The Cleveland Browns put out some boilerplate ‘feelgood’ farewell messages after they officially traded Baker Mayfield to the Carolina Panthers, but few if any actually bought it, I’m sure. The relationship between the quarterback and the organization had clearly been severed, even if not perhaps beyond repair, but with a new franchise guy already in the building, it was always likely that a divorce was in order.
There are many valid criticisms toward the Browns about how they handled Mayfield, both over the course of the past nine months and over the course of his entire career. They weren’t exactly overwhelming anybody with their support of him last season as he played, even if poorly, through significant injury.