It’s what Baker Mayfield is saying after the poor games that is starting to worry Ryan Leaf.
Mayfield, who has thrown 11 interceptions with five touchdowns in six games, trashed the referees following Sunday’s 32-28 loss to the Seahawks. It was a move that worried Leaf over the lack of accountability he easily recognized.
“When things start to go bad, you put yourself out there in this form. And people can easily attack it,” Leaf said during a recent appearance on “The Rich Eisen Show,” .
“I have a very small sample size: 2-0 to start my NFL career. Talking a lot of smack. And then I walk into Kansas City and put up the worst football game of my existence. And I’ve always been this brash, arrogant kind of guy. That’s the way I came back at everybody instead of just walking up in front of the camera and going, ‘Oh my God. This was my fault. I’m going to do everything I can to make sure this doesn’t happen again.’ And hearing Baker [Sunday] — even though small — blame the officials for some calls is problematic for me because as a quarterback, you want to be able to stand up in front of everybody and take personal accountability,” he continued.
Leaf, who was drafted by the Chargers secoꩵnd overall in 1998, flamed out of the league after four seasons.
The loss to the Seahawks droppe🎃d the Browns to 2-4 inཧ a season that started with massive expectations.
“The refs are never an excuse, but I’ll probably be fined for saying this, but it was pretty bad out there,” Mayfield said afterward.
Unlike Mayfield’s rookie season, which consisted of 27 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, the quarterback’s sophomore campaign has been a mess despite a talented supporting cast, including receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry. It’s also been marred by bizarre controversies, namely, “handshake gate” with Richard Sherman and a war of words with former coach Rex Ryan.
Mayfield and the Browns will have a bye we𒁏ek before a clash with the undefeated Patriots in Foxboro.