Browns' Mayfield snubs former coach Jackson


Reuters | Updated: 26-11-2018 07:35 IST | Created: 26-11-2018 07:35 IST

Cleveland quarterback Baker Mayfield was clear on Sunday about his feelings toward former head coach Hue Jackson, who joined the rival Cincinnati Bengals two weeks after being fired by the Browns.

Following a 35-20 Browns win, Jackson sought out Mayfield at midfield for a greeting, but the quarterback offered only a curt handshake before moving on. Mayfield told reporters afterward he "didn't feel like talking" to Jackson.

"Just somebody who was in our locker room asking us to play for him, and then he goes to a different team we play twice a year," Mayfield continued. "Everybody can have their spin on it, but that's how I feel. ...

"We have people we believe in calling the plays now."

With interim offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens -- who took over for Todd Haley after Haley and Jackson were fired Oct. 29 -- in his third game calling plays, Mayfield completed 19 of 26 passes for 258 yards and four scores. The Browns scored touchdowns on their first four possessions to lead 28-0.

The fourth of those tallies came after an interception by Damarious Randall, who went out of bounds on the Bengals' sideline, then handed Jackson the football. Jackson took it and gave Randall a pat on the head as the safety returned to celebrate with his teammates.

"That's something I'd always said I would do," Randall told reporters afterward.

"It was a bit savage, but it was funny," Cleveland defensive end Myles Garrett said of Randall's gesture. "You got to play with that kind of attitude when you're on the field."

Mayfield and other Cleveland players were adamant this week that Jackson and his inside information on the Browns would not provide the Bengals with a significant edge on Sunday.

"He ain't got no secrets," Randall said afterward of Jackson. "We're talented. That's the secret. We're talented."

Mayfield also made it clear that Jackson's presence in Cincinnati will add extra fuel to his motivational fire in future games.

"That's how it is now," Mayfield said. "That's how I'm going to treat it every time I play him. It's nothing ... you know ... there's no hate. That's just how it is. That's how I'm going to treat it, and I think that's how our team's treated it, too."

--Field Level Media

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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