Football is a demanding sport, at every stage and every position. And playing as a quarterback in the biggest league is an open invitation for your performances to be scrutinized. The Carolina Panthers’ QB Baker Mayfield is finding out firsthand. 

The Panthers signed Mayfield from the Cleveland Browns in July this year. Hoping that he could effectively end their seven-game losing streak and possibly be the franchise QB they so desperately need. His performances in the first two games have not been convincing. Although the Panthers did lose both their games in the 4th quarter to 56+yard field goals. 

NFL Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe has some harsh words about Panthers’ Baker Mayfield

Hall of Famer and former Broncos’ Tight End Shannon Sharpe is bearing down hard on Mayfield. Somehow, Shannon is convinced Mayfield is not the guy and the Panthers need to replace their injured QB Sam Darnold. 

“He’s not better he’s not exponentially better I’ve been trying to tell you about Faker Mayfield you don’t want to listen to me but sooner or later you will….get past the point that he was the number one overall draft pick,” Shannon says on the show, “Shannon and Skip: Undisputed.” “Look at him for what he is! He’s a Jag!….. I’m not talking about the military type of JAG, yeah. I’m talking about the NFL type of JAG; Just. Another. Guy!”

Also Read: “Look, Take the C Plus & Be Happy”: Baker Mayfield Gets Graded by Former Super Bowl Champ After Preseason Brings Some Semblance of Positivity for New Panthers QB

We know sports veterans for dishing out harsh opinions about current players. Just ask NBA star Donovan Mitchell, and the flak he’s been getting from the NBA Hall of Famer with the ‘G14 Classification’; Shaquille O’Neal.  

Are the doubts about Baker Mayfield justified?

In all fairness to Shannon, his doubts about Mayfield are not misplaced. Even though it has been only two games, Mayfield is on his worst opening to a season, and his QB rating this season is the lowest after two games, in his career. 

Added to that, he’s had 5 fumbles, the most by any quarterback. Plus, he is on 6 sacks in just 2 matches. But one can easily lay the blame on his offensive line for not doing their job. When the stats are laid out, Mayfield isn’t performing to the level Carolina expected from him. No magical plays in the fourth quarter with the game on the line. Certainly not very promising from a budding franchise QB.

Baker Mayfield and the Panthers are not to blame completely either. He has only been in Carolina for a few months and is a fresh part of the offensive system. It is therefore understandable that the QB is having difficulties effectively executing plays with his WRs and such. We saw Tom Brady have problems in his first few games at Tampa Bay as well. Will Mayfield deliver a shocker in the coming weeks and lead his team to the playoffs?

Watch this Story: Panthers’ New QB Baker Mayfield can earn his $3.5 million pay cut back, but it has the price of performance attached to it.