Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley announced Monday he had pulled Baker Mayfield as the team’s starting quarterback for the upcoming game against West Virginia.
Mayfield grabbed his crotch against Kansas, and it looked like he shouted “F**k you” to the Jayhawks players.
Baker Mayfield is an absolute savage pic.twitter.com/btbKsfUcwj
— NOT_SCTop10 (@NOTSCTop10PIays) November 18, 2017
That was apparently enough for Riley to make the call that Mayfield needed a timeout.
“This decision was difficult,” the young coach told the media Monday about his decision to bench the superstar quarterback.
Lincoln Riley gets emotional while discussing Baker Mayfield’s punishment.
The QB will not be a captain, and will not start this Saturday. pic.twitter.com/Dz5XNUF04T
— Sporting News (@sportingnews) November 20, 2017
I think Mayfield’s an idiot for what he did, but this is a dangerous game to be played for Riley. The electric quarterback is still expected to play at some point against West Virginia, but what will happen if the Mountaineers jump out to a quick start because of the benching decision?
That’s going to be pretty hard to explain away if the Sooners lose and miss the playoffs. Riley is stuck between a rock and a hard place. He had to send a message, but it will have grave consequences if it backfires.