Baker Mayfield continued to hit back at the idea he’s a similar guy to Johnny Manziel.
Mayfield said the following at the Davey O’Brien Award banquet Monday night, according to The Dallas Morning News:
We’re two completely different people. I’ve always had a love for the game. I’ve always been a team-oriented guy. Not saying that Johnny wasn’t. But I’ve quickly earned the respect of my teammates because of how I worked…I wasn’t given the natural talent that Johnny had. Because he’s a talent. And there’s a reason he got taken in the first round, amazing player. We’re just not the same mentally. Just wired differently. And arm strength-wise. I’ve got more than capable enough of an arm, arm talent, strength-wise, and I think I can make all the throws.
It just seems like it’s becoming impossible for Mayfield to shake these comparisons, and part of it is his own fault. He’s been arrested and has had issues on the field with opponents. Those two exact negative hits also apply to Manziel. Mayfield could have avoided the comparisons if he didn’t participate in the dumb stuff that Johnny Football did.
However, there are some big differences. We have no evidence to suggest that Mayfield has a substance abuse problem. There has been absolutely nothing on the record to make anybody believe he drinks to much or dabbles in illicit substances. That’s a pretty big difference.
NFL general managers are willing to put up with a lot as long as the player can win games, which Mayfield and Manziel both are capable of. They don’t care about the antics or really even minor arrests. However, substance abuse issues are red flags that the NFL is going to be a lot less forgiving on. Don’t forget, players can be suspended for very long times over weed. The league doesn’t mess around with its substance abuse policy.
It’s more than fair to draw some comparisons between the two, but you have to be fair. I wouldn’t let Manziel knock Mayfield’s draft status. At least not unless he does something off the field to warrant getting knocked.