Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens created headlines leading up to his team’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers when he decided to wear a T-shirt that read “Pittsburgh Started It,” and naturally the shirt was a topic of discussion following Cleveland’s 20-13 loss. Baker Mayfield’s wife does not believe it should have been.
Mayfield was asked about Kitchens wearing the shirt and whether or not it may have motivated the Steelers. The Browns quarterback defended his head coach with a lighthearted response. His wife Emily, however, was not amused. She criticized the media for asking about the shirt.
I asked exactly one t-shirt question after the game. I asked Baker what he thought of it, and he defended Kitchens, which I thought was pretty cool. He gave a great answer, saying “I’ve done much worse.” Funny, and struck the right note https://t.co/IAsMd20XkH
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) December 2, 2019
Even if Kitchens’ shirt wasn’t a factor in motivating the Steelers, an NFL head coach should know what he is getting himself into if he does something like that. The fight between the two division rivals was huge news that resulted in multiple players being suspended, so Kitchens’ decision to wear the shirt helped breathe more life into a story that doesn’t really need it.
As you might expect, Kitchens said he did not think his shirt had anything to do with Sunday’s loss. He also explained some of his rationale behind wearing it, which may or may not make you think it was more acceptable.
