Quarterback Baker Mayfield told reporters that he wants the fans to keep quiet when the Cleveland Browns are on offense.
Mayfield’s reasoning? Well, Mayfield lamented an offside call on 4th-and-goal from the 3-yard line during the second quarter of Cleveland’s 19-16 victory over Buffalo on Sunday. Offensive tackle Chris Hubbard was whistled for a false start, causing the Browns to elect to kick a field goal instead of go for a touchdown.
“We believed we had a good call,” the 24-year-old Mayfield said on Sunday, per Cleveland.com. “It was just our crowd noise seemed to be a little loud when we needed it to be quiet, which is strange at a home game.”
Mayfield didn’t change his tune two days later, as he dismissed the notion that he was addressing Bills fans who attended the game in Cleveland.
“No, it wasn’t that,” Mayfield said. “It was just the fact that when we’re on offense, we need it to be quiet. It might’ve ruffled some feathers, once again that’s OK, but when we’re on offense on a critical down, we need to be able to have silence in our home stadium. It’s got to be an advantage for us, and then when they get the ball, it’s got to be really loud. It’s just basic football.”
Mayfield won’t have long to wait to hear how the crowd responds as the Browns (3-6) host the Pittsburgh Steelers (5-4) on Thursday (8:20 p.m. ET).
