Reporter insists Panthers' Baker Mayfield made profane quote about Browns

It appears the "did he or didn't he?" story regarding Carolina Panthers starting quarterback Baker Mayfield won't be going away anytime soon. 

Earlier this week, NFL Media's Cynthia Frelund reported during a podcast episode that Mayfield told her he was gonna "f--- them up" in reference to the upcoming Week 1 showdown versus the Cleveland Browns, his former employer, on Sept. 11. Mayfield distanced himself from that alleged quote on Wednesday, though, when he told reporters he "didn’t say it." 

Frelund isn't backing down and explained the situation to ESPN's David Newton (h/t New York Post). Per the update, Frelund said that she "playfully" told Mayfield to "f--- them up" during last Friday's preseason finale between the Panthers and Buffalo Bills.

"He echoed it back," Frelund told Newton. "It was very innocuous on his part. The tone was gracious and happy and excited."

Mayfield didn't deny speaking to Frelund on Wednesday but assured media members he was, at the very least, misquoted. 

"Obviously everybody’s going to write whatever story they want, there’s history that I played there the last four years. I’m an extremely competitive person," Mayfield said at that time. "Everybody knows that. If I wasn’t wanting to win then there would be a really big issue with me being the quarterback here. I want to win in everything I do. That’ll never change. That is not how I phrased it. It’s not even what I said." 

Mayfield served as Cleveland's QB1 from the fall of 2018 through last season until the Browns traded with the Houston Texans for Deshaun Watson in March. Cleveland sent Mayfield to Carolina in July, and Panthers head coach Matt Rhule named the 27-year-old his starter during the preseason. 

Mayfield and the Panthers won't see Watson two Sundays down the road, as the three-time Pro Bowl selection is serving an 11-game suspension related to allegations of sexual misconduct during massage sessions. Backup Jacoby Brissett is on track to start for Cleveland under center in Watson's place.