Baker Mayfield poised for career year after losing weight and getting mind right
By Scott Rogust
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield spent his offseason getting into shape.
Baker Mayfield’s third season will be pivotal.
After a strong rookie season where he broke the passing touchdowns record, Mayfield struggled mightily in what was the epitome of a sophomore slump. Now with a new head coach on the team, Mayfield took the offseason very seriously.
How so? Mayfield slimmed down after a photo of his physique was ridiculed across social media back in January.
While speaking with the media on Friday, the Cleveland Browns quarterback brought up that his weight loss has made him stronger both physically and mentally while participating in Cleveland’s training camp. In fact, Mayfield said he gained four pounds of lean muscle while cutting body fat.
After dropping weight, #Browns QB Baker Mayfield says, "I'm in a much better state mentally, physically." Says he's "just ready to roll" and "where I need to be, to be the leader for this team, for this franchise."
— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) August 14, 2020
Mayfield once again fueled by the haters
Back in January, Mayfield was in a photo with members of the New York Giants, which included running back Saquon Barkley, wide receiver Sterling Shepard and now ex-linebacker Alec Ogletree. All NFL players were shirtless, and Mayfield was mercilessly body-shamed by social media users.
Three months after the ridiculed photo, Mayfield sent out an Instagram post that showed his now-leaner physique, which received praise from fans, pundits and head coach Kevin Stefanski.
Mayfield enters the 2020 NFL season with tons of pressure being placed on his shoulders. Last year, the 2018 first overall pick was not the same signal-caller we saw during his rookie season in Cleveland and during his time in college with the Oklahoma Sooners. Mayfield himself admitted he “lost [himself]” during the downward spiral the Browns had last season.
“Having success all through high school and college and having that standard so high, and then [last year] not nearly as much success as I’m used to — so I would say I lost myself,” said Mayfield, via ESPN. “Not having that success, not finding out what was working, I think I tried different ways of trying to have that success and I didn’t find it.
“So I lost myself in that, and I wasn’t able to be who I [need to be] for these guys on the team.”
New head coach Kevin Stefanski has been universally praised for his work with quarterbacks during his time with the Minnesota Vikings. Now, he gets to work with Mayfield in hopes of improving from his 22 touchdown, 21-interception sophomore season.
If Mayfield does struggle, Case Keenum, whom Stefanski worked with as his quarterbacks’ coach in 2017, where the team shockingly made the NFC Championship Game that year.
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Either way, Mayfield is leaner and more motivated than ever, which should make Browns fans excited with the all-important season approaching.