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sports Diahuebs 7 Juli 2022

Browns finally trade Mayfield, send quarterback to Panthers

(AP) — From being draft- March when the team traded pete for Carolina’s starting
ed first to dumped in four three first-round selections QB job with Sam Darnold,
years, Baker Mayfield’s and six overall to the Hous- who was taken two picks af-
wild four-year ride in ton Texans for Watson, who ter Mayfield in 2018.
Cleveland is over. is facing a possible suspen-
sion for violating the league’s The Panthers, who have not
The No. 1 overall pick in personal conduct policy. made the playoffs since 2017,
2018, Mayfield was traded have been searching for sta-
Wednesday by the Browns, Watson has been accused of bility at the quarterback po-
who moved on from the di- sexual misconduct by two sition ever since head coach
visive quarterback months dozen massage therapists in Matt Rhule was hired in
ago and finally sent him to Texas. 2020. They also took a run
the Carolina Panthers for a at Watson before he chose
future draft pick. Mayfield, who played most Cleveland.
of last season with a left
Mayfield, who was pushed shoulder injury, felt betrayed Mayfield’s four years with
out of his starting job amid by Cleveland’s move for Wat- the Browns included few- Mayfield wound up passing
the Browns’ pursuit of De- son, demanded a trade and er memorable moments for 3,725 yards and throw- The 2020 season signaled a
shaun Watson, is going to then had to wait until the than distracting ones as he ing 27 touchdown passes as turnaround as Mayfield led
Carolina for a conditional Browns found a team both couldn’t end the team’s long a rookie, breaking the NFL the Browns back to relevance
draft pick in 2024 or 2025. interested in him and willing search for a franchise QB. record for a first-year quar- with their first postseason
to take on his salary. terback. For the first time appearance since 2003. He
The Browns are paying $10.5 The stint was full of highs in years, there was genuine thrived in first-year coach
million of Mayfield’s $18.8 Browns owners Dee and Jim- and lows, coaching changes, hope for a floundering fran- Kevin Stefanski’s offense,
million contract for next sea- my Haslam thanked May- too much drama and not chise that has had 32 starting throwing 20 TD passes and
son, two people familiar with field for his contributions. nearly enough wins. QBs since 1999. just three interceptions in his
the negotiations told The As- last 12 games.
sociated Press. The Panthers “From the moment he was Former Browns general man- However, Mayfield’s second
will pay $4.8 million and drafted, he gave his all for this ager John Dorsey was enam- season was a major setback. Mayfield directed a play-
Mayfield will take a $3.5 mil- organization and this city,” ored with Mayfield’s talent He threw nearly as many off win — the Browns’ first
lion pay cut, said the people, they said. “With his fierce and swayed by his swagger, interceptions (21) as touch- since 1994 — over the rival
who spoke to the AP on con- competitive spirit, he excited choosing the Heisman Tro- downs (22) and seemed to Pittsburgh Steelers on Jan.
dition of anonymity because the fanbase and accomplished phy winner from Oklahoma be on a different page of the 10, 2021, and came within
the trade can’t be finalized things that no player at his first despite other options, playbook than star receiver minutes of getting Cleveland
until Mayfield passes a physi- position had done in Cleve- including Josh Allen and La- Odell Beckham Jr. Cleveland to the AFC Championship
cal. land for a very long time. mar Jackson. went 6-10 and fired coach a week later before losing at
He also made a difference Freddie Kitchens. Kansas City.
However, the trade was an- in the community, whether Mayfield began his rookie
nounced by the Panthers, it was hosting events at the season as Tyrod Taylor’s Mayfield also regularly The resurgence triggered
who will host the Browns in Boys and Girls Club, hon- backup before coming off the squared off with commenta- Super Bowl predictions for
the coming season’s opener oring our troops, supporting bench in Week 3 and rallying tors criticizing his play and the Browns in the 2021-22
— with Mayfield’s addition the Special Olympics as well the Browns to their first win sparred with local report- season and speculation they
spicing up the matchup. as countless other charitable in 635 days, a 21-17 victory ers. His immaturity showed would sign Mayfield to a
endeavors.” over the New York Jets on particularly on social media, long-term contract.
Mayfield’s time with the national TV. where he often posted re-
Browns effectively ended in The 27-year-old will com- bukes to detractors.

Hampered Nadal gets past Fritz at Wimbledon; Kyrgios next

(AP) — Wincing from abdominal out there, adjusted his service motion 3-1 in the first set against Fritz. “I’m around the baseline, waiting.
pain, unable to ply his customary and his strategy — and figured out a obviously worried.”
relentless style of tennis, Rafael way to win. A doctor gave Nadal some pills; the
Nadal though he might need to The other men’s semifinal is No- trainer tried to relax the muscle.
stop playing in the Wimbledon With much of the crowd roaring and vak Djokovic against Cam Norrie.
quarterfinals against Taylor Fritz. standing after Nadal’s best strokes, he The women’s semifinals Thursday “They can’t do much,” Nadal said.
twice erased one-set deficits against are 2019 champion Simona Halep “Nothing can be fixed when you
Up in the Centre Court stands, Nad- the 11th-seeded Fritz and emerged against Elena Rybakina, and Ons Ja- have a thing like this.”
al’s father was waving his arms, mo- with 3-6, 7-5, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (10-4) beur against Tatjana Maria. Halep
tioning to the 22-time Grand Slam victory Wednesday to reach his eighth eliminated Amanda Anisimova 6-2, When action resumed, Nadal clearly
champion to quit. Not surprisingly, semifinal at the All England Club. 6-4, and Rybakina defeated Ajla Tom- was compromised. It was hard not to
perhaps, he didn’t listen. Nadal stayed “For a lot of moments,” Nadal said, ljanovic 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. think: Might he give up?
“I was thinking, ‘Maybe I will not be
able to finish the match.’” Nadal got to his 38th career major Nadal acknowledged that went
semifinal by denying what would through his mind. Fritz did, too.
He did complete it, but said he have been a first such appearance for
couldn’t be sure whether he will be Fritz, who beat Nadal in the hard- “It definitely made me kind of think.
able to play Friday against Nick Kyr- court final at Indian Wells, California, I kind of stopped being as aggressive,”
gios, a 27-year-old Australian who in March. That ended a 20-match the 24-year-old American said. “I feel
earned his Grand Slam semifinal de- winning streak for Nadal, who was like I let it kind of get to me a little
but with a 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (5) victory bothered that day by a painful rib in- bit.”
over Cristian Garin of Chile. jury.
He pretty much handed over the
“I don’t know exactly what I have. This time, the problem was a muscle second set of what would become a
It’s clear something’s not right,” said in his stomach area, which had some 4-hour, 21-minute contest under a
Nadal, who will get tests Thursday athletic tape. Nadal left the court with sky of slate clouds. After Fritz took
for an issue that first cropped up near- a trainer for a medical timeout while the third set, his big serve got broken
ly a week ago but got much worse at up 4-3 in the second set; Fritz paced three times in the next.