“Todd Bowles Hopes Baker Mayfield’s The Guy”
March 16th, 2023
Lots of love around the national NFL media community for the Buccaneers’ call to sign veteran quarterback Baker Mayfield, and for their execution.
The voice of NFL Network, Rich Eisen, lauded the move on many fronts yesterday during his Roku show.
“This is the guy after the guy. … If anybody can be the guy after the guy, it’s this guy,” Eisen said, referring to the common post-Brady theory Joe referenced previously.
Eisen called it a terrific spot for Mayfield with the Bucs’ great receivers, Rachaad White and the roster in place.
Eisen also was adamant that the Bucs will position Mayfield and Kyle Trask as an open competition but it won’t be. “Love this move.” Interestingly, he firmly stated, “Todd Bowles hopes Baker Mayfield’s the guy.”
Consider the Bucs in place to win their third consecutive division title if the Mayfield plays pretty well, Eisen added.
“You’re going to have a rookie quarterback in Carolina. You’re going to have a first-year starter all year long in Desmond Ridder in Atlanta, because that’s who the guy is. And you’re going to have Derek Carr in a new spot in New Orleans,” he said.
The former face of NFL Network, Kay Adams, also said she loved the move for Tampa Bay on her FanDuel TV show. And former Browns and Patriots head coach Eric Mangini lauded the acquisition on FS1 for the value the Bucs are getting with a maximum payout to Mayfield of $8.5 million this season, with incentives. He also thinks Mayfield showed enough last season with the Rams to believe he can be a strong starter.
Joe will share others’ takes, of course. But for balance in this space, Joe will pass on the opinion on of Stephen A. Smith of BSPN when asked to comment on the Bucs signing Mayfield.
“So?” Smith said, implying his is thoroughly unimpressed.
March 16th, 2023 at 9:03 am
I would have let David and dean walk and taken the 3rd and 6th round comp pick and use the cash elsewhere. I think the Baker pick up is good. He will push trask and we have weapons, so there should be scoring and a chance to win the South.
March 16th, 2023 at 9:05 am
Every Buc fan should hope either Trask or Mayfield becomes “the guy”
March 16th, 2023 at 9:09 am
We have JAGs at QB
March 16th, 2023 at 9:17 am
Sadly, Todd Bowles his ownself is NOT “The Guy” to be head-coaching this team
March 16th, 2023 at 9:20 am
@thomas… thats why I was hoping to save cash for next year and get comp pick
March 16th, 2023 at 9:20 am
LOL Calamity Todd speaks.
March 16th, 2023 at 9:21 am
Bucs actually might be better this year. Saying it now. last year was a putrid attempt at a SB run. This year will be about playing complimentary football and winning a division.
March 16th, 2023 at 9:27 am
Jason Licht is smiling, his thoughts……..
I (Licht) told everyone we are signing an inexpensive veteran QB to compete with Trask. I (Licht) signed a cheap leftover and the fan base is eating out of my hand.
If Trask can win the spot I (Licht) am genius.
If Baker wins I (Licht) am genius.
I (LIcht) know neither are leading us to the promise land. We (Bucs)will be in better shape next year to enter a real QB sweepstakes.
Stay the course Jason Licht. Pass that Man another beer. Go Bucs
March 16th, 2023 at 9:29 am
Listen, I know we made the playoffs but we played like crap and we got lucky to win the NFC south. I think it’s time that we look for a better coach. What do you guys think? The play calling was very reserved at best and even on defense we weren’t as aggressive as we been the year before.
March 16th, 2023 at 9:39 am
A bunch of media knuckleheads (and even commenters who pretend to be Bucs fans) also said they were unimpressed when the Bucs signed Tom Brady in 2020. “Over the hill”, “fading fast”, “Brady really wanted to be in LA, or Miami, but had to settle for the Yuckaneers”, “Brady is a noodle arm”, “Brady is a statue in the pocket”, “Brady just wants a paycheck”.
We know how that year went.
Never listen to anybody who claims to know what will happen with and to any NFL team in any year, ever ever ever.
Most of NFL world, and the Las Vegas betting lines, had the Bucs winning the Super Bowl in 2022-2023. We know how that ended up too.
March 16th, 2023 at 9:45 am
Nope, still waiting on who’ll be QB#3 out of the draft.
March 16th, 2023 at 9:46 am
There Ain’t No Hope in football
March 16th, 2023 at 9:47 am
All of the reasons for Todd Bowles getting fired from the Jets occurred with the Bucs last year, and Todd Bowles had TB12 and a loaded roster so he has no excuses.
Bad clock management.
Bad in game decision making.
Ultra conservative.
Poor in game adjustments.
Uninspired coaching.
Undisciplined players.
Bad assistant coaches.
Players going through the motions.
Please tell me how Baker solves these problems that TB12 couldn’t?
March 16th, 2023 at 9:51 am
I like the Baker signing. I think the guy is in the right place at the right time. He will either win the starting job or push Trask to be a better QB. Seems like the Bucs never really gave Trask a chance while Brady was here. Now we just need some new blood in the trenches on the O & D lines and some more DB’s. The Bucs have done a great job so far resigning some key players.
March 16th, 2023 at 9:52 am
Well I guess Gabbert is out at #3
March 16th, 2023 at 9:56 am
As a day 1 Buc fan I can see it coming. Back to Skid Row. Boo Birds by game 5. Head Bags by game 12.
March 16th, 2023 at 9:57 am
Zeke Elliott will cure the “can’t get a yard” woes of the Bucs from last season. He may not be as fast as before but he certainly will get a yard. I believe Leonard Fournette didn’t have the vision to find a place to fall one yard.
Elliott will win those battles 9 out of 10 times. Even as a declining back he is a better option than Leonard Fournette.
Hope the Bucs can get him with a “prove it” contract. He isn’t a number one back any more so perhaps his value to most teams isn’t very high.
March 16th, 2023 at 9:58 am
We’ll see how this season pans out. If the Bucs win the division, then Bowles stays at least one more year. If the Bucs look like they did last year, Bowles is shown the door!! No excuses this season!!! We’ll see how thus season pans out!!!
March 16th, 2023 at 9:59 am
@BelleGladeBuc
Well, for starters Mayfield is almost 2 decades younger than Tom Brady. So in terms of moving the pocket, or being a harder target post snap there are some things Baker can do, that you wouldnt ask a 45 year old QB to do. Also, our Tom Brady led offense average 8.2ppg in the first half of games in 2022 which wasn’t necessarily all on Brady because some of that was Succop kicking FGs and our offense doing jack sh*t for 30 minutes which was kind of a thing in every year we had Tom Brady. Baker isn’t here to be some type of savior, he’s here to earn a job and revive his career point blank period
March 16th, 2023 at 10:05 am
It is Mayfield v Carr, Ridder, and Young. We will have Mayfield instead of Brady and a lesser roster to back it up, Combined with Bowles game plans winning the NFC South is a high mountain to climb.
March 16th, 2023 at 10:08 am
“Todd Bowles Hopes Baker Mayfield’s The Guy”…
😅😂🤣…
March 16th, 2023 at 10:11 am
Lol what did I miss the guy flamed out had a ok 4 game run with the Rams now he all of sudden the next big thing lol wow!
March 16th, 2023 at 10:11 am
Hopefully we do have a honest competition and it pushes one of these guys to the next level. Baker took the BROWNS to the playoffs, this them has some playoff tested veterans on it and knows what kind of effort it takes to win. Confidence is a funny thing, it can build up quickly and fall even quicker. Be it Trask or Baker let’s get rolling Bucs!
March 16th, 2023 at 10:14 am
I still contend that Bowles cleaner doesn’t have a clue of what QB to complement his defense looks like. That is why he changes them more than his underwear.
Mayfield looks like a reincarnation of the Lost Decade. It is not the effort he puts in, it is the results of those efforts; street ball.
A quietly effective QB that can consistently move the chains will help is defense the most, because a rested defense is a good defense.
March 16th, 2023 at 10:21 am
I think Todd is the man. Jason Licht has been super smart and will help so much and I think him with Todd will lead this team in the right way
March 16th, 2023 at 10:26 am
I would paraphrase the SO that Smith said in to a NO.
Most of the so called experts and media said the same thing last summer when he was traded to Carolina. We all saw what happened.
Go Bucs
March 16th, 2023 at 10:27 am
Go Bucs HAHAHAHAHA
March 16th, 2023 at 10:30 am
*** ““Todd Bowles Hopes Baker Mayfield’s The Guy””***
Because if he isn’t… Todd will be walking
March 16th, 2023 at 10:30 am
Another positive about baker would be that he played in our division and study the teams so he should know the nfc south and what he’s up against
What we tend to forget about is this….
We’re not competing vs 32 teams only the nfc south.
We need to be better then 3 teams… that’s it..
And by doing so we make it to the play off..
At that point the only thing that matters is what teams are healthy and catching fire.
I’m not saying superbowl by no means but I can see us winning the nfc south title again.
Didn’t take much last year.
Right now certain teams in the afc will be hard to beat in a super setting..bills cheifs to name off 2 real quick..
Nfc 49er will still be tough
March 16th, 2023 at 10:39 am
Jeff Garcia.
March 16th, 2023 at 10:41 am
All that is going on here is the bucs are trying to put together a competitive team. A competitive team has a chance to win every time they take the field.
The Cheifs, 49ers, Bills and Eagles are dominant teams. That takes great players, but mostly a great coach.
March 16th, 2023 at 10:45 am
If Baker or Trask work out and we draft a good enough pass rusher or two and maybe a few other pieces we could be dominant again.
March 16th, 2023 at 10:48 am
This team is a joke.
March 16th, 2023 at 10:49 am
With any luck Todd Bowles will be out if a job next year. He likely will be if he expects Baker Mayfield to be the guy.
Team management 101…never pick up a reject from a team worse than you.
March 16th, 2023 at 10:55 am
I don’t wish any ill will for Todd Bowles. I would just like to see common sense prevail by the Bucs management.
March 16th, 2023 at 11:01 am
If this midget could be stretched a few inches taller then maybe he could get it over the d-line but as it is now, this guy has to invent passing lanes. The biggest reason for his INT’s are because he doesn’t see the whole field while defenders are hiding behind the taller players and seemingly come out of nowhere to grab the ball. I’ve seen times where it just looked like Mayfield threw the ball right to them. This is going to be a disaster and was a poor choice to compete with Trask. Actually the way it looks Mayfield will automatically be gifted the start regardless if Trask plays lights out during the preseason. This signing will determine whether Bowles and Licht keep their jobs after the season. Had they just rolled with Trask it would’ve been an excuse for a down year and the glazers would probably be more sympathetic. But NOT NOW. They made their bed.
March 16th, 2023 at 11:14 am
Baker is 6’1″, that’s a midget? Hmm, ok no one knows what this season is going to look like but the bucs made moves let’s see how it plays out before everyone starts bellyaching.
March 16th, 2023 at 11:17 am
Baker is not 6’1″ . He’s shorter than me and I’m 5’10”
March 16th, 2023 at 11:20 am
I hope the baker may field experiment works out because I’m truly a buck’s fan and I’m not here to complain about everything that doesn’t go the way I think it should.
If he beats out Trask and plays well with the right supporting cast and offensive coordinator around him perhaps we see another season like 2020 for him. If not any fails then we will be bad as a team and get a good draft pick.
Additionally in something that nobody is talking about is if we let him walk as a free agent after this year what kind of compensation would we get given that he was once the number one overall pick? Is it possible that this may be a backdoor way of getting an extra third round pick in a future draft for fairly cheap if this experiment doesn’t work?
March 16th, 2023 at 11:44 am
We ALL hope that Baker turns out to be THE GUY
March 16th, 2023 at 12:23 pm
We drafted Trask. Mayfield is a reject for a reason. I can’t envision a future with him as our QB. Gruden was best fit as an OC. Bowles was best fit as a DC. I’m a fan of the team, and I’m a fan of Trask. I’m not impressed with Bowles, or the signing of Mayfield. Two turds in the Buccaneer punch bowl.
March 16th, 2023 at 12:29 pm
SKBucsFan (10:49 AM) … ‘With any luck Todd Bowles will be out if a job next year. ‘
SKBucsFan (10:55 AM) … ‘I don’t wish any ill will for Todd Bowles.’
Wow, you just set the record for the fastest turnaround ever.
March 16th, 2023 at 12:34 pm
What did they say in Shawshank Redemption? Hope can be a terrible thing. We need more than hope from Mayfield. We need consistency..Period. I’m just not that high on him at all. Hope he proves me wrong.
March 16th, 2023 at 12:42 pm
Russell Wilson, Kyler Murray, and Johnny Manzel, are all under 6’1. Seems like Baker is 6’1/2″ tall. Just fyi.
March 16th, 2023 at 12:46 pm
That means Baker Mayfield will be gifted the starting job!!
March 16th, 2023 at 12:49 pm
Baker will come in with all of his “I’m the man” energy and IF Trask can’t overcome that and beat him out, then we’ll have to live w/ Baker. Baker is fake to me. Will be a BIG drop off of TB12s leadership energy. Trask needs to overcome this and ball out OR we get someone else.
March 16th, 2023 at 1:05 pm
Whatever you think of baker, he was signed to be the starter. Make no mistake. They don’t believe in Trask. This isnt a matter of pushing Trask. Baker already has the inside track because of experience alone. He will be the starter, unless he falls on his face in camp and Trask shines. I expect neither to happen.
March 16th, 2023 at 1:23 pm
AN ATTITUDE WE ALL SHOULD ADOPT
What were people saying in SFO when they picked up Steve Young from the Bucs? “Meh” … probably, right?
Baker is a former Heisman and #1 draft pick. In 2020, he led Cleveland to 11-5. They should have played the Bucs in the SB but got hosed by the refs. They’ve sucked since he left.
Shouldn’t we all be hoping he becomes the QB everyone thought he would be … the next Steve Young.
Here’s to hoping. With the weapons he has, I won’t be surprised if he throws for 4K
March 16th, 2023 at 1:44 pm
SlyPirate he’s never thrown for 4K yards in his career.
March 16th, 2023 at 1:47 pm
Rand Says:
March 16th, 2023 at 11:17 am
Baker is not 6’1″ . He’s shorter than me and I’m 5’10”
^^^^^^^^
Mayfield was measured at the NFL Combine, 6′ 0-5/8″.
March 16th, 2023 at 1:54 pm
Just Leave Trask Alone Says:
March 16th, 2023 at 1:44 pm
SlyPirate he’s never thrown for 4K yards in his career.
^^^^^^^^^
BucBoy under a new name: It’s comical that Trask fanboys are talking stats, when they use Trask’s COLLEGE stats all the time. Thanks for the laugh!
March 16th, 2023 at 1:57 pm
Joe is giddy about a guy on his 4th team. LOL.
Its going to be Trask Joe before it’s all said and done.
March 16th, 2023 at 2:22 pm
You could be right, Just Leave Trask Alone. I’m okay with whoever plays the best of the QB’s the Bucs have.
March 16th, 2023 at 2:57 pm
So Baker just recommitted to his wife. Something Tommy boy failed at. So at least he may not have the poon tang distractions. Maybe a Geko commercial with the dried up wife lizards of Champa Bay ?
March 16th, 2023 at 5:38 pm
yep… Baker 5’11-5/8″ at combine… Russell Wilson 5′ 10-5/8″ at combine. Personally, going to miss Cam Brate’s mustachio, hope Baker takes over as Bucco Bruce.
March 16th, 2023 at 7:22 pm
It will be Trask time, soon.
March 16th, 2023 at 9:22 pm
This is so out of this world what bucs are doing with their post Tom Brady retirement
Bucs won one year the Super Bowl with an experience Tom Brady and they think they are going to win it again and again using the same formula ignoring their own second round qb or even drafting one again.They couldn’t even win the super bowl again with Tom Brady let alone with a failed qb, that no team wants named Baker.
They didn’t play or give Trask a shot as a back up for the past two years. Now they expect the fans to trust the fake competition set up by paying Baker $8M just to push Trask or as a consultant. Baker is no mentor and he will be a distraction in locker room just ask his previous teammates. Bucs gambling that Baker has changed in playing and attitude.
Todd B. just hoping and will be happy to win the south again with Baker to save his job rather win the super bowl. Bucs can win the south anyway with any qb.
Todd B. didn’t draft Trask so he will be better off to draft a qb if he isn’t going to have a fair qb competition than wasting their time with a failed qb who is with his fourth team.
Of course NFL media would love to have Baker around for media hypes for non football related stories.
Tom Brady era is over and there are no other excuses. You drafted a qb in second round and he needs to contribute and fans would never know if he is not allowed to compete.
March 16th, 2023 at 9:29 pm
“Hopes”? Does Bowles have any clue? Does he have any unifying vision for the team, its identity, its style, what to do as a leader, and a million other things? If last season and his Jets history is any proof, the answer is no.
What exactly went into the calculus for hiring Canales and making Mayfield the guy? Who made those decisions and why?
It was all over the place last season. Now it’s all over the place, plus more comedic excitement and question marks.
March 17th, 2023 at 9:09 am
Losing Alot respect for Eisen lately… Really starting to sound like all the rest of the so called sports “journalists”.