BALTIMORE — After leading his team to a 40-25 victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, one might have thought Baker Mayfield might be in the mood for a victory lap.
But rather than use the opportunity to clap back at the two football figures he spent the week beefing with, the Cleveland Browns quarterback opted to take the high road.
Asked about his recent social media back and forth with former NFL receiver Antoni Brown, Mayfield declined to even engage in a conversation about the feud. Rather, Mayfield opted for one of head coach Freddie Kitchens' most famous lines, replying, "Absolutely not. If you don't wear orange and brown, you don't matter" when asked about Brown.
That line was the same one Mayfield used earlier this week when asked about criticism he received from former NFL head coach-turned-ESPN analyst Rex Ryan. After Ryan referred to Mayfield as "overrated as hell," the former No. 1 overall pick said of the former New York Jets coach: “In the wise words of Freddie Kitchens, ‘if you don’t wear orange and brown, you don’t matter.’ Rex Ryan doesn’t have any colors right now for a reason, so it’s OK."
Asked after Sunday's victory if Ryan -- who showed up to ESPN NFL Sunday Countdown wearing a brown and orange suit -- helped fuel his team's victory, Mayfield declined to take the bait.
"Absolutely not," Mayfield said. "Rex Ryan does not get any credit for this week’s win. No."
Meanwhile, Mayfield's beef with Brown stems from a reply that Mayfield left on his own Instagram account in which he mocked Brown's issue with his helmet and a cryogenic therapy chamber. On Saturday, Brown fired back, saying the former Heisman Trophy winner hasn't "done nothing in this league" and that it was a "scam" that Mayfield was picked ahead of Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.
For what it's worth, Mayfield completed 20 of his 30 pass attempts for 342 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception on Sunday. Jackson, meanwhile, completed 24 of his 34 pass attempts for 247 yards, 3 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.