Cleveland Browns Slammed by Julian Edelman Over Baker Mayfield Blunder: ‘They Browned It’

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Mar 25, 2025, 23:49 IST

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Julian Edelman criticized the Cleveland Browns for their decision to part ways with Baker Mayfield. Mayfield helped end their playoff drought, but was traded after an injury-plagued season. The Browns then acquired Deshaun Watson, which has turned out to be a disaster. Meanwhile, Mayfield found success with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Cleveland Browns Slammed by Julian Edelman Over Baker Mayfield Blunder: ‘They Browned It’

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images

The Cleveland Browns have made a lot of questionable decisions over the years, but Patriots legend Julian Edelman just gave them a new way to describe their worst ones—“Browning it.” And for Browns fans, that’s a little too real.
On his Dudes On Dudes podcast, Edelman used the phrase to describe Cleveland’s decision to move on from Baker Mayfield, a quarterback they drafted No. 1 overall in 2018. Mayfield helped end the Browns' playoff drought in 2020, but after an injury-plagued 2021 season, they sent him packing. What followed has been a nightmare—one that still has no clear resolution heading into the 2025 season.

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The Cleveland Browns didn't just part ways with Baker Mayfield—they made an unprecedented gamble. Instead of sticking with him, they poured record-breaking resources into acquiring Deshaun Watson, who came with massive off-field baggage and has since been a disaster both on and off the field.

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Watson served a long suspension for well-documented misconduct, then returned to play poorly before tearing his Achilles. Now, he’s set to miss the entire 2025 season. Meanwhile, Mayfield, after a brief stint as an NFL wanderer, has found stability with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Over two seasons, he’s put together a respectable 19-15 record and thrown 69 touchdowns—a stat line that surely stings for Browns fans.
Edelman didn’t hold back on how badly Cleveland fumbled this one.
"It's hard to be the future in Cleveland, okay? So, you know, I think their future is in Tampa right now," Edelman wrote. "They got rid of him, and that's Baker Mayfield — the future that they had, they got rid of. So they Browned it somehow, and I feel terrible for the Cleveland Browns."

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The Browns still don’t have their 2025 starter locked in, meaning they’re about to roll out their 41st different starting quarterback since 1999. That level of instability is almost unheard of in the NFL.
Edelman’s comment was harsh, but let’s be honest—it’s also accurate. The Browns had a capable quarterback, let him go, and got burned for it. If that’s not “Browning it,” what is?

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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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