'Ultimate fighter': Ex-Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield's fire fits Panthers' style

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — When a report surfaced in April that Carolina could be a potential landing spot for Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield, Panthers receiver Robbie Anderson reacted with a “Nooooo” on Twitter.

Anderson later explained that his comment was in defense of incumbent quarterback Sam Darnold, whom Mayfield beat out after being acquired in a July 6 trade. But what Anderson did Sunday after the Panthers’ 26-24 loss to the Browns in Mayfield’s Carolina debut still felt like an olive branch.

After his 75-yard touchdown reception from Mayfield with 6:02 remaining cut the Panthers’ deficit to 23-21, Anderson said he gave Mayfield the ball.

The Panthers trailed 20-7 with 7:42 left in the third quarter before Mayfield brought the Panthers back to take a 24-23 lead with 1:13 left on Eddie Pineiro's 34-yard field goal. Browns rookie Cade York won the game with a 58-yard field goal with eight seconds remaining.

Asked what he saw from Mayfield, Anderson said, “Keep fighting, play with a lot of heart and courage. I can ride with that all D.”

Asked if that trait in Mayfield is rare, Anderson said, “No, that’s how it’s supposed to be.”

Despite the loss, the Panthers saw something in Mayfield that fits their style.

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“Oh, for sure. Looking at his history, that guy’s the ultimate fighter and that means a lot because in the trenches, you’ve got to fight,” left guard Brady Christensen said. “It’s a lot of good energy and it’s great for me to see.

“Baker’s an incredible leader and he got us going. I’m excited to keep playing with him and keep protecting him.”

Asked what he liked about Mayfield’s leadership, Christensen said, “Just his command of the huddle and the command on the sideline, too. He’s always talking to us, telling us what he sees. ‘You’re good, bounce back.’ Whatever the case may be, he was always right there with us and that means a lot.”

That didn’t involve just the offense. Cornerback Donte Jackson said when the Panthers were struggling, Mayfield was on the sideline pumping up the defense.

“Even when things weren’t going right, he was over there to the defense, ‘We got y’all, we got y’all. Keep doing your thing. Keep doing your thing.’ That’s the type stuff you want to see,” Jackson said. “It’s easy to do it when things are going good, when he’s got 400 passing yards, five touchdowns.

“But just to see him do that when things weren’t going as good on either side of the ball, that’s the type stuff you want to see out of your QB1.”

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Browns running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt have seen that side of Mayfield on multiple occasions during Mayfield’s four years in Cleveland.

“Kareem was saying the whole game, ‘Bake, he’s gonna fight, he’s not gonna give up.’ And he didn’t,” Chubb said. “He came out in the second half and I think they outscored us pretty much. But it’s Bake, he’s not gonna give up on his team.”

Trailing 17-7 at halftime, the Panthers outscored the Browns 17-6 in the second half.

“I just told him great job of fighting until the end. Baker's one of those guys who's going to give it his all until the clock hit zero-zero,” Hunt said. “He came out ready to fire in the second half.”

Panthers free Jeremy Chinn said Mayfield brought a spark that energized the whole team.

“For sure. It was big time, especially down the stretch,” Chinn said.

Rookie left tackle Ikem Ekwonu knew of Mayfield’s history dating back to his Heisman Trophy-winning days at Oklahoma. So Mayfield’s fire didn’t surprise Ekwonu.

“Baker’s kind of always been that guy. Nothing really changed today,” Ekwonu said. “He’s really showing what he can do already. We’re very proud to be able to block for a guy like that.”

Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MRidenourABJ.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Ex-Browns QB Baker Mayfield's leadership impresses Panthers