Baker Mayfield, who is the quarterback for Carolina Panthers, will be taking on his former side Cleveland Browns in an emotionally charged Week 1 game on September 11. The two sides lock horns at the Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte. 

Ahead of the game, the 27-year-old player seemed fired up. During Monday’s episode of the “Around the NFL” podcast, NFL Network’s Cynthia Frelund said Mayfield told her that he’s going to “f**k up” the Browns team. 

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Mayfield served the Browns from 2018 to 2021. He was selected first overall by the NFL outfit. He contributed in ending the team’s 19-game winless streak in his rookie year. The QB then led Cleveland to their first playoff appearance since 2002 and victory since 1994.

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The Browns traded Mayfield to the Panthers on July 6 and agreed to pay $10.5 million of his contract. The team cited inconsistent play and conflict with the management. 

“On the field, after the game against the Bills preseason Game 3 and I walked over to him and told him, ‘I’m so excited to see you… go kick some butt, especially Week 1, I cannot wait,’ and he uses some expletives and I was like I just hope you’re just ready and he was like, ‘I’m gonna bleep them up,’” Frelund said about her exchange with Mayfield.

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When contacted on Tuesday about a request to speak with Mayfield, the Panthers public relations department referred all comments to the quarterback’s media availability later this week.

The Panthers were off Tuesday.

“I was trying to defend Baker,” Frelund said. “He’s in a good spot now and is primed for success. … I was showing effusive support for a person who had a really rough offseason,” Frelund told The Associated Press. 

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Mayfield has been known to make some inflammatory comments during his four seasons with the Browns, and it’s no secret the team’s decision to pursue and trade for Deshaun Watson didn’t sit well with the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2018.

“Obviously, there’s a lot of attachment there,’’ Mayfield said last week after being selected as the Panthers’ Week 1 starter. “I’m not going to sit here and be a robot and say it doesn’t mean anything. It will.’’