Browns news: Baker Mayfield says he's not going to try to prove he's not Johnny Manziel

Brand-spanking new Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield claims he's not worried one bit about potential Johnny Manziel comparisons.

All leading up to the 2018 NFL Draft, former Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield heard a fair level of criticism tossed his way through the entire process. One of which was the constant comparisons to another previous Cleveland Browns' first-round selection in Johnny Manziel.

This has continued to remain a topic of discussion even after he was selected with the first overall pick in the draft on Thursday night. According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, Mayfield made it clear that he isn't trying to prove he that he's not Manziel but rather show the type of player he is on the field.

“For me, I'm here right now because I have been myself,” Mayfield said on a conference call. “Johnny and I are two completely different people. That is nothing against him, but what I have been able to do is be able to be up front and honest about who I am during these meetings. I'm confident that I have shown that with this coaching staff and with the management and throughout the process. For me, moving forward, it is just being myself. I am not going to go out and try to prove that I am not Johnny. I am going to be myself. To me, that is going to take care of the rest.”

The comparisons to Manziel have stemmed from two's often times erratic behavior on the field that has led to some questionable decision making. Also not helping this conversation from fading is that Mayfield has been selected to the same team that the former Texas A&M product played for in his brief NFL career.

Despite that, the 23-year-old will have the chance to the make his own mark in the league in Cleveland. It may just be a matter of time before he sees the field next season to where he can prove he is a different quarterback than what Manziel was during his stint.

The ultimate remedy to this entire talk will be if he can lead to success on the field while being the leading factor in that charge. It will fall on his shoulders to prove on and off the field to show the franchise and fan base that he can become the franchise quarterback that Manziel couldn't show he could be.