Baker Mayfield Wanted The Bucs
April 4th, 2023
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield.
We’ve heard this one before. Bucs fans can only hope to have similar results.
Remember when Tom Brady became a free agent? The story went that Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht called Brady’s super agent Don Yee to assess any interest Brady had in the Bucs.
Yee’s reaction was, “I’m glad you called.”
Brady, a guy who leaves little to chance, knew the free agent market completely. He saw all the Bucs’ talent and the style of offense run by Bucco Bruce Arians and Brady had the Bucs high on his list of prospective new homes.
It seems new Bucs quarterback competing quarterback Baker Mayfield came to the same conclusion.
In a chat he had recently with Mayfield, Albert Breer of SI.com said Mayfield was scoping out the best teams for him and the Bucs stuck out like a sore thumb.
Fun nugget that I picked up this week—Baker Mayfield was as much in on recruiting the Buccaneers as Tampa Bay was in on recruiting him last month. Early on in the process, I’m told, he showed a strong affinity for the Bucs, and that actually matches right up with what he told me shortly after he signed on March 15.
His process, he explained, started with having some time to take a deep breath after being moved from Cleveland to Carolina to Los Angeles in a six-month span.
“I finally had some [time] to think, I think that’s the key word,” Mayfield said. “And, yeah, just looking at it from a big-picture standpoint, I want to play this game for a long time. So where’s the next spot that’s going to be the most stable position, where I can come in and compete, and do the best I can to showcase what I’m capable of? This is a great opportunity to do so. Normally when a spot like this opens up, it’s because bad things have happened.
“But this one, it’s just because Tom [Brady] retired. So it’s a perfect opportunity for me.”
What quarterback trying to rehab his career wouldn’t want to throw to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin? If they were good enough for Brady, you know they were good enough for Mayfield.
And the Bucs don’t have a terrible defense, either.
The rotten NFC South could be won with nine wins.
So yeah, this may be the perfect landing spot for Mayfield. And if Mayfield does well, as Joe has typed many times, he could be the Bucs’ starting quarterback for the next five years or more.
April 4th, 2023 at 4:30 am
This is all starting to sound like the “Glennon is the future” mob that consumed us in 2014 – bakers got a long way to go
April 4th, 2023 at 5:19 am
Jack Says:
April 4th, 2023 at 4:30 am
This is all starting to sound like the “Glennon is the future” mob that consumed us in 2014 – bakers got a long way to go
^^^^^^^^
Actually, the old “Glennon Mob” is the new “Trask Nut-Hugger Club”, Mayfield has started in an NFL game.
April 4th, 2023 at 6:25 am
Mayfield starts and Trask sits. Any other result is too risky for coaches, Trask (you risk his confidence) and Mayfield (you risk his ass getting chapped and turning into a locker room cancer). If/when Mayfield gets injured or drops a stinker, Trask can relieve him.
April 4th, 2023 at 6:44 am
The Baker Mayfield fans are delusional! They give him all the credit for having an ok season with much better weapons than what the Bucs currently have. Derailed the careers of his receivers (OBJ, Landry, Njoku) thanks to his pinpoint accuracy, had, arguably the best RB tandem we’ve seen in the past 20 years, had much better players on defense than what the Bucs have and with all those weapons couldn’t beat Chad Henne in the playoffs.
After the playoffs loss and his true colors came to light, the Baker’s mob are going like crazy through the excuses book to reason why he has always underperformed in the NFL. 🤦🏽♂️
April 4th, 2023 at 7:21 am
Who can blame Mayfield for wanting the Bucs job?……It’s a starting job on a team that has somewhat low expectations…..(9 wins)……A new OC with promise…..good defense and a great corps of WRs.
All we need is a good running game….
Why wouldn’t any true Buc fan root for Mayfield to succeed? And for Trask to at least become a capable backup.
April 4th, 2023 at 7:50 am
So you think Baker can come in and with a lesser team and have a better record than the GOAT. This is unrealistic. “Selling ice to an Eskimo”. i’m not buying it. a weaker O-line and stop selling people that the defense is better because it’s not. ZERO pass rush, only 1 safety, no slot CB. So stop it. On top of that, a play-caller that has never call a single play on any level, that another learning curve. But you think they can win 9 game. STOP IT.
April 4th, 2023 at 7:52 am
Its called expectation management @Tampabaybucfan
Not that I agree with vocalizing it. BUT every TRUE Bucs fan knows success is only an obstacle on the way to failure.
It’s only a matter of time before the goal is reached in epic fashion!!!
Truth is, thats every team in every sport every year. Us TRUE Bucs fans appreciate having had success more than some. It’s just not realistic to expect a run like that of the Patriots or Lightning and Rays for that matter.
At least thats a WHY some wouldnt expect Baker to succeed. I can imagine there being a wide verity of whys however.
April 4th, 2023 at 8:26 am
It’s going to be a tough season to watch.
April 4th, 2023 at 8:48 am
We need to let the draft play out and the preseason to see what this team might be. If Licht can hit on at least a couple of starters in the draft we may be in decent shape. I like our chances with Mayfield right now than with Trask.
April 4th, 2023 at 10:14 am
You do not, cannot win a superbowl or get to the playoffs on the cheap. Remember that. You must have an above average QB for the entire season people. You get what you pay for. Remember that also.
April 4th, 2023 at 10:25 am
Geno Smith was a schlub until last year. Let’s see what Canales can do with the QB room at OBP — remembering that it isn’t even half full at the moment.
April 4th, 2023 at 10:28 am
Face the facts, the GOAT was a shell of his former self. Lots of talent remains on this team. Yes there are holes and weaknesses but that is a product of the salary cap. Every team has holes. There are not 5 better rosters in the NFC. 49ers, Eagles, then a whole bunch of average rosters. Maybe Dallas, maybe not. Minny NO. Detroit is improved but QB has never done it. Saints, very average. Seattle, poor defense. It’s all about the competition.
April 4th, 2023 at 10:36 am
Oh, how very nice. The question is if it will a real love affair, or just a one night stand.
Regretfully I think Mayfly will be the season starter, even if Trask opens a few eyes and minds.
That might be for the best, because the O-line will be standing on shaky ground at the start of the season.
The big question is how long Mayfly stays the starter as interceptions accumulate. It is what happens when Mayfly runs around, his passes get wild.
Mayfly has the capacity to run around, but his passes are only effective from throws in the pocket. He might be more pocket dependent than Trask.
April 4th, 2023 at 10:58 am
Half of you are going to complain no matter who our QB, coach or OC is. Don’t watch then. Be fans of another team.
April 4th, 2023 at 11:14 am
LOL. This guy has one of the worst QBRs and massive INTs during his entire NFL career so far and suddenly he’s going to go to a team with some questions on the OL and he’s going to be some great leader and QB?
ROFLMAO
April 4th, 2023 at 11:21 am
When he was healthy he led the browns to what should’ve been a win against the chiefs in the playoffs but the defense couldn’t stop henny…. He’s had so many different coaches and coordinators, and OBJ is a cancer himself. I’m not saying that mayfield is going to be great I’m interested to see how it pans out but I’m not going to dismiss the talent he does have, the potential is there. I have faith in licht.
April 4th, 2023 at 11:37 am
It’s a great move by him and by the Bucs. If he’s good, and he may be, the upside is huge. He’s young!
By the way, a. lot of the same players that got Tom Brady excited about coming to Tampa are still on this team, and I’m tired of people saying how old they are. Mike Evans and Godwin and Devin White are total studs and young. Plus there’s Wirfs and a great secondary. Yes, I take Bowles’s view on White more seriously than .5 of the Joes and Ira!. 😉
April 4th, 2023 at 12:32 pm
JR how about you take a look at the rest of our division before you say the Bucs CAN’T win 9 games. Other teams have BIGGER problems than the Bucs, don’t let your sky is falling buc fan act blind you from having a objective opinion shessh it’s like bizzaro Homer world in here.
April 4th, 2023 at 12:48 pm
Still trying to figure out what the Glennon Mob thought they saw. Was it his height and giraffe-like stature in the pocket? Maybe his Brady-esque mobility? Perhaps it was that Jeff Garcia fastball or Griese-like tendency to play checkdowns. Perhaps it was that embarrassing Winston-like fumble that captured their hearts. I can’t figure it out.
April 4th, 2023 at 1:31 pm
Browns have a great tradition of Drafting Quarterbacks. Spergon Wynn (drafted ahead of Brady), Brandon Weeden, Jonny Manziel, and Baker Mayfield. Don’t even have to mention Tim Could to strengthen my point. They really can pick um.
I like the more recent Bucs drafts a lot better and that includes Trask. With that being said Licht’s team also picked Mayfield so I have to believe there is some reasoning that goes along with it.
B.M. are fitting initials based on Mayfield’s play. Drafted ahead of Sam Darnold and could not even beat him out for a job last year. I don’t like it but the Bucs have to have somebody in the room. Would not be surprised if they go back and get Gabbert at a discount closer to training camp.
This will be Trask’s first legitimate shot at starting and if he learned anything from Brady it is that when you get it be prepared. I’m sure July 26th is circle on his calendar.
April 4th, 2023 at 1:59 pm
He didn’t choose Baltimore because he knew if Lamar returned he wouldn’t be gifted the start. Tampabay was ripe for the picking.
April 4th, 2023 at 4:49 pm
So now Baker Mayfield decided to come here now? Lol 🤣🤣 Since when a player like Baker Mayfield has a choice to choose where he can go ?? This is the only bucs page that believe that!! This site has hit rock bottom trying to sale us Baker Mayfield. Now yes Baker can choose to retire or even sit out this year but come on Joe you push this same narrative with Brady. You are the only one who said Brady chose to come to the bucs but than when you look at the facts no other team wanted Brady but the bucs and maybe the Chargers. Now you’re doing the same thing with Baker Mayfield lol 🤣🤣🤣.
April 4th, 2023 at 8:27 pm
Well I guess we should all just go jump off a bridge then Oneilbuc, our franchise is a disaster….. blah blah blah stfu cry babies ffs smh.
April 4th, 2023 at 8:35 pm
smh. Should get jaymiss back right?!?
April 4th, 2023 at 11:03 pm
Mike C . Go jump off a bridge for a football team lol 🤣🤣 ok you jump first 😂. And I don’t want Jamies back again I’m a fan of the team not players especially if the bucs didn’t draft them. And by the way I don’t cry over no team if the bucs go 17- 0 I sleep good if they go 0-17 I sleep the same way bro. I mean what I say I guess Joe has convince you that Baker Mayfield had a choice to uhh?? I guess Baker Mayfield should get the same treatment as Brady to you ? I used to root for Baker Mayfield because the media hated him and plus I gave him pass for his last year in Cleveland. But what I saw with the Panthers and the Rams I was done he proved to me he wasn’t a good NFL quarterback. But if he starts I’m going to root for him but I have no confidence of him being a good quarterback. I rather go with the guy I haven’t seen play yet than a guy that’s on his 4th team in 6 years.