Two of the most polarizing rookies from April's draft both play for the Cleveland Browns. Quarterback Baker Mayfield and wide receiver Antonio Callaway both reportedly possessed character issues coming out of college, and there were questions about how it would translate to the NFL.
So far, there have been only rave reviews about Baker Mayfield, but Callaway already has one slip up when he was pulled over with marijuana in his vehicle. That hasn't changed Mayfield's thoughts about him, saying Callaway has earned his respect.
“From me, he earned it,” Mayfield said via ESPN. “I can't speak on everybody's behalf, but I hope it was the same way.”
Mayfield knows how hard it is for someone to earn respect after making a mistake like the one he did ahead of their first preseason game against the New York Giants last week.
“When you have something like that, personally me, going through something like that I did at Oklahoma, you have to fight for it every day,” Mayfield said. “You have to earn their respect back, and there is no question about it. That's his mentality I have seen, so I am happy to see that.”
Mayfield has early taken a big leadership role and has been in the ear of Callaway early this preseason. During the first game, Callaway struggling early, but Mayfield told him to keep fighting and eventually he would find some success.
Callaway did fight through it and finished the game with three catches for 87 yards, including a 54-yard touchdown from his rookie counterpart.