Are the Steelers Faking Interest in Baker Mayfield?

Story by Yinzer Crazy Contributor Adam Lovelace. Follow him on Twitter @98_lovelace

The Pittsburgh Steelers have enjoyed a regular and continued domination of the Cleveland Browns for the past several decades. While many would assume that domination would come to an unfortunate end with the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger, it appears the Steelers aren’t going away just yet.

With the signing of Deshaun Watson, some Browns fans are over the moon with excitement, and some are wary of the risk of depending on someone with twenty-two active civil cases. From a purely football perspective however, the Browns have surpassed the Steelers at QB, and arguably several other positions across their roster.

But the Steelers aren’t going down without a fight. Beyond the roster moves the Steelers have made this offseason, Kevin Colbert and the front office are making shrewd moves elsewhere.

The Cleveland Browns have brought in three QBs this offseason with Watson, Jacoby Brissett, and Josh Dobbs. All these QB’s would presumably supplant Baker Mayfield and guarantee his departure from Cleveland. Yet, Baker remains a technical member of the Cleveland Browns.

Over the past several weeks there have been multiple reports from credible sources (such as ESPN’s Jeff Darlington) that the Pittsburgh Steelers would sign Baker, “the day after” he was released from the Browns. This report sent many fans spiraling, and some talking heads spouting about his superiority to Mitchell Trubisky.

An argument can be made that Baker is more talented than Mitch, but not by any kind of substantial margin. His talent certainly does not supersede Mitch’s to put up with the baggage Baker brings with him. Mitch is far humbler, a better leader, and all around less of a distraction.

Baker and Mitch are similar enough that having both on your roster doesn't make a lot of sense. So that begs the question, why is this being reported?

There is an adage in sports journalism, that stories only get out, when someone wants them out. Journalists can only report something when they are given information and expressed blessing from a source. The Pittsburgh Steelers are notorious for operating in silence. Mike Tomlin, the best press conference head coach of all time, never gives an inch to the media. Kevin Colbert is equally tight lipped.

So how could such a historically quiet and well-run franchise, suddenly let a story like this get out? If they had any intentions of singing Baker, they would stay quiet about it, or be adamant that they had no interest. You give up any kind of leverage in admitting you would like to have him on your team. It gives Cleveland the opportunity to try and create some kind of alternative move. Why play yourself into having to give up something for Baker?

I am of the mindset that Baker Mayfield is a bust as a number one overall draft pick. Had he been drafted in the 2nd round or later, I would have a much different opinion of him. Yet, being number one overall coupled with his lack of leadership, his lack of humility, his inability to deal with the media, and his constant calling out of the coaching staff, makes him a bust in my eyes. 

So the Steelers want this information out for a specific reason, and it isn’t because they truly want Baker Mayfield. It's out of pure, unbridled spite. Maybe not an emotion that strong, but they are putting the Browns between a rock and a hard place. By claiming they would sign Baker at a moment's notice, it prevents Cleveland from just cutting their losses and releasing him.

They can’t risk him walking to a divisional rival and risk having him at some point beat them with their new and improved roster. That would look “historically Browns” of them. The Steelers letting this story leak forces Cleveland to keep Baker on their roster longer than they would like, which is going to create nothing but turmoil.

They have enough to worry about with Watson and his civil cases and a potential suspension. There is no telling for how long Watson could be out, or when the decision is going to be made. Having that hang over the season is going to be much easier to deal with if Baker is gone. With Baker in the building, it would make the situation unwieldy.

To no one’s surprise Baker was absent from the Brown’s voluntary workouts. But, when OTA’s and minicamp start, having Baker on the roster would be a disaster. The Steelers are certainly not going to trade for him, but they also know no one else will either. Every team in the NFL knows that the Browns have no leverage when it comes to trading Baker.



He wants to be gone and it is pretty clear they want him gone. In trade talks they aren’t going to be able to get anything from any team. The Steelers are doing something rather genius in essentially playing a big game of chicken with the Browns. They are bluffing the Browns, and the Browns more than likely aren’t going to call it.