Mayfield on Johnson relationship: ‘We’re good’

BEREA, Ohio — Working again Duke Johnson reported to Cleveland coaching camp. Which implies, for now, he is again within the good graces of Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield.

After Cleveland added Kareem Hunt to a backfield that additionally consists of returning starter Nick Chubb, Johnson requested a commerce throughout minicamp final month, which drew a public rebuke from Mayfield.

“It is not awkward. It is self-inflicted,” Mayfield mentioned on the time. “I hope he does his job. We gotta have guys which can be goal-oriented, who’ve a single focus and mindset.”

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However Thursday, regardless of altering brokers this month in hopes of probably facilitating that commerce, Johnson was on the sector with Mayfield on the primary day of coaching camp.

“We addressed it. We’re good,” mentioned Mayfield, someday after coach Freddie Kitchens and normal supervisor John Dorsey each reiterated they haven’t any intention to commerce Johnson and that the operating again would have a “important” position within the offense. Johnson employed agent Drew Rosenhaus this summer season, and Dorsey confirmed that the 2 spoke this week to debate Johnson’s scenario. That dialog led to Johnson reporting for camp.

“We’re right here to do our job,” Mayfield mentioned. “He is right here. Like I mentioned, when all of it got here out, we would like folks that wish to be right here. He is right here proper now and that is vital. I feel that exhibits we’re right here to win.”

Johnson’s arrival to camp was amongst a number of storylines surrounding the Browns, who had probably the most high-profile offseason within the NFL. Vast receiver Odell Beckham Jr. took the follow subject to chants of “OBJ” from hundreds of followers who got here to look at his Cleveland coaching camp debut.

Mayfield’s improvement, mixed with Beckham’s arrival, has elevated the Browns to favorites to win the AFC North Division. But regardless of the stress that comes with greater expectations, Mayfield famous he feels “extra comfy” than this time final 12 months, when he was only a rookie. That was on show Thursday. When requested a very powerful lesson he realized from school to assist put together him for the professionals, Mayfield joked, “Do not run from the cops.”

“I can let you know I am positively extra excited and extra comfy now than I used to be final 12 months,” he mentioned. “Lot extra anxiousness [last year] and never figuring out what was coming. I nonetheless do not know the way the season goes to go, however I understand how I’ll work and the way I’ll deal with it it doesn’t matter what.”