CLEVELAND -- What will it take for Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield to draw a penalty for a hit above the shoulders that the National Football League and NFL Competition Committee have spent plenty of time trying to legislate out of the game in recent years?
Unfortunately, Mayfield is not optimistic about drawing penalties on defenders, even if he does take a hit in the helmet, just as was the case in last Sunday’s 26-23 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
“Probably not playing quarterback for the Browns,” Mayfield quipped during his weekly Wednesday press conference.
According to a report from ESPN’s Pat McManamon late Tuesday, “The NFL recognizes that Jordan Whitehead should have been penalized” for hitting a quarterback who had given himself up by initiating a slide or using his helmet to hit another player.
Other reports stated Wednesday that Whitehead is expected to be fined for the hit on Mayfield.
“After the fact, it doesn’t really matter,” Mayfield said. “That’s just one of those things that in the moment, you’ve got to be able to call that.”
Near the midway point of the fourth quarter, the Browns faced a second-and-26 from the Cleveland 24-yard line. Mayfield took the shotgun snap, and when no one was open, he pump-faked a throw to the right to freeze the defense, sprinted up the right hashmarks and across the Buccaneers logo in the middle of the field for a 35-yard gain.
At the end of the play, Mayfield appeared to give himself up and initiate a slide that would have given him an added level of protection. However, Whitehead led with his helmet and drilled Mayfield right in the ear hole.
.@bakermayfield turns on the jets!#CLEvsTB pic.twitter.com/cRkV0LKl08
Initially, a flag was thrown. However, after a brief conversation with his crew, referee Shawn Hochuli picked up the flag saying that once Mayfield left the pocket, he became a ball-carrier, and therefore, it was legal to hit him in the helmet.
“I didn’t hear it at the time because I was so fuming mad, but to hear the ref say he’s allowed to be hit in the head, I though that’s why they put in the rule, but we’ll see,” Mayfield said.
Understandably, Mayfield took exception to the hit, and after springing up to his feet, got in Whitehead’s face and let him know it was not enough to keep him down.
“That’s the type of energy and fire that I try and bring to the game,” Mayfield said. “I don’t know. Good reaction because it was a big play. We converted and we moved the ball down the field. We played well in that second half because we were clicking on all cylinders.”
Calls and non-calls aside, Mayfield believes if the Browns do what they have worked on in practice, officials will not have an impact on the game.
“It’s easy to point and blame certain calls in the game, but if we’re scoring points, we can take the refs out of the game,” Mayfield said. “We can eliminate all those things to where we’re not counting on having a good call. We can do the things right to where none of that really betters.”
Stream Live with fuboTV -Try Free Trial
