NFL Week 15 thread -- Starry nights at Lambeau

Apart from Mayfield, which QB would you not want that is on this list. And your once in a generation assertion was not universally shared, you can always find outliers.

 

Agree on that - more time on the FA clock, more cap certainty and he'll sell tickets. It did make me laugh when people were saying "Trevor would be an idiot to pass up New York - just think about the marketing potential/tv spots" obviously forgetting that the top current NFL pitchmen are playing in KC, Cleveland and Green Bay right now. And Peyton is still selling.

 

Why wouldn't you want Mayfield?

 

I don’t care for him, I think he’s just good enough to lose for you.

 

I guess. He's 9-4 this year with an all-time horrible defense, though. The jury is obviously still out, but he's been very good for most of this season.

 

And his running game is the best in the league, they are well coached. I would not trust him if I need my QB to win me a game, we’ll see.

 

Why do you think the running game is so good?

 

Must be Bakers accuracy and decision making. I could be wrong but his confidence does not match his ability, which leads to poor decisions. That probably changes over the years but I’m not sold.

 

No one noticed, but a couple weeks ago Baker Mayfield passed Tim Couch for most TD passes thrown by a Browns quarterback since their return in 1999.

Tim Couch only threw 64 TD passes. Baker is now at 72.

It has always fascinated me that Tim Couch held onto that mark for so many years. Such a pedestrian number. You would think any team would just luck into a guy who could throw that many. That's only three years worth at most anymore if you're average. Blake Bortles did it for the Jags. Marcus Mariota did it for the Titans.

In fact, every single team in the league has had someone who joined the team in 1999 or later throw more than 64 touchdown passes for them. Every one of them.

But it took 17 years for someone to do it for the Browns. Couch never played again after the 2003 season. Mayfield needs only five more TD passes to move ahead of Mariota on this list, so another milestone is ahead.

Not only did it take 17 years for a Brown to throw more than 64 touchdown passes, 17 other teams have employed their ALL-TIME FRANCHISE LEADER IN TD PASSES since 1999. Since the Browns returned, more than half the teams in the NFL have found their all-time touchdown pass leader. And that's not even counting Peyton Manning, who joined the Colts in 1998.

Meanwhile, it took the Browns 17 years just to find someone better than Tim Couch.

Six years ago I predicted it would take 20 years for a Browns QB to pass Couch. I was off by three years.

 

He has improved, but the consistency still isn't there. He also has a great offense around him this season.

 

Tim Couch holding that record before Baker is not surprising at all.

 

I'm not sold, either. But three months ago I'd have said his chances of busting were much higher than now. He is being very well coached for the first time. Amazing what a difference that can make.