VIDEO: Baker Mayfield Claps Back at Rex Ryan for Saying He's 'Overrated as Hell'
By Michael Luciano
Critics of Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield have found ample reason to jump on the second-year quarterback after a sluggish start to the season. One of his biggest haters is former New York Jets head coach and current ESPN analyst Rex Ryan, who called Mayfield "overrated as hell" this week, given new fuel after Daniel Jones' emergence. Never one to back down from a challenge, Mayfield took Ryan to task after reporters asked him about the jabs on Wednesday, and called him out for the fact that he hasn't been able to get back in the league after being fired as Buffalo Bills head coach.
On Monday, Rex Ryan said Baker Mayfield is “overrated as hell.” Baker responded today: “In the wise words of Freddie Kitchens, ‘If you don’t wear Orange & Brown, you don’t matter’ and Rex doesn’t have any colors right now for a reason.” (via @MaryKayCabot) pic.twitter.com/LoLWJV0Lbx
— NFL Update (@MySportsUpdate) September 25, 2019
Yeah, the fella went there.
Baker on Rex Ryan saying he’s “overrated as hell”: “it’s whatever. ... if you don’t wear orange and brown you don’t matter, and Rex Ryan doesn’t have any colors right now for a reason.”
— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) September 25, 2019
While Mayfield has struggled to a degree this season, this can be attributed, at least in part, to some awful coaching and play-calling from the overmatched Freddie Kitchens, and a poor offensive line that has forced the pocket passer in Mayfield to escape and throw on the run more than he would like.
In Ryan's defense, Mayfield is taking a lot more risks this year, and hasn't always been coming up on the right side of things.
Baker Mayfield has thrown into double coverage at the highest rate (6.4%) in the NFL through Week 3.
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) September 24, 2019
Throwing into double coverage has not worked out for quarterbacks league-wide this season: 14/55, 175 yards, 3 TD, 9 INT (30.6% average completion probability) pic.twitter.com/pWU8yYia6S
He might have some warts, but the Mayfield depicted by Ryan is simply not accurate. Baker hasn't lost any of that bravado he had last year, and at Oklahoma, and won't back down from even the cantankerous Ryan.