Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield has had a rough year.
Most recently, in his team’s 24-22 Christmas Day loss at the hands of the Green Bay Packers, he threw four picks and struggled to get anything substantive going on offense.
But even outside what happened last weekend, Mayfield has had a tough time. This season alone not one, but two of his wide receivers have come out and publicly admonished him. By all accounts – he has lost the locker room.
Although the Browns exercised Mayfield’s fifth-year option this past April, his long-term future with the organization is very much in doubt.
As if Mayfield wasn’t facing a precarious enough situation already, his wife Emily made a troubling confession this week on Instagram.
“It’s crazy how much negativity is amplified via social media,” she wrote.
“I’m still a believer that there’s more good people out there than bad, but WOW does social media make me think otherwise sometimes. Which plays into why I love to spread positivity. Our world needs more of it.
“The death threats, lies being told about my husband, and blatant DISRESPECT never ceases to amaze me. For the record – I pray those of you who even think those thoughts, let alone type them out. I hope you can find some happiness so you stop trying to steal it from others.”
In the aftermath of Emily’s comments, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski addressed the situation during a session with the media.
#Browns Kevin Stefanski is aware that Emily Mayfield posted that Baker received death threats via social media. They’ll address it if deemed necessary pic.twitter.com/JZz2xSMDBl
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) December 30, 2021
“As it rises to the level of [receiving death threats], certainly we can help address those type of things,” Stefanski said. “Just in general, not specific to that, but in general there’s a lot of noise out there.”
Emily has been growing increasingly frustrated with her husband’s situation in recent months. Aside from when she posted her provocative Halloween costume back in October, most of her big viral social hits as of late have come from defending her husband.
That’s definitely one way to celebrate your birthday.https://t.co/lNQAfTc1bm
— Game 7 (@game7__) December 30, 2021
By any objective measure – it feels like the end is nigh for Mayfield’s time in Cleveland. When death threats and all that start happening, the relationship has run its course.
Hopefully wherever Mayfield goes next, the former Oklahoma standout is able to get his career back on track.
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