Baker Mayfield has 'moved on,' doesn't completely rule out playing for Browns

Jun. 28—Baker Mayfield left the door open a crack — a teeny, tiny crack, to be sure, but still a crack — about possibly playing for the Browns in 2022.

For that to happen, General Manager Andrew Berry and Coach Kevin Stefanski would practically have to beg him to come back.

Mayfield, the 2017 Heisman Trophy winner while with the Oklahoma Sooners, ran his football camp on June 28 in Norman, Okla., and afterward reporters asked him about being estranged from the Browns — the team he started for from the third game of 2018 through 2021.

As it stands now, with Deshaun Watson possibly facing a year-long suspension from the NFL because of unsavory allegations from 24 massage therapists accusing Watson of sexual misconduct, the Browns are looking at playing the entire season with Jacoby Brissett as their starting quarterback. Josh Dobbs, with 17 career pass attempts, would be Brissett's backup.

That is, unless, Mayfield shows up in Berea for the start of training camp July 27 "feeling dangerous," as Mayfield once said. Mayfield did not participate in the Browns voluntary offseason program or mandatory minicamp.

"I think it's pretty obvious the mutual decision on both sides is to move on," Mayfield said in Norman when asked if he could ever play for the Browns again. "I'm thankful for my four years in Cleveland. There were a lot of ups and downs and a ton of learning experiences I'll forever keep with me — teammates and friends and relationships I'll have for a lifetime."

Baker Mayfield answered the question everyone wants to know: If DeShaun Watson is suspended, could he return to Cleveland in 2022? Here's his answer from his youth camp Tuesday in Norman. (via @CareyAMurdock, @Eddie_Rado) pic.twitter.com/ASNY5b8kdO

— SoonerScoop.com (@SoonerScoop) June 28, 2022

That doesn't sound like leaving the door open even a teeny, weeny crack. But Mayfield was asked if there is any chance of a reconciliation, and that's when the door hinges creaked and a sliver of light shone through.

"I think for that to happen, there would have to be some reaching out, but we're ready to move on, I think, on both sides," Mayfield said.

Berry, after the 2021 season ended with a disappointing 8-9 record, said Mayfield would be the Browns starting quarterback in 2022.

Mayfield was 6-8 as a starter last season while throwing 17 touchdowns passes and 13 interceptions. Mayfield underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder on Jan. 19 and after the team pronounced the operation a success, Berry again spoke positively about Mayfield.

"We've been with Baker for a long period of time at this point," Berry said. "We know his work ethic. We know his drive and we've seen him as a talented passer in this league. We're looking forward to him getting healthy and continuing to make improvements. We expect him to bounce back next year."

At the same time, the Browns were quietly exploring a possible trade for Watson.

Berry, Stefanski and Browns owner Jimmy Haslam flew to Houston on March 15 to convince Watson to waive the no-trade clause in his contract and accept a trade to Cleveland, despite knowing Watson was facing (at the time) 22 civil lawsuits accusing him of sexual misconduct.

The meeting in Houston with Watson occurred four days after a Harris County (Texas) grand jury declined to indict Watson on criminal charges. But jumping on Haslam's private jet to meet with Watson was not a spur of the moment idea. When Watson was introduced March 25 at a press conference, Berry described the trade as the culmination of "a five-month odyssey."

Things began to move quickly.

Mayfield asked to be traded when he caught wind of the Browns meeting with Watson, even as Mayfield was rehabbing from the shoulder surgery.

Watson said he would not waive the no-trade clause to play for the Browns, and the Browns told Mayfield they would not honor his trade request. Then Haslam hauled a persuader out of his pocket — a guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract.

Watson changed his mind and accepted the trade to the Browns. Watson, it should be noted, said he was unaware the Browns increased their contract offer when he decided he would accept the trade to Cleveland after all.

The Browns got their quarterback, but they still had an unhappy Mayfield on the roster and Mayfield's 2022 $18,853,000 guaranteed salary on the payroll.

A second grand jury declined to indict Watson on criminal charges on March 24. One day later, Watson was introduced to the Cleveland media.

"I never did the things that these people are alleging, and I will continue to fight for my name and clear my name," Watson said. "I have never assaulted any woman. I have never disrespected any woman."

Two more women added their names to the list of women suing Watson since his first news conference, raising the total to 24. Watson met with reporters again on June 14. One week after that, Watson and his attorneys reached financial settlements with 20 of the 24 women suing him.

The NFL has been investigating Watson for more than a year, and on June 28 a hearing was to begin, at which Watson will be in front of disciplinary officer Susan L. Robinson, a retired judge appointed jointly by the NFL and the NFL Players' Association.

Attorneys for the NFL are expected to present why they concluded from their findings that Watson should be suspended for a year or perhaps indefinitely.

The union is expected to counter by saying Watson's suspension should be light, or not suspended at all, because the league did not punish team owners Robert Kraft of the Patriots, Jerry Jones of the Cowboys and Daniel Snyder of the Commanders for violating the league's personal conduct policy in separate instances that cast the league in a bad light.

Robinson could announce her decision by the end of the week, or at least before the start of training camp.

Meanwhile, Mayfield is a quarterback looking for work.