Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield won the Heisman Trophy on Saturday night in a runaway, prompting congratulations from many across the sports world. One of those to commend Mayfield was ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit, who congratulated Mayfield while categorizing Mayfield as "very misunderstood" because of some of his antics on and off the field.
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My man @baker_mayfield6 is VERY misunderstood! His competitive spirit is special and sure, sometimes has gotten the best of him. But, he is a good man that is driven to be the best. Congrats Baker!
— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) December 10, 2017
Tennessee defensive back Rashaan Gaulden took offense to those comments on Mayfield. Why? Gaulden was a target of Herbstreit earlier this season, as Herbstreit said that Gaulden should have been kicked off the Tennessee team earlier this year after Gaulden flipped off the crowd.
"He does that and you're thinking with everything that's been going on at Tennessee, that guy probably will never play again. Next series the defense is on the field, No. 7 is back in the lineup playing.
"He should have taken his uniform off, sent him upstairs and said, 'Go get a popcorn. You're no longer on the football team.' And sent a message to the whole team."
Gaulden's response to Herbstreit make a direct reference to the "popcorn" quote.
https://twitter.com/Gmoney_7era/status/939730812253163521
Gaulden does have a point here, as Mayfield's strikes against him include grabbing himself and shouting expletives in the middle of a game (against Kansas of all teams), plunking a TCU player in the head with a football in warmups, and an offseason arrest for public intoxication. If Mayfield is going to get the benefit of the doubt after those mistakes, then Gaulden is in the right in wanting to be given that same benefit.
Gaulden had 65 total tackles for Tennessee this year, as well as one interception and three forced fumbles.
[H/T Yahoo! Sports]
