Baker Mayfield on Hue Jackson criticism: ‘I speak my mind’

Baker Mayfield isn’t here to mince words.

Amid backlash following his public criticism of former coach Hue Jackson on Sunday, the Browns quarterback said his comments were not a personal attack directed at the Bengals’ special assistant, but rather his own feelings.

“People took it as me personally attacking Hue,” Mayfield said, according to Cleveland.com. “That’s not it. It’s the fact that I get to have my own opinion on how it transpired and he gets to do what he wants. That’s how it is.”

After Cleveland’s 35-20 win over its AFC North rival, this year’s first-overall pick addressed Jackson’s new employer following an awkward exchange on the field.

“Left Cleveland, goes down to Cincinnati. I don’t know. That’s just somebody that’s in our locker room asking for us to play for him and then goes to a different team we play twice a year. Everybody can have their spin on it, but that’s how I feel,” Mayfield said.

Mayfield’s reaction drew ire from ESPN’s Damien Woody, who told the Oklahoma product to “grow up” during Monday’s “First Take.” The rant later spilled out onto social media, with Woody’s colleague, Will Cain, weighing in.

“Although I’m an athlete, I’m not a cookie-cutter quarterback,” Mayfield said. “Never have been, never will be. I speak my mind, that’s how I am. I didn’t like the move and people don’t have to care. I’m not looking for anybody’s approval. I don’t regret any of it. It’s about this team and what we have and we have to stick together and play together.”