Cleveland Browns 2021 Regular Season: RIP

[Jscc]

I would definitely be on board with trading Baker for a draft pick/s and signing Trubisky to an incentive loaded contract. Draft a QB and sign another vet or just keep Keenum. Stefanski's offense doesn't need an all pro QB but it would but just think how much better would we have been this season with just average QB play!

Not interested in unknowns right now. Run it back with a healthy Mayfield or go after an established league average QB like Carr, Cousins, or Wilson and just eat the price for them. We could be next season's Rams in this latter scenario. This team has too much talent to waste time on projects like a Trubisky.

 

[DJTJ]

Not interested in unknowns right now. Run it back with a healthy Mayfield or go after an established league average QB like Carr, Cousins, or Wilson and just eat the price for them. We could be next season's Rams in this latter scenario. This team has too much talent to waste time on projects like a Trubisky.

What’s super funny is that in their first four years, Baker and Trubisky have very similar flaws and successes.

I’d hate to root for Mitch, but also, part of me would wonder if he’s perform to the exact same level as 2021 Baker.

 

[PIP]

Derek Carr was a lot of fun to watch last night… Sometimes I watch him and feel he’s overrated then nights like last night I feel he’s underrated…

Was kinda picturing him in a Browns uniform last night and was wondering if our offense would be even better with Derek Carr ?

Yes. Yes it would !

 

[Dr. Claw]

You think the Bills would take Trubisky out of the backup slot? I really wish Nick Foles wasn't so expensive. I think he'd be great on this team, as the starter or backup (bias). Foles is a guy who will win you the game by 1 point. LOL

The Browns have decided. Baker comes back. They NEED to get someone in here that will keep him honest. Baker really should have thrown risk at the door and got the surgery. Less angst right now with similar results if Case Keenum assumes duties from the Broncos game forward. Keenum gets you similar results, but he's not the starter so it's OK. Now that Carr has made the playoffs with the Raiders.... I don't think they let him go.

Here we are.

What else should the Browns do? I would bring back Clowney on defense. Do you all think Woods should come back?

I would really have the harshest look at the WR/TE corps. Njoku should stay, at minimum. But there needs to be someone else brought in that can really beat people down field. Somehow, some way.

So much went wrong this season, but most of it seems to be on the offensive side of the ball and I wasn't expecting to say that. Baker is one aspect, but there are others (WRs... regardless of QB, Browns corps ALMOST remind me of early Andy Reid Eagles guys, pre-T.O. Where's the Massaquoi and Co. on this roster?)

 

[PIP]

Baker is not gonna be pleasant with no contract extension and pressure behind him….

 

[Los216]

Baker is not gonna be pleasant with no contract extension and pressure behind him….

That’s one of the reasons why I don’t want him back. He’s a terrible leader and he’s shown that he’s a front runner.

 

[Beanie4Heisman]

I'm fine with Woods as DC

He's shown strides forward with improved talent on that side of the ball.

Some exotic blitzes popped up at times this season from the safeties and corners, albeit sparsely.

Having a couple really good cover corners opens that up as an opportunity going forward. Until we get a couple beastly DTs we will still rely to heavily on our ends to create a pass rush. Which is not sustainable for 60 minutes of play.

Do hope to see Clowney return next season. JOK will be one season wiser as well and Newsome was pretty stout in coverage frequently it seemed to me. Hopefully Phillips can be one to fill a LB slot and stay healthy for the majority of a season as well. Otherwise I think we'll need some veterans in the linebacker corps yet again next year.

 

[CBBI]

I strongly feel like bringing in "competition" for Baker Mayfield in 2022 is a mistake.

Either just full blown replace him with somebody new or don't replace him and back him as the guy with no questions asked. His personality and his contract status are both not suitable for a competition IMO.

Can you imagine how severe the home crowds will be all over his ass if they think there's an actual better option on the bench? Every incomplete pass will be a chorus of boos. Everyone was restless when the corpse that is Case Keenum was the alternative for goodness sake.

 

[PIP]

Baker is way too sensitive for competition. He needs affirmation.

Being shown that he’s special.

Constantly being told how beautiful he is.

Letting him go thru your phone just to remain confident that he is the only one you have eyes for.

 

[Bkerr02]

I strongly feel like bringing in "competition" for Baker Mayfield in 2022 is a mistake.

Either just full blown replace him with somebody new or don't replace him and back him as the guy with no questions asked. His personality and his contract status are both not suitable for a competition IMO.

Can you imagine how severe the home crowds will be all over his ass if they think there's an actual better option on the bench? Every incomplete pass will be a chorus of boos. Everyone was restless when the corpse that is Case Keenum was the alternative for goodness sake.

I do agree with this 100%. If Baker is the guy next year, let him be the guy. No competition BS.

 

[prf100]

I strongly feel like bringing in "competition" for Baker Mayfield in 2022 is a mistake.

Either just full blown replace him with somebody new or don't replace him and back him as the guy with no questions asked. His personality and his contract status are both not suitable for a competition IMO.

Can you imagine how severe the home crowds will be all over his ass if they think there's an actual better option on the bench? Every incomplete pass will be a chorus of boos. Everyone was restless when the corpse that is Case Keenum was the alternative for goodness sake.

Totally disagree - for a few reasons:
1. If his personality is not suited to competition, he's simply not a starting QB in the NFL.
2. That said, I do think he can handle the competition, and in fact I think it would actually drive him to better performance.
3. Fans will get on him no matter what - does not require a better option on the bench. You yourself said everyone was already restless with Keenum on the bench. My theory is if he played and shit the bed against the Bengals, he would have heard absolutely merciless booing. True competition from the backup has nothing to do with it.

ETA: I'm not suggesting the Browns bring in a QB to have a QB competition in training camp. But bringing in a backup that would breath down Baker's neck as the backup QB, and step in should he falter; I think that's a good idea.

 

[Scrote Squad]

I strongly feel like bringing in "competition" for Baker Mayfield in 2022 is a mistake.

Either just full blown replace him with somebody new or don't replace him and back him as the guy with no questions asked. His personality and his contract status are both not suitable for a competition IMO.

Can you imagine how severe the home crowds will be all over his ass if they think there's an actual better option on the bench? Every incomplete pass will be a chorus of boos. Everyone was restless when the corpse that is Case Keenum was the alternative for goodness sake.

We shouldn't be making massive franchise decisions based on assuaging 6's ego. He can either:
A. Embrace the competition and prove he's the guy; OR
B. Cry like a bitch because the FO brought in competition after one of the five worst QB seasons of 2021.

If it's B, why would we expect him to raise his level of play in a game when things aren't going well?

 

[CBBI]

We shouldn't be making massive franchise decisions based on assuaging 6's ego. He can either:
A. Embrace the competition and prove he's the guy; OR
B. Cry like a bitch because the FO brought in competition after one of the five worst QB seasons of 2021.

If it's B, why would we expect him to raise his level of play in a game when things aren't going well?

Think about it like this...

If Mayfield's healthy, we can assume that he'll play closer to 2020 than 2021. Maybe not as good, but better than this year. And if that happens, the Browns record should be closer to 2020 than 2021. Again, maybe not as good, but very likely not as bad.

But if Mayfield is unhappy that the team not only hasn't extended him, but is ready to bench him at a moment's notice? I think the odds of him imploding the locker room dramatically increase.

He's just not as mild mannered and willing to be a good soldier like Mariota was when the Titans acquired Tannehill and inevitably benched him for Tannehill IMO.

If the Browns did that to Baker, I just suspect he'd be a massive problem child about it.

 

[Amherstcavsfan]

Think about it like this...

If Mayfield's healthy, we can assume that he'll play closer to 2020 than 2021. Maybe not as good, but better than this year. And if that happens, the Browns record should be closer to 2020 than 2021. Again, maybe not as good, but very likely not as bad.

But if Mayfield is unhappy that the team not only hasn't extended him, but is ready to bench him at a moment's notice? I think the odds of him imploding the locker room dramatically increase.

He's just not as mild mannered and willing to be a good soldier like Mariota was when the Titans acquired Tannehill and inevitably benched him for Tannehill IMO.

If the Browns did that to Baker, I just suspect he'd be a massive problem child about it.

I mean, in this scenario, we are acquiring this facsimile in the off season, I'd assume. If Baker starts acting like the petulant problem child, then you trade him.

I'm at the point where, if the Browns can acquire a guy that the Browns reasonably believe can be a top 20 QB, you do it and just cut the cord.

 

[Scrote Squad]

Think about it like this...

If Mayfield's healthy, we can assume that he'll play closer to 2020 than 2021. Maybe not as good, but better than this year. And if that happens, the Browns record should be closer to 2020 than 2021. Again, maybe not as good, but very likely not as bad.

But if Mayfield is unhappy that the team not only hasn't extended him, but is ready to bench him at a moment's notice? I think the odds of him imploding the locker room dramatically increase.

He's just not as mild mannered and willing to be a good soldier like Mariota was when the Titans acquired Tannehill and inevitably benched him for Tannehill IMO.

If the Browns did that to Baker, I just suspect he'd be a massive problem child about it.

I understand your points. But let's look at it like this:

Mayfield doesn't play like the 15th best QB in 2022, but has another shitty year. Haven't we wasted an entire year because our QB is too mentally fragile to handle competition?

Your scenario has us essentially putting all of our eggs in the 'Mayfield will be more like 2020 than 2021' due to health. I'm not sure why our franchise would be willing to do that. We would look pretty stupid if Baker doesn't play to AT LEAST his 2020 overall performance.

Again, you've been one of the people beating the drum about how Baker looks even worse when you look at how good his line and run game have been. I'm not willing to potentially flush an entire season and not have a capable backup because it might hurt Baker's feelings.