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NFL DRAFT
Senior Bowl

Baker Mayfield pushes back against 'bad boy' perception at Senior Bowl

Mike Jones
USA TODAY
North Squad quarterback Baker Mayfield of Oklahoma (6) drops back to pass during Senior Bowl practice at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Glenn Andrews-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: USATSI-361925 ORIG FILE ID:  20180123_gma_sm1_030.jpg

MOBILE, Ala. – As the microscope trained more intensely on Baker Mayfield, the Heisman Trophy quarterback refused to flinch.

He already had used social media to fire back at critics, who took issue with his arriving late to Mobile for the week of Senior Bowl evaluations, pre-draft interviews and practices. But asked about the matter while surrounded by a scrum of media following the North team’s practice, Mayfield further explained his reasoning (his mother is ill) and made no apologies.

“Family first,” he said firmly. “Always. Doesn’t matter the situation. I would never put myself before my mom.”

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Mayfield also discussed his perceived maturity issues, his goals for the week and his love for football. Although he acknowledged that the pre-draft process as a whole is a stressful experience, he said he felt comfortable in his return to the field.

“This is what I was meant to do: throw a ball and be out here, be around the guys and lead,” Mayfield said. “So, it’s a good first day, look forward to get better tomorrow and move forward throughout the week.”

Mayfield is one of eight quarterbacks at the Senior Bowl, but he certainly carries the highest profile of any of them. After passing for 4,627 yards, 43 touchdowns and just six interceptions as a senior at Oklahoma, he is viewed as one of the top players at his position in this year’s draft. However, he still has questions to answer.

There’s the matter of his stature, as he measured in at just over 6-0 and 216 pounds.

But more importantly, there are concerns about his maturity. Mayfield’s fiery personality has frequently been on display, including during his team’s game against Kansas when the quarterback was caught on camera making an obscene gesture while yelling expletives at his opponent. Last February, he was arrested and later pleaded guilty to public intoxication.

Officials from NFL teams – including the Broncos, whose coaches are working with Mayfield after team president John Elway requested the quarterback be placed on that squad – will question him on the character issues during their pre-draft evaluations.

Asked what he wants to show them, Mayfield replied, “The type of guy I am. Everybody wants to portray the bad boy, the Johnny Manziel stuff, but I love the game of football. There’s no doubt about that. An emotional player. I’ll do anything, whatever it takes to win. I love being around my teammates, and I love leading and having responsibility.”

Mayfield has drawn comparisons to Manziel – the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner and former Browns first-round pick who hasn't played in the NFL since 2015 – partly because of their similar size and build, as well as the incidents on and off the field.

Those comparisons have frustrated Mayfield, but he tried to shrug them off.

“It is what it is,” he said. “If I paid too much attention to it, then I’d be focusing on the wrong things. I came down here to play the game and show them that I love playing it.”

Pressed further, Mayfield left no doubt about his priorities.

“Football is everything,” Mayfield answered without hesitation. “It’s led me to be a better man, it’s challenged me to face adversity, learn what I’m all about, it’s brought me some of my best friends and brought my family closer together, realizing that you have to keep your inner circle tight. There’s a lot of things that stem from the game of football. It’s a lot more than a game. It’s all the things that come with it.”

Follow Mike Jones on Twitter @ByMikeJones.

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