Browns’ Baker Mayfield dodges media after rough performance; wife defends his ‘toughness’

The Browns didn’t exactly handle the winless Lions as well as expected Sunday. And after the game, quarterback Baker Mayfield wasn’t going to address the media.

According to Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot, Mayfield did not speak to the press following the game despite it being customary for the quarterback to field questions.

Mayfield’s decision not to speak to the media came as his wife, Emily Mayfield, reportedly shared a post on Instagram defending her husband, while also appearing to take a shot at the rest of the team, according to Sports Illustrated.

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The post on her account shared a post from a user, saying, “No one better say anything bad about @bakermayfield after this game. I don’t think I have seen toughness like this in a while. Maybe the rest of our team should take the hint and get tougher.”

Mayfield’s start on Sunday was rough in an all-around ugly 13-10 win over the 0-9-1 Lions — a far cry from the type of win a playoff contender, particularly one that was favored by 13.5 points at home, expects to have. Mayfield completed just 15-of-29 passes for 176 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. 

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It is incredibly uncommon for a starting quarterback to not be made available for interviews after a game, even if they are struggling. 

Mayfield has dealt with various injuries this season, reportedly turning down a chance to undergo season-ending surgery on his non-throwing shoulder earlier in the season, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapaport. Then in his previous game against the Patriots, he injured his knee after he took a hard hit from linebacker Matthew Judon.

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Still, this hasn’t been the season Browns’ fans have hoped for. Mayfield completed just 11-of-21 passes for 73 yards with a touchdown and interception in the 45-7 loss to the Patriots last week, and the Browns have lost four of their past six games as they now sit at just 5-5 overall this season.

And while Mayfield has played through injuries, this has been a Browns team that has been banged up all season. Jarvis Landry has been playing with a knee injury that cost him several games earlier in the season, and, in fact, re-injured it on Sunday. Nick Chubb missed time earlier in the year with a calf injury and missed last week with a calf injury as he too has been playing through a lot this season.