Baker Mayfield on playing Browns: Ultimately, you remember the good more than the bad

Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield has had Sunday’s game circled since the schedule release in the spring, as Tampa Bay will host Cleveland — the team that drafted him No. 1 overall in 2018.

The end of Mayfield’s time with the Browns was ugly, with the team eventually replacing him with Deshaun Watson after an injury-plagued 2021. But in 2020, Mayfield helped the club end a long postseason victory drought with a blowout win over the division-rival Steelers in the wild card round.

Asked how he remembers his time with Cleveland, Mayfield emphasized the positive.

“Yeah, I mean, with any experience, there’s ups and downs, good and bad. Ultimately, you remember the good more so than the bad,” Mayfield said. “Yeah, first time having a playoff win since ’94 there. And going on the road and doing it in Pittsburgh.

“So, a lot of good memories there. A lot of teammates that are friends for life. But like I said earlier, it’s a very different building now.”

Different coaching staff or not, Mayfield is known for playing with his emotions on his proverbial sleeve and a chip on his shoulder. To combat some of the potential ill effects of that, Mayfield said he’s focusing on making sure he gets the little things right this week, particularly after fumbling three times in the Week 1 loss to Cincinnati.

“Taking it one day at a time, making sure that you harp on little details,” Mayfield said. “That goes back to, obviously, not coming out on the right side of the game last week, of really focusing on the small details. And so, when you do that, good things will happen on Sundays.

“So, for me, focusing on that and then when the lights come on, you get out there and play, it’s time to go — let it loose.”