As if the San Francisco 49ers needed even more motivation on Monday night, Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield offered some up during the pre-game coin toss. The 49ers went on to win the primetime matchup 31-3, but it was what Mayfield did — or didn't do — before kickoff that fired the team up even more.
Cornerback Richard Sherman shared with Michael Silver of NFL Network that the Browns' second-year quarterback refused to shake his hand when the team captains met at midfield for the coin toss. That irked the 49ers, who used the snub as further motivation to dominate the visiting Browns.
And dominate they did.
"What's amazing, and annoying, was him not shaking hands at the beginning," Sherman told Silver. "That's some college s---. It's ridiculous. We're all trying to get psyched up, but shaking hands with your opponent -- that's NFL etiquette. And when you pull bush-league stuff, that's disrespectful to the game. And believe me, that's gonna get us fired up."
The motivation must have worked because the 49ers now sit at 4-0 for the first time since 1990 and the fourth time in franchise history. They are the NFC's lone undefeated squad and just one of two (New England) in the NFL.
Meanwhile, the Browns, the NFL's offseason darlings, are left searching for answers.
"Respect the game," Sherman continued. "You can have rivals, but pay your respect in that moment -- especially when you're young.
"He hasn't earned anything in this league. How many games has he won? He's acting like he was the MVP last year. If (Patrick) Mahomes did that, it would be one thing. But he would never do that, because he has too much respect for the game.
"And when you see a guy who doesn't? You humble him every chance you get. Because eventually, he will have respect for the league -- or he'll be out of it."
Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner was also critical of Mayfield's actions, but in typical Buckner fashion, he opted not to say too much about it.
"That can rub a lot of people the wrong way," Buckner said. "I guess it's part of his game. Oh well."
Sherman made it clear that he's noticed a disturbing trend with the young and sometimes immature Browns quarterback.
"There's no reason for him to say and do those things, especially given how little he's accomplished," Sherman added. "That's where he's gonna have to grow up. He might get there, but he has a long way to go."
Click here to read the entire article by Silver over at NFL.com.
Meanwhile, rookie defensive end Nick Bosa didn't need any added motivation going up against Mayfield. He remembered the quarterback, then with Oklahoma, planting a Sooners flag into the logo at Ohio Stadium while Bosa was with the Buckeyes.
When Bosa delivered pressure on Mayfield and forced an intentional grounding penalty late in the first half, the rookie celebrated by mimicking the quarterback's actions from years ago.
BOSA JUST PLANTED HIS FLAG IN SAN FRAN 😤 @nbsmallerbear pic.twitter.com/wsoVZVAXiX
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) October 8, 2019
"I'm sure my Buckeye fans know (the motivation behind the celebration)," Bosa said after the 49ers win. "A couple of years back, Baker planted the flag in The Horseshoe, so I had to get him back for it."
Mayfield didn't have much to say when asked about the celebration.
"Good for him. Good play," he responded.
Update: So this video emerged from the pre-game coin toss.
So Richard Sherman claims Baker Mayfield refused to shake his hand at the coin toss. This video seems to indicate otherwise: pic.twitter.com/4CgOsLKLPL
— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) October 8, 2019
