American Football
Cleveland Browns legend fires back after Baker Mayfield takes swipe at HC Kevin Stefanski
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Earlier this week, Baker Mayfield took exception to a tweet from Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, who claimed new Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski - Mayfield’s former coach with the Cleveland Browns - “had a dumpster fire at quarterback in Cleveland.”
Predictably, Baker Mayfield’s response sent social media into a frenzy, with plenty lining up to back him.
But now a familiar voice has entered the conversation. Former Browns left tackle and Hall of Famer Joe Thomas weighed in yesterday, pointing out that Mayfield could have just as easily taken the initiative.
The back-and-forth adds yet another layer to a familiar Cleveland storyline and serves as a reminder that even years later, the Mayfield-Stefanski split still isn't settled.
Wondering how it all started, and where it goes from here? Read on to find out.
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The Mayfield-Stefanski backstory
Stefanski arrived in Cleveland in 2020, and the pairing with Mayfield got off to a fast start. Baker threw for 3,563 yards and 26 touchdowns, the Browns went 11-5, and a franchise stuck in neutral for nearly two decades finally found its way back into the postseason.
The follow-up act, though, told a different story.
A nagging shoulder injury limited Mayfield, his performances slipped, and the Browns struggled. Tensions bubbled over late in the year, and after a loss to Pittsburgh, Mayfield publicly questioned Stefanski’s game plan.
"When you've got T.J. Watt over there, and we're not giving our rookie tackle a whole lot of help, it’s not going to be good for us," he said after being sacked nine times in that game.
By spring 2022, Cleveland had moved on, acquiring Deshaun Watson in a blockbuster trade. And when Mayfield was subsequently shipped to the Carolina Panthers, he didn’t hide how much the moment stung.
A brief stop with the Los Angeles Rams followed before Mayfield finally found stability in Tampa Bay. With the Buccaneers, he’s played his best football, reaching the playoffs twice and reestablishing himself as more than a short-term fix.
Will this be the end of the rift?
Not likely. With Mayfield's Buccaneers and Stefanski's Falcons meeting twice a year in the NFC South, this drama is set to run and run, creating an interesting subplot in a division that's anyone's for the taking.
And with the likes of Thomas adding fuel to the fire, the noise isn't likely to die down anytime soon.
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