Jeff Darlington: It Feels Like Baker Mayfield “Is Imposing Himself Over The Compeition”
June 11th, 2023
Leader.
The last time Joe saw Jeff Darlington of ESPN he was sitting for 20-plus minutes face-to-face with Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht at a swanky outdoor bar at a Phoenix resort in late March.
No, Joe was not playing stalker. Joe was waiting to talk to someone else at the NFL owners meeting hangout and happened to have a full view of Licht and Darlington.
This morning, always-prepared Darlington was talking Bucs on the choreographed SportsCenter show, meaning Darlington was not in a roundtable setting and certainly knew what topics were coming his way.
Asked what he’s hearing about Baker Mayfield leading the Buccaneers’ first-team offense, here was Darlington’s reply:
“In general, we’re hearing the words that we’ve used to describe Baker Mayfield since he started his career — the positive ones, like moxie and leadership,” Darlington said. “And those are the things that so far in Tampa it feels like could earn him the starting job.
“There is just definitely a little bit more of a vibe when I talk to people about these two quarterbacks, that Baker seems to be imposing himself. Now, Kyle Trask is still in the hunt. There is no determination on who the starter will be in this quarterback competition. But at this point, it does feel like Baker is imposing himself over the competition.”
Darlington is not a hot-take guy and he has excellent access with the Bucs. The local pride of Seminole High School also spent extensive time around the Buccaneers during the Tom Brady years. So it seems like Mayfield certainly is leading the QB race after the first seven weeks or so of battle.
Joe’s not sure what that means, but Joe also is the same guy who believed Mayfield had a sizeable lead on the quarterback gig the moment the Bucs signed him in March.
June 11th, 2023 at 3:15 pm
Yep but I could settle for a quiet winner.
June 11th, 2023 at 3:16 pm
Sure will be glad when this QB controversy will be over……”Kyler Traskfield a Day” getting like “Gronk-a-day”
June 11th, 2023 at 3:19 pm
Meaningless until scrimmages take place. Mayfield is simply the easiest thing to talk about with the Bucs.
June 11th, 2023 at 3:19 pm
Will see after the pads go on. In June it’s all talk.
June 11th, 2023 at 3:34 pm
Trask would be the better plan for this year.
June 11th, 2023 at 3:41 pm
Trasks physical skills will impose their will on Baker Mayfields face
June 11th, 2023 at 3:42 pm
Joe, why did you cut off the bottom of that photo? Show the rest. Baker’s stomach is bigly.
June 11th, 2023 at 3:42 pm
Yep, he’s the starting QB of the OTAs.
June 11th, 2023 at 3:43 pm
“Leader.”
Leaders don’t play for 4 teams in 7 years.
June 11th, 2023 at 3:48 pm
Son of Trask is Triggered again.
June 11th, 2023 at 4:03 pm
I guess Darlington has been at the closed practices and saw some things Joe didn’t see. This qb battle is a hot topic that ppl jump on to get their names in blogs even though they don’t know any more than we do.
June 11th, 2023 at 4:30 pm
ATLBuc Says: “I guess Darlington has been at the closed practices and saw some things Joe didn’t see.”
Be careful. Commenting on Joe’s reports on the OTAs will get your comment deleted.
June 11th, 2023 at 4:32 pm
It is up to Mayfly to lose this competition. If it is close he will have the edge because he has “experience”.
Of course it would be better if Mayfly reverts to that lustful 24.5 QBR early, so the Bucs have a chance this season.
He will show his true abilities at some point, I just hope he isn’t allowed to dig too deep of a hole.
June 11th, 2023 at 5:07 pm
Trask was a reach where picked him. It’s Mayfield’s job to lose period! If Trask was so great Mayfield wouldn’t be here simple as that, the Bucs would’ve just given the job to Trask once Brady retired.
June 11th, 2023 at 5:17 pm
If Baker wasn’t the projected clubhouse leader after 7wks, considering that QB Room “competition”…That would be the story.
June 11th, 2023 at 5:21 pm
I love how you guys come here every day and talk trash about Mayfield’s NFL numbers but you never mention Trask’s NFL numbers. It’s always how great Trask was in college. But at no level has Kyle Trask EVER outperformed Baker Mayfield. Not in college and not in the NFL.
June 11th, 2023 at 5:30 pm
Bad teams don’t make QBs look great. I hope that Trask and Mayfield both look better than their previous 2 years. Baker was just toss around and Trask was basically called a slow learner.
The truth is that Baker has more experience and moxie than Trask …so Baker is in the lead. If Baker throws a bunch of interceptions then Trask will start. That’s basically what the coaches have been telling us in all the press conferences.
The better QB will eventually win the job. That doesn’t mean game 1 this year. It’s ok to have a favorite but don’t try to throw the other under the bus. I remember the Mike Glennon mob…constantly telling us how great he was???
Please let Trask’s play speak for itself. Most coaches know more about football and talent… than fans. Ok,… Byron might be an exception.
June 11th, 2023 at 5:45 pm
^^^
Agree
“Most coaches know more about football and talent… than fans.”
June 11th, 2023 at 5:55 pm
shankasorous Says:
June 11th, 2023 at 3:42 pm
Joe, why did you cut off the bottom of that photo? Show the rest. Baker’s stomach is bigly.
^^^^^^^^
First you Mayfield haters said he was too short, now he’s too fat. Okay. We’ll see, and you’ll change your name again if you’re wrong.
June 11th, 2023 at 6:18 pm
Baker is going to be the starter and we will be in contention for the division title. Everyone pining for Trask or tanking will be forced to accept this truth at some point
June 11th, 2023 at 7:06 pm
“Imposing himself” is not the best visual image. I’d rather hear, “He’s taking command!”
🙂
June 11th, 2023 at 7:24 pm
I TRULY BELIEVE BAKER MAYFIELD WILL BE OUR OPENING DAY STARTER VS
THE VIKINGS..I JUST PRAY WE CAN FANAGLE THE CAP SPACE TO SIGN DALVIN COOK TO TEAM WITH RASHAD WHITE IN THE BACKFIELD..THAT WOULD BOOST OUR RUNNING ATTACK TO THE POINT OPPONENTS WOULD HAVE TO RESPECT BOTH OUR RUNNING & PASSING ATTACKS FROM DAY ONE !
June 11th, 2023 at 7:28 pm
Baker’s record speaks for itself. So much hype from the Bucs coaches for a guy that is going to fail epically. This is like getting run over by a train traveling at 3 mph. The Bucs see the train ten miles away but are not going to get off the tracks. By the time they figure it out, it will be way too late.
June 11th, 2023 at 7:50 pm
Honestly, it doesn’t matter. We are a show me state now. We want to see one of these QB’s lead us to success on the field during the preseason games. Do that, and you’re in. Get shown up, and you’re out. Simple.
June 11th, 2023 at 8:49 pm
It makes no sense to me that some people say if Trask was so good they wouldn’t have gotten Baker. Trask was the only QB on the roster. They had to get someone else! Baker was so good he had the lowest QBR last season. If he starts we’re definitely tanking and Bowles will be unemployed next spring. That might actually be a win/win tho.
June 11th, 2023 at 8:55 pm
This should come to no surprise to anyone who followed Baker in Carolina last year! It was the exact same thing. I follow beat writers of other teams in our division. Just to see what’s going on. Last year, it was about Baker pulling ahead of Darnold. They used words like “moxie.” Baker will be the starter, and will probably be pulled by week 8 or sooner
June 11th, 2023 at 9:21 pm
“There is no determination on who the starter will be in this quarterback competition.”
This proves Darlington is off the mark.
Bowles wanted a veteran starter, and Licht got him the only one the team could afford. Bowles knew who would be starter the moment Mayfield would be signed.
This is not a true competition. They are just getting Trask reps so he is a prepared #2.
Trask could score on every possession in the preseason games, and Bowles would still pick Mayfield.
I’m actually fine with that. Let Baker take the hits and turnovers while the offensive line is developing. Eventually, Baker will be replaced by Trask. That’s when we’ll find out what Trask can do. Good or bad.
June 11th, 2023 at 9:22 pm
Posturing is not Playing. Prove it on the grass Baker.
June 11th, 2023 at 9:23 pm
Buc4evr Says:
June 11th, 2023 at 7:28 pm
“Baker’s record speaks for itself. So much hype from the Bucs coaches for a guy that is going to fail epically.”
On the bright side…it’ll mean Bowles is out.
June 11th, 2023 at 10:13 pm
Tnoles Says:
June 11th, 2023 at 5:07 pm
Trask was a reach where picked him. It’s Mayfield’s job to lose period! If Trask was so great Mayfield wouldn’t be here simple as that,
If mayfield was so great he wouldn’t be making backup QB money. Did you expect them to sign Ryan griffin to backup trask or sign a desperate vet that hasn’t cut it yet in the NFL?
June 11th, 2023 at 10:17 pm
If the Todd starts mayfield and never turns to trask, this will be todd’s last season with the Bucs. Don’t forget a “rookie” buys the head coach more time, very rarely do they get a pass by making a decision to start a vet and they flouder. All trask has to do is show signs of life in a game and Todd will get another season.
June 12th, 2023 at 1:45 am
I suppose I am hoping mayfield locates his inner ‘drew Bree’s’ this year. That’s not asking too much, is it?
June 12th, 2023 at 6:52 am
Joe in Michigan Says: “First you Mayfield haters said he was too short, now he’s too fat.’
We never realized his girth until Joe’s recent photos. He looks fat in both the face and in the stomach.
June 12th, 2023 at 8:44 am
What show was that again. Who was paying him for this gig again.
What I have read of Maybefields quotes speak to an arogant poser not a confident leader.
June 12th, 2023 at 8:59 am
Wondering…We had a very confident leader here a few years ago.
I think last i heard he was riding the pine in N’awlins.
June 12th, 2023 at 2:28 pm
Of all our past QBs…I feel bad for Josh Freeman. Kid had talent, but his mental illness held him back and eventually destroyed his career.
I suppose Chris Simms had it rough too…
June 12th, 2023 at 5:23 pm
I’ve been checking on news and reading Joe Buc and all the comments and one thing is perfectly clear. You guys don’t know sht about BM. Watched him for 2 yrs at OU. This was after Trevor Knight gunned down Bama in the Sugar Bowl then lost his job to Mayfield. His numbers at OU are probably top 5 all time. Went to that Browns sht show with no OC, hell the GM was coming to Norman to talk offense with Lincoln Riley. Had mayfield putting some of old playbook in.
Look no further then the Browns playoff season, gunning down Pittsburg at 2 rivers. The guy is hurt but keeps playing and the Browns owners kids screw mayfield after checking some of Watsons stats. At least no one is as bad a shape as browns. Regardless Mayfield can play. Biggest question mark appears to be O line which got Brady last yr. I wonder what Sean Mcvey thinks of Mayfield.