Oklahoman Columnist Says It's Time For Baker Mayfield To "Grow Up"

Baker Mayfield has made a lot of noise in the offseason since his relatively successful rookie year with the Browns. But it would appear that his penchant for getting into controversies has worn its last nerve on a columnist for The Oklahoman.

In an article published on Thursday, Oklahoman columnist Berry Tramel said that Baker Mayfield needs to "grow up." Tramel pointed to Mayfield's recent interview with GQ where he essentially ripped Daniel Jones and took back his apology for planting the flag in his iconic game against Ohio State in 2017.

In the GQ article Mayfield said he felt embarrassed for the Oklahoma staff for making him apologize. Tramel accused Mayfield of throwing the staff under the bus.

“I had done so much and worked so hard to play for that school, I was just kinda ... almost embarrassed for them to tell me to apologize,” Mayfield said, according to GQ.

That’s uncool. Throwing Riley and Joe C. under the bus, after both stood by Mayfield, shows a major immaturity streak in Mayfield.

Tramel further suggested that people ask him whether he was sincerely sorry in his apology to Daniel Jones.

Mayfield said it "blows my mind" that the Giants drafted Daniel Jones No. 6 overall in the 2019 NFL Draft. In turn, he was raked over the coals before apologizing.

Perhaps in a self-survival move, Mayfield retreated quickly from his Jones comments, writing on Instagram that his words were taken out of context and claiming the media will do anything for internet clicks. Still, it’s hard to see how “blows my mind” could be taken out of context.

Ultimately, feels that Mayfield's leadership is coming into question as a result of the controversies. While he admired Mayfield being a different kind of quarterback, he felt that his behavior is "not befitting an quarterback leading a franchise."

But the bigger issue is Mayfield’s leadership. We all admire players who aren't cardboard cutouts, players who actually say what’s on their mind instead of regurgitated comments that don’t mean anything. But Mayfield’s loose lips are not befitting an NFL quarterback leading a franchise. You can be frank without being provocative. Interesting without being incinerating. It’s time for Mayfield to grow up.

Mayfield is quickly making a lot of friends and haters in his short NFL career. He'll get his chance to prove his haters wrong when the NFL season starts next month.

You can view the full column here.