The Cleveland Browns are set to report for their mandatory minicamp next week. While their incoming starting quarterback will be there, their prior starting quarterback will not, even though he’s still technically on the roster.
Baker Mayfield is excused from team offseason workout sessions, which was a mutual decision between him and the team, according to head coach Kevin Stefanski.
“We felt like that was the best decision for both sides,” Stefanski said before declining to comment further on what those discussions entailed.
If a player under contract misses all three days of mandatory minicamps, such as DK Metcalf, they are subject to a fine exceeding $90,000. However, if the team excuses the player from attending, there is no penalty.
Mayfield remains in this purgatory state as he waits to find out if the Browns are trading him. They’ve made their intentions clear since they traded for Deshaun Watson. The hold-up is that Mayfield is owed roughly $19 million this season regardless of whether he plays or not and Cleveland wants to find a trade partner willing to take on a chunk of that salary. For the time being, that hasn’t materialized. And the Browns also have no interest in cutting Mayfield so they can pay him to play for one of their rivals.
So, for now, Baker Mayfield remains a member of the Cleveland Browns, even though he won’t be joining them on the practice field.
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.