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A16 sports
Thursday 7 July 2022
Browns finally trade Mayfield, send quarterback to Panthers

By TOM WITHERS son's opener — with May- take on his salary.Browns
AP Sports Writer field's addition spicing up owners Dee and Jimmy
CLEVELAND (AP) — From the matchup. Haslam thanked Mayfield
being drafted first to Mayfield's time with the for his contributions.
dumped in four years, Bak- Browns effectively ended "From the moment he was
er Mayfield's wild four-year in March when the team drafted, he gave his all for
ride in Cleveland is over. traded three first-round this organization and this
The No. 1 overall pick in selections and six overall city," they said.
2018, Mayfield was traded to the Houston Texans for "With his fierce competitive
Wednesday by the Browns, Watson, who is facing a spirit, he excited the fan-
who moved on from the di- possible suspension for vio- base and accomplished
visive quarterback months lating the league's person- things that no player at
ago and finally sent him to al conduct policy. his position had done in
the Carolina Panthers for a Watson has been accused Cleveland for a very long
future draft pick. of sexual misconduct by time.
Mayfield, who was pushed Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) warms up two dozen massage thera- He also made a difference
out of his starting job amid before an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, on pists in Texas. in the community, whether
the Browns' pursuit of De- Jan. 3, 2022, in Pittsburgh. Mayfield, who played it was hosting events at the
shaun Watson, is going to Associated Press most of last season with Boys and Girls Club, hon-
Carolina for a conditional tions told The Associated the trade can't be final- a left shoulder injury, felt oring our troops, support-
draft pick in 2024 or 2025. Press. The Panthers will pay ized until Mayfield passes a betrayed by Cleveland's ing the Special Olympics
The Browns are paying $4.8 million and Mayfield physical. move for Watson, de- as well as countless other
$10.5 million of Mayfield's will take a $3.5 million pay However, the trade was manded a trade and then charitable endeavors."
$18.8 million contract for cut, said the people, who announced by the Pan- had to wait until the Browns The 27-year-old will com-
next season, two people spoke to the AP on condi- thers, who will host the found a team both inter- pete for Carolina's starting
familiar with the negotia- tion of anonymity because Browns in the coming sea- ested in him and willing to QB job with Sam Darnold,
who was taken two picks
after Mayfield in 2018.
The Panthers, who have
not made the playoffs
since 2017, have been
searching for stability at
the quarterback position
ever since head coach
Matt Rhule was hired in
2020. They also took a run
at Watson before he chose
Cleveland.
The stint was full of highs
and lows, coaching
changes, too much drama
and not nearly enough
wins.
Former Browns general
manager John Dorsey
was enamored with May-
field's talent and swayed
by his swagger, choosing
the Heisman Trophy winner
from Oklahoma first de-
spite other options, includ-
ing Josh Allen and Lamar
Jackson.
Mayfield began his rookie
season as Tyrod Taylor's
backup before coming off
the bench in Week 3 and
rallying the Browns to their
first win in 635 days, a 21-17
victory over the New York
Jets on national TV.
Mayfield wound up pass-
ing for 3,725 yards and
throwing 27 touchdown
passes as a rookie, break-
ing the NFL record for a
first-year quarterback. For
the first time in years, there
was genuine hope for a
floundering franchise that
has had 32 starting QBs
since 1999.q