Crystal Balling The Bucs
May 27th, 2022
“I see Jason Licht… I see another quarterback… “
While peering into the near future with the Bucs, Joe’s good friend Mike Tanier of Football Outsiders forecasts a very interesting if not drama-filled training camp to break up the monotony of how a no-name fullback from West Soybean Patch State hopes to make the Bucs as an upback on the punt team.
Tanier predicts Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht will test drive a very inexpensive, low-mileage quarterback as the potential successor to Tom Brady. And that man’s name is Baker Mayfield.
Looking at the NFL horizon, Tanier sees the Bucs as the only logical landing spot for Mayfield after he is released by the Browns this summer. Tanier foresees Mayfield as a much better backup option than Blaine Gabbert and if Mayfield impresses, perhaps Brady hands the baton to Mayfield in February.
Monday, August 8, 2022: Tampa Bay Buccaneers sign Baker Mayfield
“Is Baker Mayfield the Heir Apparent to Tom Brady?” the headlines read. Maybe. Or maybe Jason Licht sees the opportunity to kick the tires on a player that everyone once coveted, and Todd Bowles feels shaky at backup quarterback after watching Blaine Gabbert and Kyle Trask toss the ball around training camp for two weeks. Mayfield signs a reported two-year contract, but the second year includes a non-guaranteed bonus proration.
Another set of soundbites and talking points makes the rounds. “Byron Leftwich can UNLOCK Baker Mayfield’s potential. Here’s how.” “Like Jameis Winston before him, Baker Mayfield seeks a second chance behind a living legend.” The Brady-Mayfield pairing is the biggest story of the doldrums of the middle of training camp, when all the other news involves depressing ACL tears and dreary battles for the starting right tackle position.
Boy, Tanier sure hit the nail on the head here.
After the second week of training camp, boredom slaps you right in the grill and you pray for a two-day joint practice session with another team. Or at least a lightning storm so you can sit in air conditioning and watch practice. The stale monotony is so bad that at the end of the second week camp, it marks the only time in human history where sober people actually want a preseason game.
(Column Intermission: Hey Roger Goodell, instead of whining about eliminating an exhibition game called the Pro Bowl that actually brings your league and players millions of dollars each year from the TV networks, how about doing away with something no one wants and that brings little money to your coffers: these friggin’ worthless preseason games. If you weren’t such a fraud and were really concerned about players’ health, these damn things would have been expunged from the consciousness of the free world long ago. At least at the Pro Bowl fans can see players they somewhat care about sort of play football, not future Chili’s managers, Walmart truck drivers and kitchen appliance installers.)
For those Bucs fans recoiling in horror at the thought of Mayfield, who actually has a playoff win under his belt as a starting quarterback — for the hapless Browns no less! — don’t chew your fingernails off yet. Tanier’s crystal ball see additional images.
Tuesday, February 21, 2023: Buccaneers decline second-year option on Baker Mayfield’s contract
“Baker did a lot of great things for us,” Jason Licht says at his scouting combine media availability. “He was great in the quarterback room and the locker room. But with Brady back in 2023, we think it’s best for Baker if he gets an opportunity elsewhere.”
Insiders report that Mayfield “matured” during his time on the Buccaneers bench, though the sources and motivation for those reports are unclear. Mayfield himself sounds upbeat later that week on The Pat McAfee Show. “What happened in Cleveland is behind me. I control my own destiny now. I’ll finally get to pick the right opportunity for myself, then make the most of it.”
Wait a minute! Tom Brady back in 2023? If this image is not a mirage, someone needs to get Tanier’s crystal ball down to one of those hand-reading shops along Gulf Blvd. in Madiera Beach.
What Joe finds disappointing is Tanier didn’t see any image in his crystal ball revealing Brady returns so he can retire after a two-peat, or if he returns in 2023 because of more unfinished business? Joe has a hunch our friends in the desert would like to know about these images, and would pay handsomely for them.
May 27th, 2022 at 12:10 am
Baker sucks so hard they need to create a new standard for measuring vacuum.
No.
Hell no.
May 27th, 2022 at 12:47 am
I think there is absolutely zero chance Trask will ever be a NFL starting QB, long term anyway. And yet, I think Trask is twice the QB Mayfield is. Dude is dog poop!
May 27th, 2022 at 1:51 am
Nonsense…
May 27th, 2022 at 3:09 am
Bucs needs to workout Colin Kaepernick
May 27th, 2022 at 4:16 am
Coaching can improve his decision making, but not his accuracy
May 27th, 2022 at 5:45 am
I wouldn’t mind giving Baker a shot.
May 27th, 2022 at 6:05 am
Why does people keep trying to put Mayfield in Tampa.
He’s a terrible fit for this offense imo. I never understood why he was hyped up to be the #1 pick in the first place. Yes he won a Heisman (I thought Watson should have won). The first 2 QBs taken that year were compete head scratchers. Mayfield, Darnold, and Rosen had no business going in the 1st rd. That year
May 27th, 2022 at 7:29 am
The whole premise is just silly.
May 27th, 2022 at 7:40 am
I disagree, Joe. Three pre-season games is the perfect number. People other than instant stars need some NFL live-fire action in order to try and reach their dreams. It also gives at least a little time for the starters to tune their game before the games count. You can still have a Pro Bowl weekend, without the game. The Pro Bowl game is horrible and totally unwatchable. It’s a joke.
May 27th, 2022 at 7:49 am
I think the boredom has hit us now….that’s why we get these fantasy-filled predictions……it seems we’ve had some sort of QB controversy going on for years now.
May 27th, 2022 at 7:51 am
I like the 2023 image of Brady’s return. Was he wearing a creamsicle uni? That would clinch it.
May 27th, 2022 at 9:57 am
Who the hell is Crystal and why is she doing that to the Bucs?
May 27th, 2022 at 10:28 am
Baker Mayfield might as well negotiate a settlement and play in Canada He might get another NFL shot in 2023. Keep your mouth shut Baker and quietly become an NFL backup. You will still make millions like quite a few others do. Don’t let your Ego kill you.
May 27th, 2022 at 5:01 pm
°^ The next Blaine Gabbert?
May 27th, 2022 at 5:13 pm
Baker played hurt last year- shouldnt have.
He is a good QB. Would be a great fit here.
Ive said it a few times- To be able to replace Brady with another Experienced, Playoff QB, would be incredible good luck.
Gabbert isnt bad. He has some talent. Mayfield is much more talented.
Giving him a year behind Brady would be great for Both Mayfield and the Bucs.
May 27th, 2022 at 5:15 pm
My neighbor used to have a dog named Baker.
May 27th, 2022 at 7:21 pm
I’m just happy TB12 is still our guy!!!! Worry about next year next year!!! GO BUCS!!
May 27th, 2022 at 7:35 pm
That kid from Kentucky….Will Levis….trade what you have to next year!
May 27th, 2022 at 11:44 pm
It would be cool to see what our coaches could do wth Baker. Dude was a first round pick for a reason and if our guys can’t make a player out of him, no one can.
May 28th, 2022 at 12:00 am
Baker is a good QB, but he wouldn’t fit her for sh*t.
The O-line is built for a three to five step drop back QB. Trask fits that better than Baker.
From the OTA reports Trask is like 300 yards ahead of Gabbert.
The rise of Trask will make Brady retire, he doesn’t want to be replaced.
May 28th, 2022 at 3:10 am
Kap is a better choice for backup