The Cleveland Browns and QB Baker Mayfield will not have to deal with any difficult situations when mandatory minicamp rolls around. The team, along with Mayfield’s agents, have discussed options for the upcoming time and agreed that he would be excused from the practices.
Excused absences allow the team to avoid the required fines, per the CBA, for a player missing mandatory time.
Mayfield could have decided to fight to be in Berea for the minicamp with the Browns being required to allow him to do so. With his recovery from shoulder surgery, it is unlikely Mayfield would have been able to participate anyway.
The team could have tried to persuade the former top overall pick to attend but would have created another storm of distractions and questions. With Deshaun Watson’s civil cases continuing to grow, it is possible (but highly unlikely) that Cleveland will need to turn to Mayfield for help this season.
For now, both sides agree to have Mayfield stay home and the team gets to focus on the players that are expected to be a part of the 2022 season.