Thanks to his on-field efforts during this, his rookie season, Baker Mayfield could retire today and remain a fixture in the Cleveland Browns’ annals forever. Having helped the team end its 19-game winless streak back in September and garnered two more wins against quality foes since, the 23-year-old has made his employer the butt of fewer jokes, and, because of his giving side, the franchise could come to make many more positive headlines. Yesterday, he and Barstool Sports announced a line of Baker-branded charity apparel that will secure proceeds for the Special Olympics of Ohio.
We are partnering w @bakermayfield to launch a line of merch and giving 100% of the net procedes to @SpecialOlympics. Get ur Baker stuff here and support a good cause https://t.co/qu30X7UlzU pic.twitter.com/QfHtSPwQjy
— PFT Commenter (@PFTCommenter) November 14, 2018
Mayfield and his new partner in altruism have had their share of notoriety, so their partnership provides a break from seeing them as polarizing figures and guarantees that a cherished organization continues to receive support. With respect to the young quarterback, the agreement helps him to become even more endearing to the Cleveland public and represents an example of perfect timing. Since entities such as the Special Olympics of Ohio can always benefit from the public’s kindness, it makes great sense for Mayfield to come to the state chapter’s aid. Because of the aforementioned losing streak, one can assume that the Cleveland faithful would gravitate to any signal caller who would come along to end it, and that has been the case, especially after last Sunday’s win over the Atlanta Falcons, a perennial contender in the National Football Conference.
With the holiday season upon us, Mayfield is marketing his instant fame to help the Special Olympics of Ohio call all the right plays in its mission “to provide year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.” To do so, he and Barstool Sports, which itself deserves kudos for taking a break from courting controversy, are selling 10 items with prices ranging from $30 to $55.
We want to believe that Mayfield will fare well in the Browns’ final regular season games so that fans can feel even more compelled to show their generous nature as the holiday season intensifies. Since the Browns have a bye this weekend and will not play again until Nov. 25 when they head to Cincinnati, supporters will, we hope, combine their reverence for the Special Olympics of Ohio with the goodwill associated with Thanksgiving and the afterglow of the team’s win against the Falcons to help Mayfield and Barstool to make this a momentous union. Here’s hoping holiday parties in Cleveland come to feature an abundance of this ugly sweater.
