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sports Thursday 22 OcTOber 2020

Browns' Mayfield ignoring critics, 'noise' aimed at him

By TOM WITHERS week."
AP Sports Writer The outside criticism of
CLEVELAND (AP) — Baker Mayfield has not distract-
Mayfield's getting blitzed ed the Browns — for now.
from every direction right Beckham, no stranger to
now. criticism, has spoken to the
Cleveland's quarterback quarterback about not let-
has been under a steady ting the condemnation
attack this week following rattle him. He said Mayfield
a dreadful performance won't back down.
in Pittsburgh, a two-inter- "He is going to come out
ception outing that has fired up," Beckham said. "I
brought out his critics and think he has always been
fueled their argument that inspired the negativity, the
he's not the one to lead the doubt, the haters. And, you
Browns back to the playoffs know, we will see on Sun-
or NFL relevance. day how he responds. It's
On Wednesday, Mayfield not about what happened
shot back. "I don't give to you, it is about how you
a damn what they say," respond. So, I am sure he is
Mayfield said on a Zoom ready to go and he is fired
call. "It is within this build- up. The worst part about
ing. We know we can do is you have to wait till Sun-
better. I know I can do bet- Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) is sacked by Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end day."
ter. The outside noise does Stephon Tuitt (91) and outside linebacker Bud Dupree (48) during the first half of an NFL football And, as for reports that
game, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, in Pittsburgh.
not matter. They get paid Associated Press he should ask for a trade,
to talk. We get paid to do Beckham said he believes
our work." In the aftermath physical damage to his "I think it is all very correct- "I'd say the feeling through- in Mayfield.
of Sunday's 38-7 loss to the QB already dealing with able things that will be cor- out the building after that "I'm here," he said. "I've got
Steelers, who returned an bruised ribs. rected," he said. "I do not loss, 4-2 has never felt so Baker's back. It's a one-day-
interception for a touch- The next day, several feel the same way." much like 0-6 before," May- at-a-time approach. It's all
down on Cleveland's first prominent analysts piled The stinging loss in Pitts- field said. "But that's be- just background noise. Re-
possession and pummeled on, picking apart Mayfield's burgh ended the Browns' cause we have very high ally don't have much to say
Mayfield for three quarters, game with one going as four-game winning streak. expectations for ourselves. about it."
the QB's play was harshly far as saying wide receivers It also mirrored a 38-6 loss So we're eager to get back Mayfield doesn't need to
panned and the Browns Odell Beckham Jr. and Jar- to Baltimore in Week 1, to work, get out there and analyze the league's statis-
(4-2) were labeled as over- vis Landry should demand and coupled together the fix the problems that we tical charts to know he's not
rated on several national trades. blowouts inside the AFC know are within our own playing up to the expecta-
TV shows. It's nothing new for May- North have dulled some control." tions that come with being
Mayfield went 10 of 18 for field, who has never shied of the shine to Cleveland's Mayfield is expected to a No. 1 overall draft pick.
119 yards with two picks from the spotlight but ac- best start in years. practice more this week af- He's ranked 29th in comple-
— he has four in the past knowledged wrestling with While it was just one game, ter being limited by bruised tion rate (61%) and 26th in
four quarters — and a 54.9 self-doubt while struggling it was a huge one given the ribs suffered on Oct. 11 yards (1,095) and passer
passer rating before be- last season. He feels better hype. against Indianapolis. rating (84.3).He's not help-
ing pulled by coach Kevin equipped now to handle Mayfield said it's vital for the "He'll throw," Stefanski said. ing the Browns win games
Stefanski, who didn't want criticism and fix what he's Browns to bounce back this "He'll be limited but not as much as they're not let-
the Steelers to do any more doing wrong. week at Cincinnati. to the extent he was last ting him lose them.q

Capitals hire Laviolette’s longtime assistant Kevin McCarthy

By STEPHEN WHYNO "Kevin has had a tremen- rable behind the bench
ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — dous impact on my coach- since. "It was then I real-
Kevin McCarthy joined Pe- ing career, and I'm ex- ized how special he was
ter Laviolette's Washington tremely excited to have as a coach and a person,"
Capitals coaching staff him join our coaching staff Laviolette said upon be-
Wednesday, an expected in Washington," Laviolette ing hired by Washington in
move continuing the pair's said in a statement. "Kevin September. "The way he
partnership that has lasted is a high character individ- could teach and he had a
for more than 15 years. ual who has an incredible real way about his person-
McCarthy will be in charge amount of NHL experience ality where he could really
of the defensemen under and works relentlessly to be effective with the play-
Laviolette, who is keeping make players better." ers. I think his track record
the other three assistants in Laviolette didn't know Mc- speaks for itself."
place after replacing fired Carthy in December 2003 McCarthy worked under
coach Todd Reirden. The when then-Carolina gen- Paul Maurce when Caroli-
In this May 7, 2017, file photo, then-Nashville Predators coach 63-year-old was with Lavio- eral manager Jim Ruther- na got to the 2002 Cup Final
Peter Laviolette, center left, and associated coach Kevin Mc- lette in his last three stops in ford asked him to keep the and was an assistant each
Carthy, center right, talk during Game 6 of a second-round NHL Nashville, Philadelphia and veteran assistant coach on time Laviolette coached a
hockey playoff series against the St. Louis Blues in Nashville, Carolina, and they won the staff. In their first full sea- team there: the Hurricanes
Tenn. Stanley Cup together with son together, they won it in 2006, Flyers in 2010 and
Associated Press
the Hurricanes in 2006. all and have been insepa- Predators in 2017.q