Browns running back Nick Chubb appeared to throw shade at his former teammate and current Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield ahead of their Week 1 matchup on Sunday.
“We all know Baker, so I don’t know what to expect,” Chubb said Wednesday of his former quarterback on Wednesday, seemingly pointing to the quarterback’s penchant to be erratic.
Mayfield was asked what he wants to see happen before the the game.
“A big hug from Nicholas Chubb would be a really, really good gift. Just to hear him say a word would also be nice,” Mayfield said when asked about who he wants to receive a hug from between Chubb and Browns defensive lineman Myles Garrett.
Baker Mayfield and running back Nick Chubb run onto the field during player introductions prior to a Browns-Giants game at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 22, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. Getty ImagesIt’s unclear if the former teammates were engaging in some playful trash talk ahead of Mayfield’s reunion with Cleveland or if there some legitimate bad blood brewing. Mayfield has generally downplayed the rivalry ahead of the opening showdown. The Browns drafted him first overall in 2018, and then shipped him off to Carolina in July, after they traded for Deshaun Watson and signed him to a record $230 million fully-guaranteed deal.
Mayfield will not be facing off against Watson on Sunday. The former Texans quarterback is currently suspended for 11 games and fined $5 million due to the multiple allegations of sexual assault and misconduct made by two dozen female massage therapists.
The anticipation around the Panthers-Browns Week 1 matchup has been a constant headline leading up to the start of the season.
In May, Chubb praised his “best friend,” Mayfield as a “great guy” and complimented “his intensity and his attitude” amid trade rumors about the quarterback.
The Browns finally traded Mayfield to Carolina in early July in exchange for a 2024 conditional fifth-round draft pick. It came four months after the quarterback initially requested a trade out of Cleveland in March.
Baker Mayfield of the Panthers throws a pass in the second quarter against the Bills during a preseason game at Bank of America Stadium on August 26, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Getty ImagesMayfield’s unceremonious breakup with Cleveland fueled a recent report that he said he’s going to “f–k up” the Browns in their season opener.
The quarterback denied the report soon after it made waves in the media. Cynthia Frelund of NFL Network, who reported the news, later maintained that Mayfield directly told her he would “f–k up” the Browns in Week 1.
In his last season with the Browns, Mayfield threw for 3,010 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions while completing 60.5-percent of his passes in 14 games.
