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When you make the difficult decision to get paid way too much money to play a sport for a living, you do so knowing you’re going to be under a microscope and at the receiving end of criticism from people who get paid way too much money to talk about sports for a living.
In a perfect world, you could use stacks of $100 bills as earmuffs to keep the haters at bay but biting your tongue can be easier said than done when you’re being scalded alive by hot takes being lobbed in your general direction.
Baker Mayfield has found himself at the center of a number of overblown controversies ranging back to his college days, where he expertly rustled jimmies by grabbing his crotch and planting an Oklahoma flag in the middle of Ohio State’s field during his days with the Sooners.
Thanks to incidents like that, Mayfield became a natural target for talking heads like Colin Cowherd, a man who needs to dish out scathingly dumb opinions to live like a shark needs to keep swimming.
On Thursday, Cowherd decided it’d be a good idea to put Odell Beckham Jr. on blast and suffered the same fate after the Browns wide receiver pulled out the receipts.
Top 10 moments of Odell Beckham Jr.'s career according to @ColinCowherd pic.twitter.com/O3len4ppzk
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) May 16, 2019
https://twitter.com/obj/status/1129140460247703552
Beckham didn’t really need much help defending himself thanks to the ammunition he had on hand but that didn’t stop Mayfield from entering the fray and firing a shot of his own.
Once again, you’re a clown…. now I know you’re just trying to get me fired up. “Most memorable moments”… he’s 26 and his greatest moments are ahead of him. You forget the kids and people he inspires. That goes much further than football…
— Baker Mayfield (@bakermayfield) May 16, 2019
You knew it was only a matter of time until Cowherd came out of his hole and he did so in the most insufferable way possible.
Just woke up from a wonderful nap and two of my favorite guys @bakermayfield and @obj are throwing 💣 at me. Telling me nobody likes me and stuff. Hurtful. Especially after all the love I gave both. Sometimes it’s hard being the most beloved media icon in America. Whatevs. 🍿
— Colin Cowherd (@ColinCowherd) May 16, 2019
Thankfully, Mayfield was ready with a couple more blows.
You’re over double his age and you can’t even realize that it’s much bigger than just the game. Wisdom didn’t come with age for you did it?
— Baker Mayfield (@bakermayfield) May 16, 2019
Never said nobody likes you… just essentially said you were irrational. But there you go again twisting around words! You saying “I like him” doesn’t mean you’re showing love😂😂😂
— Baker Mayfield (@bakermayfield) May 17, 2019
Mayfield and Cowherd aren’t exactly best buds and have a bit of a history thanks to a couple of recent incidents where the quarterback had no problem putting the blowhard on blast—including another time the radio host targeted Beckham.
Come to Cleveland and ask O if he actually likes it. Just because you say you have a source doesn’t mean you’re not full of BS.
And while you’re at it… come see if I’m a baby… #10ToesDown— Baker Mayfield (@bakermayfield) April 5, 2019
Take more Ls, Colin. You can’t.