Subscribe
Follow Us
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield's wife Emily recently took to Instagram to show death threats he has been receiving after a four-interception game in a loss to the Green Bay Packers on Christmas. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski first addressed the threats on Thursday, and then Mayfield himself did as well.
The Browns star called out the “keyboard warriors” making these threats but also kind of downplayed them, noting they didn't rise to a level where authorities had to be involved:
#Browns QB Baker Mayfield on wife Emily saying he had received death threat: Hard when comes down to someone you love … we're in world with lot of keyboard warriors who make lot of threats.
It's blown up to be much bigger deal on outside. It's not like it's anything new to us— Scott Petrak ct (@ScottPetrak) December 30, 2021
#Browns QB Baker Mayfield said death threats his wife posted about on IG didn't rise to the level of team security or authorities becoming involved. Mayfield also said it's hard to tell loved ones to not listen to social media. He added key board warriors make "empty threats."
— Nate Ulrich (@ByNateUlrich) December 30, 2021
*Watch the NFL LIVE with fuboTV (click for free trial)*
Even if they're empty threats, it's still ridiculous that this happens. There's nothing wrong with criticizing a player for poor play, but when you start getting personal and making threats like this, it becomes deranged. Saying that kind of stuff over a sporting event is wild, no matter if you have money riding on it or not. No athlete deserves death threats aimed at them for poor play.
But this seems to be part of the territory for many athletes. It certainly isn't the first time threats like this have been made public. The Browns quarterback and his wife will do their best to move past it.
As for Mayfield's on-field performance, he'll try to bounce back on Monday Night Football against the Pittsburgh Steelers. It's a big game for postseason purposes, but this is also shaping up to be Ben Roethlisberger's final home game of his career. Emotions will be running high at Heinz Field.
The Browns are 7-8 on the season and hanging on for dear life in the playoff race.
