Baker’s Behavior: Nick Wright reveals the impact of Baker Mayfield’s antics on his legacy

– How much will Mayfield’s antics impact his legacy as a college football player?

– I mean, I think they’re part of it. Whether you like it or you don’t like it, that’s a matter of taste. But they’re inextricably tied.

Even in yesterday’s game, when Oklahoma has taken the field up 14 to 7, Baker sure seems to do a throat slash, yelling it’s over. It obviously wasn’t over. And the throat slash is usually an automatic 15 yard penalty in college football. The refs didn’t see it, or they didn’t deem it worthy in that spot.

I like the cocky athlete. I prefer honest confidence, even cockiness, rather than false modesty. However, I’m typically in the minority on that. Typically guys that carry themselves like Baker does– certainly with the crotch grab, the off-the-field encounter with the police– those guys get knocked as characters, you guys. Those guys– it is talked about distractions.

Baker has skirted a lot of that, with the one exception of not being a captain for senior day. It doesn’t bother me. But when I think of Baker Mayfield, I think of a cocky, trash talking Heisman winner. And I’ve got no problem with any of it.