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Ben Axelrod: Baker Mayfield made me — and Cleveland Browns fans everywhere — believers in 2018

After a rookie season unlike any other, Baker Mayfield has fans believing in not just himself, but the Cleveland Browns.
Credit: © Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 15, 2018; Denver, CO, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) warms up before the game against the Denver Broncos at Broncos Stadium at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

CLEVELAND -- This time last year, I wasn't a Baker Mayfield believer.

OK, that might be an understatement.

As the Cleveland Browns marched toward an 0-16 season and it became clear they would be selecting a quarterback with the No. 1 pick the following spring, I didn't just make it clear I preferred another signal-caller (Sam Darnold) -- I planted my flag as firmly anti-Mayfield.

I made jokes about his size ("QB 5-10" I called him).

I suggested he'd play against Jonny Manziel in the first XFL 2.0 championship game (I still might be half right).

I snickered at the analytics-reliant, anti-football guy people who touted him as the second coming (you know, the same guys who also praised Patrick Mahomes).

And while I didn't care one bit about him planting his own flag in my alma mater's field turf (or at least trying to), his sideline shenanigans against Kansas coupled with his February 2017 arrest were enough for me to cross him off my clearly meaningless Browns draft list.

It's not that I didn't believe Baker Mayfield could be a successful NFL quarterback -- I was at Ohio Stadium the day he torched a Buckeyes defense loaded with future first-round picks. I just figured that between his lack of prototypical size and off-field baggage (and yes, there was some) he would need to be the exception to rule in order to be one.

And an exception wasn't what was going to turnaround the Cleveland Browns.

Boy, was I wrong. How wrong? Consider that in the last 12 months, I've done the following:

  • Chanted "Bak-er May-field" alongside 67,894 others inside FirstEnergy Stadium as he led the Browns to a comeback win over the New York Jets in his NFL debut on Sept. 20.
  • Bought my fiancée a $75 Mayfield jersey, despite the fact she already had a perfectly fine Christian Kirksey jersey.
  • Received a t-shirt with Mayfield's 'BM' logo as an unironic birthday gift.
  • Dressed as Mayfield for Halloween -- and posed with his fiancée for a photo in said costume.

I'm even wearing them right now.

My total flip-flop on Mayfield could be construed as bandwagon hopping, but really, what choice did I have? Granted, it was a low bar to clear, but the 2018 season was by far the most fun I've had watching Browns football since the franchise returned to Cleveland in 1999.

Sure, the team has made the playoffs (once) before and has even had seasons with more wins. The Browns' 7-8-1 record in 2018 was good for their third-best record since 1999 and matched the win total of their 2014 campaign.

Only this season was different from the fun that was had in 2002, 2007 and half of 2014. More specifically, Mayfield was different -- and it took little more than one half against the Jets on a Thursday night to show why.

Between his decisiveness and accuracy on the field and attitude and swagger off of it (and sometimes on it), Mayfield has connected with Cleveland in a way unlike any quarterback -- and perhaps athlete -- since Bernie Kosar. Sure, LeBron was our own and Thome checked all the boxes. But Cleveland is a Browns town. And we've been waiting nearly 30 years for a franchise quarterback.

It may be too soon to crown Mayfield as just that, but he's pretty darn close.

Credit: John Glaser
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) focuses on leading the offense down the field during the game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.

After completing 63.8 percent of his passes for 3,725 yards and a rookie record 27 touchdowns -- in 14.5 games, no less -- the 23-year-old probably only trails Patrick Mahomes in terms promising young quarterbacks in the NFL. His personality -- whatever "baggage" he previously possessed has manifested itself into a more mature confidence, which admittedly at time borders on pettiness -- has only elevated his superstardom, making him the type of athlete who can lead both SportsCenter and debate shows.

It goes without saying that Mayfield is polarizing -- just as he was a year ago when I shared my doubts.

A prouder man might have clung to his pre-draft prognostications, citing Colin Cowherd clips while feigning outrage over sideline celebrations. But with the way Mayfield played and all the fun I had this season, what would be the point?

I'm a full-blown Baker believer. And I'm far from alone.

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