Baker Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns took it to the Cincinnati Bengals in every way possible Sunday.
In putting up their first winning streak since back in 2014, the Browns handed Cincinnati a humiliating 35-20 defeat. Mayfield himself torched the Bengals early and ended up with four touchdown passes.
The backdrop here was obvious. Mayfield and the Browns were taking on a former head coach in Hue Jackson who was fired earlier this season.
Jackson’s decision to join the division-rival Bengals’ coaching staff was an odd one. And it now seems like Mayfield himself isn’t too happy about said decision.
#Browns Baker Mayfield admitted he didn’t like Hue Jackson defecting to the #Bengals so soon. Gave him a chilly reception pic.twitter.com/hF480gMc7N
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) November 25, 2018
“Left Cleveland. Goes down to Cincinnati. It was somebody that was in our locker room asking for us to play for him,” Mayfield said. “And then goes to a different team we play twice a year. Everyone can have their spin on it, but that’s how I feel.
It’s obvious that there’s no love lost here. Mayfield and Jackson had a tenuous relationship during the coach’s eight games on Cleveland’s sideline this season. That’s obviously bled over to Jackson joining an in-state rival.
The good news for Cleveland is that Mayfield is playing much better under interim head coach Gregg Williams. The better news? Cincinnati has become a dumpster fire since Jackson joined the staff. You can do the math from there.