Jimmy Haslam: Ownership never said Browns needed 'an adult' over Baker Mayfield

Perhaps the most personal shot allegedly taken involving the inevitable divorce between the Cleveland Browns and quarterback Baker Mayfield came from the report that surfaced last week claiming the franchise wanted "an adult" at the sport's most important position instead of the 2018 first overall draft pick. 

The Browns found their "adult" by completing a controversial trade with the Houston Texans for star signal-caller Deshaun Watson. Cleveland general manager Andrew Berry defended the move via what was, at times, a tense and uncomfortable Friday press conference, and Browns owner Jimmy Haslam insisted during a later Zoom media conference he never made the previously mentioned statement about who is now his former starter. 

"Contrary to what is out there in the press, we think highly of Baker and did not get down on him," Haslam explained, according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. "I know there was a statement that we needed an adult in the room, and Baker thought that came from ownership. That’s not true. Baker gave it everything he had while he was here. Nobody can question his effort this past year, and nobody can question the four years he gave to the city of Cleveland, and we wish him nothing but the best of luck." 

It's been reported the Browns want to trade Mayfield to any would-be buyer "as soon as possible" and "aren’t seeking a first-round pick" in return for the 26-year-old. As of Friday afternoon, it appears no team is in any hurry to accept Mayfield and his $18.858 million in fully guaranteed money for next season in exchange for any worthwhile assets.