CHARLOTTE – The Panthers are ready to embrace all the “fiery” spirit and competitive nature that comes with quarterback Baker Mayfield, general manager Scott Fitterer said Tuesday.
And Mayfield is ready to bring all of his energy to Carolina.
The Panthers’ newest quarterback said both Fitterer and head coach Matt Rhule made it clear they wanted him to be authentic as he adjusts to his new spot.
That includes Mayfield’s emotion and passion – and the obvious personality that emerged during his time in college with Texas Tech and Oklahoma and his four seasons with Cleveland.
“They want me to be myself, a good leader, (and) a great teammate,” Mayfield said Tuesday in his first press conference since the trade was made official. “I’ve always been vocal, able to bring guys and elevate them.”
Fitterer said he did his homework on Mayfield and spoke with “as many people” as he could, tracking down those within the Browns organization when he was drafted with the No. 1 overall pick in 2018. And they’re confident his fire is a positive addition to the locker room, and the competition with Sam Darnold for the starting job.
While there were reports this spring that the Browns were looking for an “adult” at the position, Fitterer said he got unsolicited testimonials from former coaches, who called to give positive reviews of the 27-year-old signal-caller looking for a “fresh start” in Charlotte.
“A lot of people really went to bat for Baker,” Fitterer said in Tuesday’s press conference. “I think there are a lot of circumstances with why things happen … But we’re very comfortable with Baker. We’re excited to add him to the room and look forward to working with him.”
Mayfield will come to Carolina off a year marred by various injuries, Fitterer pointed out, including a non-throwing shoulder injury that required surgery in January. He also dealt with foot and rib injuries last year, but Mayfield said he’s cleared and ready to get to training camp, along with some pre-camp throwing with his new teammates.
In his best year (2020), Mayfield led the Browns to their first playoff victory since 1994, though the lack of production last season caused Cleveland to trade for his replacement. Mayfield admitted he was “shocked” by the circumstance of the deal for Deshaun Watson, but hopes that coming here among gives him a chance to prove himself all over again.
And as a former walk-on in college who won a Heisman at Oklahoma, that attitude is likely never going away.
Mayfield said he looks forward to a new setting, but his personal philosophy isn’t changing. He said he’s looking forward to building on his current bonds and creating new ones within the locker room, hoping to show his new teammates what he’s all about.
“Those misinterpretations, or however you want to call it, quite frankly, I don’t care,” Mayfield said when asked about people misunderstanding his character. “I care about the opinions within our building because we’re fighting for the same goal.”
Panthers Hall of Honor quarterback Jake Delhomme referred to Mayfield’s “moxie” shortly after the quarterback was acquired last week, and Mayfield said he believes that attitude is part of what made him successful.
So why change what makes Mayfield, . . . Mayfield?
“There’s balance, but that competitive nature – that’ll never go away,” he said. “If I do that, then I shouldn’t be playing anymore. That’s what’s helped get me here, and I’ll have to continue to do that.”
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El quarterback Baker Mayfield lanza un pase por los Browns de Cleveland ante los Ravens de Baltimore el partido del domingo 28 de noviembre de 2021, en Baltimore. (AP Foto/Nick Wass)
Nick Wass/Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield looks to throw during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
David Richard/Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) rolls out of the pocket during an NFL football game, Monday, January 3, 2022 in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Durisko)
Matt Durisko/Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) looks to throw the ball during an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Kirk Irwin)
Kirk Irwin/Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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Baker Mayfield, de los Browns de Cleveland, lanza un pase en el encuentro del sábado 25 de diciembre de 2021, ante los Packers de Green Bay (AP Foto/Aaron Gash)
Aaron Gash/Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) warms up before an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Monday, Jan. 3, 2022, in Pittsburgh. Browns general manager Andrew Berry said Tuesday, Jan. 11 the team expects Mayfield to return as its starter next season and rebound after an injury-filled 2021 that raised questions about his future with Cleveland.(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Gene J. Puskar/Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) rolls out of the pocket during an NFL football game, Monday, January 3, 2022 in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Durisko)
Matt Durisko/Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Ron Schwane/Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) runs with the ball during an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021, in Cleveland. The Browns won 24-22. (AP Photo/David Richard)
David Richard/Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) passes against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first half an NFL football game, Monday, Jan. 3, 2022, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Don Wright)
Don Wright/Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved
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Cleveland Browns’ Baker Mayfield throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Saturday, Dec. 25, 2021, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)
Matt Ludtke/Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield works out prior to an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)
Gail Burton/Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield plays against the Detroit Lions during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Ron Schwane/Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) fakes a handoff to running back Nick Chubb (24) during an NFL football game, Sunday, December 12, 2021 in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Matt Durisko)
Matt Durisko/Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Ron Schwane/Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) in action during the second half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Nick Wass/Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) looks to throw the ball during an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Kirk Irwin)
Kirk Irwin/Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Michael Dwyer/Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Michael Dwyer/Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) in action during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Aaron Doster/Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) runs with the ball during an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Kirk Irwin)
Kirk Irwin/Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) prepares to make a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper)
Greg M. Cooper/Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) throws a pass during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday Oct. 10, 2021 in Inglewood, Calif. The Chargers defeated the Browns 47-42. (John McGillen via AP)
JOHN MCGILLEN/2021 National Football League
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) scrambles during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, in Cleveland. The Cardinals won 37-14. (AP Photo/David Richard)
David Richard/Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) runs with the ball during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Kyusung Gong/Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday Oct. 10, 2021 in Inglewood, Calif. The Chargers defeated the Browns 47-42. (John McGillen via AP)
JOHN MCGILLEN/2021 National Football League
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Ron Schwane/Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) plays against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Ron Schwane/Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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