team that had a 1-31 record at his arrival all the while be challenged with 3 different head coaches and schemes was somewhat remarkable and most franchises would be giddy yet Mayfield's future was still questioned by the FO, head coach, and some unappreciative fans.

Enter the injury during week-2 of the season. An injury that was serious enough that surgery was necessary to correct the problem. Now whether you are on the side that he should have continued to play or the other where he should have shut down is really immaterial at this point. Stefanski and the FO to a lesser extent, made the decision to trot out their franchise QB for 12 more games when they and the world knew he was not close to 100%. Game film would clearly show that the injury effected Mayfield's accuracy. He was unable to make all the throws, challenged his footwork, and led to additional minor injuries that Mayfield had to fight through as the season progressed. Additionally, add into the fact that Mayfield lost both starting tackles for an extended period, both RB's for a period, a WR group without a single receiver PFF rated in the top 64 (Landry was best at 73rd) and a TE group that as a whole couldn't get a step or more separation in man coverage even 30% of the time. Yet Mayfield was still out there injury and all competing in a scheme that isn't close to using his skill set at a level where the team lost 6 games by 6 points of less and was competitive down to the last 2 weeks with a QB playing 12 games nowhere near 100%.

Fast forward to today and now you have hoards of fans screaming to replace Mayfield. Let's ignore everything else and crucify the QB. The season collapse is all Baker's fault and he needs to be replaced. So much so that there's even been posters here campaigning for 'Trubisky," REALLY? Let's get Cousins that would cost double the money for a player that is 7-years older, has always had better talent to work with, better coaching stability, experience, and just 1 less loss than Mayfield over the last 4-years. Really, you think that would be a step up? Stefanski and Berrry are the decision makers - not Mayfield, the medical group, fans, or the press. They proceeded to trot out their franchise QB after a serious injury knowing full well that Mayfield was not close to being 100%. Now the FO and Stefanski might have thought that even a Mayfield at 75% was their best chance to win. If that was the case, then 2 things become glaringly apparent: 1) Who's responsible for ok'ing a backup QB who is incapable of replacing a 75% or less physically able starter and 2) Where's the open and solid support from the FO and head coach for a QB that just gave you 1,000 percent effort with a body that was less than 75% capable of performing up to the level previously exhibited?

This is not about being a Baker fan or not, this is about laying all the blame on Mayfield. Mayfield had nothing to do with the selection of the very weak WR group. It was not Mayfield's plan to run 2 and 3 TE sets almost 50% of the plays in a vanilla predictable offense. Mayfield had nothing to do with the selection of the backup tackles trotted out to protect him. Yet Mayfield is the fall guy for everything concerned according to posters on this forum. The buck stops at Stefanski and Berry because they are the decision makers. They are the ones who made a conscious decision to play Mayfield at less than 75%. Stefanski is the one who set the scheme and called the plays whether they were set to what Baker could do, the skill set, or not.

https://www.yahoo.com/now/badly-cleveland-browns-receiver-look-110039886.html

Many of the same questions I have are in this article. I'm not saying Mayfield doesn't have things to work on - of course he does - he's only in his 5th year. However, the DECISION making process cannot be ignored and Stefanski and Berry have way more liability than some will accept. Afterall, THEY ARE THE DECISION MAKERS and some of those decisions hurt the Browns way more than Baker's injury plagued sub-par play - whether you want to accept that or not.