Baker Mayfield: Leadership Prowess Will Be Part Of Winning Starting Job
March 23rd, 2023
Quarterback controversy/competition always takes on its own life.
In 2018, Jameis Winston versus Ryan Fitzpatrick was a thing. And in 2014, it was Josh McCown versus Mike Glennon.
Those are difficult memories.
In 2018, Jameis agreed to being labeled an NFL sex offender and swallowed a three-game league suspension. He came back in Week 4 and was benched later in the season, only to replace Fitzpatrick late in the lost campaign. (Off-the-record Jameis in the Bucs locker room at MetLife Stadium was a memory Joe won’t forget.)
Of course, the Bucs chose McCown over Glennon to get the job done during their tanking era.
Now, it’s Kyle Trask versus Baker Mayfield in what’s allegedly a legitimately open competition. Allegedly.
Mayfield responded to a leadership question while visiting the Salty Dogs podcast and agreed that demonstrating leadership this spring and summer will be part of winning the starting QB job.
“Absolutely. You know, however you win that competition, you’ve got to be yourself. You’ve got to be authentic. You can’t force it,” Mayfield said, “So, I’m just going to be myself — be that best version of myself I can be and push forward and try to compete.”
He went on to acknowledge that sometimes prior coaches have asked him to be something he’s not. Mayfield implied he was told to pipe down.
“There’s been times where I’ve been told to try and button up and do certain thing, but that’s just not who I am. And that’s now how I play the best,” Mayfield said. “So I’m going to be myself and have fun while doing it.”
Joe is very intrigued to see how seemingly quiet Kyle Trask will approach competing against high-octane Mayfield in the leadership department.
As Joe has written, expect Mayfield to come out firing on Day 1, interacting with coaches and teammates as if it’s his team.
March 23rd, 2023 at 11:27 am
“‘You’ve got to be authentic. You can’t force it,’ Mayfield said, ‘So, I’m just going to be myself — be that best version of myself I can be and push forward and try to compete.'”
So I reckon we won’t be hearing about eating W’s this time.
March 23rd, 2023 at 11:28 am
This is a veteran team that was just lead by Tom Brady, they don’t need Baker Mayfield ‘leading’ them. Just throw the ball where the guys can catch it, that’s all that is needed.
It’s embarrassing all these mentally weak millennials that need other people to lead them.
March 23rd, 2023 at 11:42 am
Rod Munch, spot on. And that was the problem last year. Brady’s first year, he came in as a legend. There was an aura. Year 2, same but with the comfortability that came with the extra year and the SB win. Last year, Brady had to be suffering.
Who picked up the reins? No one. No one stood out. I don’t buy this crap that stuff happens behind the scenes in the locker room. Remember Lynch spiking the ball after a pick when the Offense was copulating the canine?
Did anyone see that on the sidelines when they were zombies in Carolina, Cleveland and Pittsburgh?
March 23rd, 2023 at 11:43 am
Glennon vs McCown — the ultimate cripple fight, without a winner.
March 23rd, 2023 at 11:44 am
And we did not see the wooden Indian Bowles show one iota of emotion. Maybe that worked for Dungy, but Dungy had Herm Edwards to crack heads.
March 23rd, 2023 at 11:46 am
Rob munch. I agree 💯 percent bro!!
March 23rd, 2023 at 11:51 am
There is no evidence whatsoever that Kyle Trask would not effectively lead the team as quarterback. He lead his Florida teams the last two seasons of his college career in which he won the SEC east (equivalent of going to a Super Bowl), and was a runner up for the Heisman and led the entire nation of passing yards and passing touchdowns, and managed to feed the ball to his skilled receivers and backs just like he would be tasked to do for the Bucs.
Both Mayfield and Trask had almost identical college stats as seniors.
This is not an “alleged” competition as JBF stupidly keeps repeating, as if saying it often enough would make it true. It is a real honest to god quarterback competition that either player could win.
No matter who wins the starting job week one, the starter can easily get injured (as Mayfield was his last season in Cleveland), and having a quality backup can save the season for the Bucs.
Just ask “Mr. Irrelevant 2022” of the San Francisco 49ers, who managed to get his team to the NFC championship.
March 23rd, 2023 at 11:53 am
One, Two, Three, rah, rah, rah give us another temper tantrum.
Is it better than eating Ws?
March 23rd, 2023 at 11:57 am
The qb IS the leader of the offense — is teammates have to believe that he can make them win. I remember that Kansas City game in Brady’s first year, we were down something like 21-0, total arse kicking. Brady took us all the way back and almost tied them. After the game they all remarked that we had total confidence week when that game if it went on another couple of minutes. Brady did all of that
March 23rd, 2023 at 12:06 pm
Beej – The team had confidence in Brady because he’s Tom Brady. He didn’t get the team together and say, “hey fellas, I’m going to lead you now, because I’m your leader, and I know you’d be lost without me leading you.”
Leaders just do what they do, and if they’re any good at it, people will have faith in them to do get things done.
Fake leaders talk about how they’re going to lead and how important it is to lead people and how they’re going to ace their interview by talking about what leaders they are.
March 23rd, 2023 at 12:09 pm
This team needs Mayfield to win the job. He may not be the most talented QB out there but he is fun to watch. Let the (fun) and games begin!
March 23rd, 2023 at 12:27 pm
Well now I just want to know what the Jameis drama was in the MetLife locker room…
March 23rd, 2023 at 12:47 pm
It’s so unfair, poor Kyle Trask, intentionally kept our of competitive reps for two years to stunt his professional growth and make sure that the Bucs don’t know what they have in him. It’s been that way for him his whole life.
It’s known that they kept him locked in a room at One Buc Place while all of his coaches and teammates were practicing, to keep him from ever getting ahead in any competition.
Sign the petition to end the Kyle Trask Suppression Conspiracy. It’s known, the sources are out there.
March 23rd, 2023 at 12:49 pm
There is no competition at quarterback its all a rouge Mayfields the starter even if Trask plays better in preseason and practice Mayfield will be the starter not Trask.
March 23rd, 2023 at 12:51 pm
Without a vastly improved Oline , NONE of this MATTERS. Good Football teams are created with competence at the point of attack.
Likely that the players will decide the QB as much or more than the coaches. Players talk amongst each other and to their position coaches and that all gets back to the HC. Players play harder for a QB that takes shots to deliver a long strike and that sticks his head in there for the 1st down marker. Trask has the arm and the smarts and will demonstrate he is tougher and wants it more than Mayfield during camp and preseason. Just watch the effort level of the Oline and running game when Trask is QB1 and Mayfield is QB1 and that will tell you what you need to know as far as who will be the starter.
Mayfield has a career passer rating that is LOWER than Jameis.
March 23rd, 2023 at 12:57 pm
One thing about it, Mayfield makes good commercials.
March 23rd, 2023 at 12:58 pm
Allbuccedup … You think Mayfield will start “Even if Trask plays better”
Bowles job is on the line. The OC’s job is on the line. They’ll play the best players. Can you accept if Trask is not the better player is the only question? .
March 23rd, 2023 at 1:08 pm
Because of the Trask Suppression Conspiracy, Trask has no chance. So unfair.
The Bucs should listen to the wise fanbois of Trask, who are sure he will throw for 40+ touchdowns. The Bucs need to listen to Trask’s fanbois!!!
March 23rd, 2023 at 1:16 pm
Ohhhhh that was the game where Jameis threw a bomb interception at the end of the game and DJax was loafing at the end of his route and gave 10% effort on making a play….that was the game I was officially done with DJax, I have no love for that guy.
Things that grind my gears: DJax, Mike Smith Defenses, and sideline dancing when you are losing…
March 23rd, 2023 at 1:48 pm
“and sideline dancing when you are losing…”
Geraldine McCoy!
March 23rd, 2023 at 2:03 pm
After eight games with 1) a 1-7 record; 2) game after game of Mayfield having just as many blocked passes as completed ones (before being benched) and 3) Trask proving without a shadow of doubt that he was over drafted and in over his head, one thing is for sure: You will all be begging to have Jameis Winston back.
March 23rd, 2023 at 2:08 pm
Jameis Winston???
LOL
March 23rd, 2023 at 2:10 pm
This fanboy nonsense over a QB with a 24.5 rating is a joke.
March 23rd, 2023 at 2:35 pm
Mayfield is NOT starting. Dude signed a pathetic $4M base salary like Winston did with the Saints. He’s simply an insurance policy should Trask get hurt or completely fall apart.
March 23rd, 2023 at 2:37 pm
Rog,
ZERO has been proven about Trask. He has no experience with the starting team.
But you’re right about Mayfield. He has stunk up the NFL for multiple teams now. It’s a JOKE that people think he’s going to come in and play well for us.
March 23rd, 2023 at 2:41 pm
Goatfarmer,
Your non-stop hate of Kyle Trask is hilariously pathetic. As if he was going to play over Brady no matter how well he did in practices. Gabbert was Arians’ guy to be a vet backup.
So what is it that you keep shouting about that Trask didn’t perform well in practices? There is ZERO evidence of that. I don’t recall a single quote from Licht or any of the coaches that said Trask has disappointed in anyway.
March 23rd, 2023 at 2:49 pm
I’m all bakered out. Need a new subject.
March 23rd, 2023 at 3:47 pm
Baker will not lead anybody. His play on the field will determine what his new teammates think of him. You can Rah Rah Rah all you like. But you’d better be competent and put points on the board.
March 23rd, 2023 at 4:47 pm
If the Bucs aren’t planning on drafting another QB, I’d add Zack Wilson if he gets released. He’d come in as a the #3 QB, and is a lot like Mayfield in that he’s undersized, but can fling the ball. To be sure he’s likely already a full on bust, I can’t really think of guys that come back after that big of a fall, but as a #3 QB I’d certainly bring him in, sell him on the fact the area is loaded with old women looking for young studs.
March 23rd, 2023 at 6:20 pm
This clown loves talking the talk. Lead the ball Into the end zone you slow processor
March 24th, 2023 at 3:54 am
Leadership don’t mean squat if the “leaders’ play don’t back it up…we got enough of BS rah rah kind!