Baker Mayfield downplays Hue Jackson comments about offense

Cleveland Browns coach Hue Jackson may have created some unnecessary drama for himself with his comments after Sunday’s loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Jackson said offense was his “specialty” after the 26-23 loss and said he may become “more involved” in that side of the ball with the team having issues there.

Calling offensive football his “specialty,” #Browns HC Hue Jackson says he needs “to be a little more involved” in team’s offense: “I’m not going to continue to watch something that I know how to do keep being that way.”

(Note: Jackson was Browns playcaller in 2016, 2017) pic.twitter.com/TUhB8A0pgD

— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) October 21, 2018

That quote raised a bit of controversy, with chatter that Jackson was undermining offensive coordinator Todd Haley, and others remarking that Jackson has called plays before for Cleveland with little success. Naturally, the quote got back to Baker Mayfield, and the quarterback offered an impressively calm take on the situation.

#Browns QB Baker Mayfield on Hue's postgame comments: "I think a lot of things are said postgame, emotionally. I think the thing around here is, we don't need to re-invent the wheel. We need to perfect our craft. We have what we have, we don't need to change too much."

— Keith Britton (@KeithBritton86) October 24, 2018

Mayfield was as stunned as anyone after the overtime loss, but he’s probably right here. The Browns’ offense hasn’t been great, but there’s no evidence that Jackson’s intervention will suddenly turn things around. The statement probably did more to hurt the Browns than help them.