Cleveland forecast: brighter days ahead

Mayfield’s emergence has Browns fans looking forward

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

The losing has slowed, but hasn’t stopped for the ever-rebuilding Browns.

They’re in the midst of yet another coaching search, and the NFL playoffs will come and go without them again this season — the 16th straight postseason since their most recent appearance.

But as Cleveland enjoyed its open week, and with six games left in another season going nowhere, optimism abounds around a franchise that has had little to celebrate over the past 25 years.

The dark days of despair are dwindling.

Baker Mayfield is making them go away.

The fearless rookie quarterback with the contagious personality, touchdown-making skills and trash-talking bravado, has the Browns — and their long-suffering fans — believing.

“It’s not everything, but it’s everything,” guard Joel Bitonio said with a smile when asked about Mayfield’s magnetism and positive influence. “You’ve got to have a quarterback to win in the NFL and it hasn’t been perfect, but to have him out there with you, there’s always that hope that, ‘Hey, we have a chance to win this game.’”

The No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft, Mayfield is changing the Browns (3-6-1) with his actions on and off the field. He’s already endured years of chaos in just 10 games as Cleveland has changed coaches, traded its top playmaker (Josh Gordon) and leading rusher (Carlos Hyde), suffered numerous injuries and a few of those punch-in-the stomach losses that the Browns have seemingly mastered.

But every time the Browns have taken a hard hit, Mayfield has responded with one of his own.

“We’ve got a quarterback who knows how to fight,” said defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah. “You want to play for a guy like that who inspires you.

“He comes to the defensive side of the ball like, ‘Hey, we’re still in this. Just give me one more chance out there.’ Guys on defense love that. They love a quarterback who can go out there and make a promise and say, ‘Hey, I’ve got your back.”’

Mayfield, who has gotten better every week, hasn’t won the respect of his teammates. He’s earned it.

The Browns didn’t hand the starting job to Mayfield, who began the season in a backup role before starter Tyrod Taylor suffered a concussion in Week 3 against the New York Jets on national TV. Mayfield came in and led the Browns to their first win since 2016, snapping a 19-game winless streak and providing a preview of bigger things to come.

“He’s developing as a quarterback,” said Browns general manager John Dorsey, the man who went out on a limb and picked Mayfield. “He is still a rookie quarterback.

“He has demonstrated certain things during the course of a game that get you excited.”

In Cleveland, things are getting a lot better.