CLEVELAND — Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield has the kind of competitive fire that teammates and fans gravitate to, and coach Freddie Kitchens has the same kind of spirit when it comes to the football field.
As the Browns continue their preparations for the 2019 season, one that comes with lofty expectations because of the development shown by Mayfield and running back Nick Chubb over the second half of their rookie season, consistent difference-making performances from receiver Jarvis Landry and defensive end Myles Garrett, and the offseason acquisition of Pro Bowl pass-catcher Odell Beckham Jr., those in Cleveland’s locker room want to test themselves against the best.
“Absolutely, we want to get somebody’s best shot every game where we have to bring it every week, and then, at the same time, that means we’re doing something right where people want to beat us. Going into a game and people not giving effort is not fun. You want to compete against the best, you want to play against the best, against their ability.”
Competitive fire is a calling card for Mayfield, who is not one to hold back on his opinions, even when it ruffles feathers, and he showed it during the 2018 season.
Mayfield let it be known in the days following the first meeting of the season with the Cincinnati Bengals that he was not happy with former coach Hue Jackson for accepting an offer to join a rival team in the AFC North Division after his dismissal from the Browns on October 29.
And just in case those words were forgotten, Mayfield served up a reminder after sealing a 26-18 victory over the Bengals with a 66-yard pass to tight end David Njoku with 1:48 to play in the fourth quarter.
Following the completion, Mayfield appeared to stare down and smile at Jackson while looking toward Cincinnati’s sideline, and then, backpedaled his way down the field before taking three snaps out of the victory formation to exhaust the clock.
But Kitchens is confident Mayfield’s actions and words will not put a bigger bullseye on the Browns in 2019.
“We do not care,” Kitchens said. “It is already on there, so it does not matter. We will be ready to play. I do not know what a ‘bullseye’ is.
“If they are not trying to beat our ass and we are not trying to beat their ass, I do not know what else you do. That is what we are going to try and do, and hopefully, they try and do the same.”
Kitchens put the Browns through a very physical training camp, one in which there were less than a handful of non-padded practices, and it was in preparation to meet the challenges that await when the regular season gets underway against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, September 8.
“We are going to give our best effort every week, and I hope that we get theirs,” Kitchens said. “Then, we will see who is best, and that is all. The expectations that you guys set does not matter about our expectations.
“Our expectation is to just perform the best that we can do, and that changes week to week a lot of times. You guys know how the football season goes. That is why we are just worried about tomorrow, and then, we will let that take care of itself and get better the next day, and then, look up a month from now and see how good we are.”