Asking Baker Mayfield
January 26th, 2024
Returning to Tampa?
When the Bucs chose their last offensive coordinator one year ago, Dave Canales, the team had no starting quarterback in place. The only QB on the roster was zero-experience Kyle Trask.
Now the Bucs are seeking another offensive coordinator with Canales moving on yesterday to be head coach of the Carolina Panthers. But this time they know exactly who they want to be their quarterback. That’s Baker Mayfield.
Perhaps Mayfield wants to feel out the free agency market, but he says he prefers not to and the Bucs have said they want Mayfield back. Plus, the Bucs have the franchise tag to slap on Mayfield next month if the two sides can’t come to terms on a contract.
NBC Sports estimates the franchise tag for a QB would be about $35 million next season, up from about $32 million in 2023.
So Joe hopes/assumes the Bucs soon will talk to Mayfield to get his input on the next playcaller.
Perhaps Mayfield doesn’t really like Zac Robinson of the Rams or his own QB coach, Thad Lewis, two guys that could be on the Tampa Bay radar to replace Canales. Or maybe Mayfield has a referral or two based on his vast experience.
Alex Van Pelt, the former NFL quarterback and a longtime NFL assistant coach, called the plays for Mayfield when the Browns rolled the Steelers 48-37 in the playoffs three seasons ago. Joe has read that they had a good relationship.
Van Pelt, 53, is highly seasoned, including years in Green Bay working as Aaron Rodgers QB coach and as Josh Freeman’s quarterback coach in Tampa (2010 and 2011) before he melted down.
Of course, Joe does not expect Mayfield to call the shot on the next offensive coordinator, but icing him out of the process seems like a bad idea.
January 26th, 2024 at 9:03 am
David tepper seems like a bad owner. I did like Canales but man what a mediocre record as play caller. Six weeks ago he wouldn’t have gotten an interview. And I thought the glazers could do better, lol.
January 26th, 2024 at 9:10 am
That will tell Baker a lot if he is consulted or froze out of the process. If froze out he needs to move on, if consulted means he is a long term solution.
January 26th, 2024 at 9:11 am
Did Canales actually get a six year contract Wow!
January 26th, 2024 at 9:21 am
Van pelt is the man. The guy was OC during bakers last good year before this one. He is a better play caller than Stefanski as witnessed by Stefi getting destroyed in the playoff games he called. Van Pelt called the Big win against Pitt in 2021 because Steffi was covidized. Steffi just called The bad loss against Texans. Stefanski is ruthless in a Caligula sort of way. Like Caligula used the Christians as a scape goat for burning down Rome started during one of his legendary out of control parties Sfeffi scape goated a hurt Baker for not making the 21 playoffs.So Steffi got ahead of the press calling for him to stop calling plays as a HC by sendin g Van Pelt out to get eaten by the Lions. I would snap up Alex right away. The Browns Trash is everybody elses treasure. For his back stabbing behavour Steffi is stuck with a fragile under performing PR night mare Depervert.
January 26th, 2024 at 9:21 am
Canales looked promising but had a lot of shortcomings, which is to be expected as a 1st year coordinator. I think it shows how desperate Carolina was at getting a HC given their history of the last few years. Nobody wanted to go there so they had to picke the uber green 1st year coordinator.
I’m afraid Canales will be in for a rude awakening and his inexperience will catch up to him, that’s if Tepper’s attitude doesn’t get there first.
This completely screws up the continuity though, ffs can Baker get 2 years of stable coaching in the same system?!
January 26th, 2024 at 9:25 am
dont make a hire based on BM……
he is middle of the road.
I wish they would have gone full on rebuild because we are in for a world of mediocrity.
January 26th, 2024 at 9:27 am
The kitties are going to kick our a$$
they barely lost to us. lol. The have a D….a smidget of offense and they are better than us. NO always owns us…..atlanta just got weaker.
I think NC is going to surprise a lot of pple
January 26th, 2024 at 9:33 am
Trask to Bjrmingham UFL
January 26th, 2024 at 9:34 am
Who knows if bowles was holding canales back or not. Dan Morgan knows him better than anyone and he has the potential to be a better head coach than coordinator with his mold
January 26th, 2024 at 9:41 am
You dont make a hiring decision based on a QB unless that QB is an established star. Baker is anything but established. You base the decision around your already established starts and your HOF WR who you must do anything it takes to resign. Baker should be the after thought.
January 26th, 2024 at 9:41 am
Future HOF WR I should say.
January 26th, 2024 at 9:41 am
Canales will be fired before the next season is completed with the psycho Tepper as owner. Carolina record prediction: 4-13.
January 26th, 2024 at 9:45 am
The Bucs should just back the Brinks truck up to Mayfield and let him write his own check/contract. Hes basically the 2nd coming. He should personally pick the next OC for sure. Actually the Bucs would be foolish to not let him run the GM role too seeing as he is soo good
January 26th, 2024 at 9:48 am
Couch Fan Says:
January 26th, 2024 at 9:41 am
Future HOF WR I should say.
………………………………………..
When the Hell has that ever happened in the history of this league. smh
January 26th, 2024 at 9:48 am
YES…..thanks, Joe! Why don’t Todd Bowles and Jason Licht sit down with Bake and say, “Who do you want playing call next year, Baker?”
I am sure Baker has some ideas.
January 26th, 2024 at 9:49 am
People would rather do a full rebuild and miss the playoffs for multiple years instead of letting Thad Lewis take over the coordinator position that way baker and the offense has a little bit of continuity, and stability. Do some of you haters realize that you dislike baker so much you are willing to see your team do miserable? Baker said he would sacrifice if it meant keeping the same team together, baker wants Mike back and Mike Evan’s only returns if baker is the qb. Everyone on the team loves baker, maybe they know something that the baker haters don’t. The offense can only get better, 2 years with the same players and somewhat same offensive system. Regardless baker is getting paid no matter how much some of you hate him
January 26th, 2024 at 9:51 am
BakerFan Says:
January 26th, 2024 at 9:48 am
Couch Fan Says:
January 26th, 2024 at 9:41 am
Future HOF WR I should say.
………………………………………..
When the Hell has that ever happened in the history of this league. smh
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Was this suppose to make sense?
January 26th, 2024 at 9:54 am
The offense can only get better, 2 years with the same players and somewhat same offensive system.
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Thats not true, they can certainly get worse in year 2. Especially under an incompetent coach like The ReTodd.
January 26th, 2024 at 9:59 am
“Perhaps Mayfield doesn’t really like Zac Robinson of the Rams or his own QB coach,”
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Why would’t he? Since Zac robinson was actually more involved than Canales ever was or will be in resurrecting Baker’s career.
Its the LA Rams that showed the Buc’s how to use Baker and Canales didn’t even see Baker to his full potential. If you doubt that FINALLY put in the tape on Baker in Cleveland before he was injured.
IN terms of Zac he would likely be an upgrade over Canales.
January 26th, 2024 at 10:07 am
“Alex Van Pelt, the former NFL quarterback and a longtime NFL assistant coach, called the plays for Mayfield when the Browns rolled the Steelers 48-37 in the playoffs three seasons ago. Joe has read that they had a good relationship.”
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I think if Zac has taken up the ways of McVey he still woud be better. Rams offense is even more QB friendly than the Browns of 2020
January 26th, 2024 at 10:07 am
Kellen Moore, Brian Griese and Ken Dorsey should also be on the list to interview.
January 26th, 2024 at 10:13 am
All this talk is pointless.
If Bowles is still the HC, this franchise will still be mediocre.
Bowles career record tells you who he is – yet people get excited about a playoff win vs. a team that basically quit. The 2023 Bucs were not a good team.
Carolina will be better
Atlanta will be better
New Orleans will be better
Tampa will not be better.
January 26th, 2024 at 10:17 am
I think Baker does want to stay…if Evens is here and even then, a little less than he did a few days ago with Canales gone. But if Evans isn’t here and he gets a fine offer elsewhere? The franchise tag might be our best bet, unless Baker really wants to consider a “hometown discount”.
January 26th, 2024 at 10:26 am
Baker doesn’t take a hometown discount if Mike doesn’t stay, and if they can’t use that money to improve the oline and get some edge rushers and comebacks and safeties
January 26th, 2024 at 10:29 am
they should definitely talk to Baker and get his thoughts on who is the next OC.
it would be crazy not to do it.
January 26th, 2024 at 10:30 am
Dave Canales will be the next Dirk Koetter. Look for 4 or 5 win seasons and last place in the division. Nice guy but no draft picks this year and a bad offense. I am LMAO that the people who think Canales is going to actually compete are the same trolls who laughed at the Bucs when they hired him and predicted a 3 win season and then wanted him run with Bowels when the Bucs were 4-7. Now he is missed and a big “loss”. Tepper may even fire Coach Dave if the Panthers start 0 and forever yet again. Carolina is the new Cleveland, a permanent bottom feeder with a bust as QB.
January 26th, 2024 at 10:42 am
Stinking hating talking turd trolls on this sight are still dissing Baker.This proves that on this sight opinions
are one and the same as ess holes!
Hope Baker signs a big fat contract with another team. I know he doesn’t want to start over yet again. He worked hard this past year and more than deserves any accolades he gets.
The Bums in this town deserve what they will get. Will be sorry to see Baker go. But I will root for him where ever he goes. And where ever that is he will win them a super bowl before Tampa or Cleveland or Carolina ever do.
January 26th, 2024 at 10:45 am
Baker is the GOAT the BUCS are not allowed to resign him. He will take his beautiful talent somewhere else and win them all the superbowls. because all you troll fans stink!?!?!
January 26th, 2024 at 10:48 am
You all are a bunch of meany weanies. Baker more than proved himself. I sat on the sidelines (with my Pom Poms) and rooted my man on all season and he BLEW AWAY EXPECTATIONS. The Bucs dont deserve my sweet prince.
January 26th, 2024 at 10:52 am
Spotrac has Mayfield’s calculated market value at $27.1 mill per year for a new contract. That seems like a good/fair number.
January 26th, 2024 at 11:01 am
But I will root for him where ever he goes. And where ever that is he will win them a super bowl before Tampa or Cleveland or Carolina ever do.
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And hopefully you follow him so your lips arent stretched out to far from his backside. Looking out for your well being of course. Oh and btw, Bucs have already won a super bowl before Mayfield. Sorry, not sorry.
January 26th, 2024 at 11:03 am
Canales never impressed me as a play caller. Let’s see how he does in North Carolina. Baker is in ascendance. Find him a good OC and one who can fix our o-line. Fire Bowles. Hire Belichick.
January 26th, 2024 at 11:16 am
I wonder who Canales will try to take with him. Peete comes to mind.
January 26th, 2024 at 11:21 am
This forum would be much easier to read if you could filter out the endless posts that demand the coach be fired (which is not going to happen) it’s like a 9-year-old asking you over and over and over and over for something that you’ve already told them he isn’t going to get
January 26th, 2024 at 11:24 am
Seems to me it would be easier to just skip over our/their posts instead of whining about other peoples opinions.
January 26th, 2024 at 11:26 am
Todd bowels better get on bills are about to get Thad Lewis
January 26th, 2024 at 12:18 pm
Baker ain’t going nowhere unless he is totally lowballed. It boils down to the HC. Todd loves him some Baker and the feeling is mutual. Why worry about the monkey when the organ grinder is on your side? Canales sort of sucked early and the Bucs lived through his growing pains. Thad is an option, but i think he needs a few more years before he’s ready; keep him on staff and expand his role. Klint Kubiac or Zac Robinson would be a plus hire. Everybody is all Shanahan or McVay…that system was invented by Gary Kubiac with the Broncos.
January 26th, 2024 at 1:22 pm
Boss doing his best to let everyone know he has zero understanding of football, per usual
January 26th, 2024 at 1:28 pm
Now Joe has the Bucs braintrust asking Baker for approval on coaching hires? Good grief. The crazy train is careening out of control.
Only foolish teams will give up the farm for a player with an up-and-down career coming off a career year. And that “career year” was only OK. He was carried by the defense and a HoF WR.
This is not hate. This is concern for the future health of my favorite team. Be smart, Licht!
January 26th, 2024 at 1:49 pm
Paging Lincoln Riley! Paging Lincoln Riley! Your college coaching career isn’t working out like you planned. How about joining the Bucs as OC?
January 26th, 2024 at 2:10 pm
@Couch fan, Are you even a Bucs fan? All you do is complain about the HC, and QB, in every post you make. Are you a Bucs fan?
Or are you a salty Browns fan? Are you pissed off that Baker Mayfield has had a better career and was better in Cleveland than Tim COUCH? Is that where your lifelong troll quest gets its fuel? Please let me know exactly WTF your problem actually is because you are an absolute cancer on this site and probably everywhere you go.
January 26th, 2024 at 2:36 pm
It looks like Van Pelt would actually be an upgrade to Canales. That seems like the route to pursue.
January 26th, 2024 at 2:44 pm
It will be fun to see how this all plays out. Actions speak louder than words. Show some love for what you got and what you can be.
If Baker takes a mid-tier QB deal, the team offers him at least 3 years of guarantee, they find a way to keep Evans, and they go after an OC that keeps the scheme or something similar – there will be a lot of happy Buc fans and players. If the GM and owners blow it up, you will still have a lot of happy Buc fans but they won’t be smiling for a few years. The players maybe happy too to play for more financial wealth in better situations.
January 26th, 2024 at 2:52 pm
So Joe hopes/assumes the Bucs soon will talk to Mayfield to get his input on the next playcaller.
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LOL!
This is a courtesy you give elite QBs, like you’d ask Brady stuff like this. Not Baker, who isn’t even under contract. I mean you could ask just as a curiosity I guess, but it should hold no weight.
Also I already know what Baker will say… “oh, they’re great.” So there, now you don’t need to ask.
January 26th, 2024 at 6:56 pm
I’ll tell you who shouldn’t be involved….ignorant Buccaneers fans. They know square about the NFL. I sincerely hope Baker moves on and takes the $140 million from another team. Rhen these clowns can sqaunder around and bitch about life, being alive and settle for being the third best team in Florida.
David, brutalasbucs, looking you right in your crossed eyes
January 26th, 2024 at 8:28 pm
It’s real simple, if the bucs are keeping Baker they are looking for a OC to work with him and vice versa, also with whoever they bring back on offense, it’s not the fuccking jack secret show or pissing contest some people make it out to be, everyone has to be on the same page and Tampa has proven to do that. It makes everyone successful, how hard is that to figure out?
January 27th, 2024 at 2:26 am
Good stuff Joe!
“So Joe hopes/assumes the Bucs soon will talk to Mayfield to get his input on the next playcaller.”
If they are not then there needs to be an investigation! Surely Baker, his agent, Jason, and Todd are all doing alot of communicating right now.
We do not need wholesale changes in the offense no matter who the OC ends up being. I’m sure Mayfield is thinking the same way.
Also the quicker we get this done the better! Screw what Bowles said about being slow and thorough!
Go Bucs!
January 27th, 2024 at 8:59 am
Baker Mayfield can walk this is a rich quarterback draft class Baker Mayfield ain’t winning us a superbowl so I will say if don’t take a year to year deal with incentives than let him walk and move up in the draft and get a quarterback. That will bring more unity in the fan base because than it would be more about the bucs as a team than these Baker Mayfield fan boys who came in and try to divide the fan base.
January 27th, 2024 at 9:02 am
Remember Cleveland let Baker pick the coach and how that turn out? Lol 🤣🤣
January 27th, 2024 at 10:54 am
If your record is over .500 after an off-season when you couldn’t sign quality free agents because of cap issues, someone is doing something right. I know the Eagles were struggling big time but that playoff win was sweet, especially since last season’s playoff game looked like Brady’s audition for the Professional Wack-A-Mole League, he showed his prowess at firing the ball into the ground.