Baker Mayfield: It’s About The Team (And Teammates)
January 4th, 2024
Celebrates teammates.
Maybe it was because Michigan advanced to the national championship this week that Baker Mayfield was motivated to indirectly pay homage to Bo Schembechler yesterday.
(Joe hated that old SOB but for the purpose of this story, Joe will play nice.)
Schembechler once had a famous pregame speech often retold in lore. Schembechler preached the virtues of team unity and togetherness ,which he punctuated saying, “The Team. The Team, The Team, The Team.”
Mayfield sounded like a 21st-century version of Schembechler when he said his success this season would not have happened without so many good teammates surrounding him.
Mayfield was asked if he would have had the success he’s had this year, arguably his best in the NFL, without Mike Evans. Not only did Mayfield give Evans props but he added he wasn’t the only one who helped him.
“I mean, we’ve got a bunch of guys [who] have contributed to my individual success. Between the line, protection guys – whether it’s the tight ends or running backs picking it up – everybody making the plays,” Mayfield said. “That’s why it’s the greatest team sport ever.
“Guys get recognized for individual accolades and games, but it’s the greatest team sport, so I appreciate all my teammates and everybody that has helped us get this far, but we’re not done yet.”
With the season winding down, it is fair to say Mayfield landed in the perfect spot for him to rehab his career. Not a whole lot was expected of him, though he did follow the greatest of all time. That had to come with pressure.
How many quarterbacks can land in a spot that Mayfield did with a decent if not good offensive line, led by a stud left tackle, a Hall of Fame receiver, another Pro Bowl receiver and a running back who developed into one of the most dangerous weapons in the league?
So yeah, Joe thinks Mayfield is right. His teammates helped make his year. And it’s not over.
(By the way, as a preemptive strike, Joe knows full well Mayfield played for Oklahoma.)
January 4th, 2024 at 12:02 pm
Or is it about a contract?
January 4th, 2024 at 12:09 pm
Evans is the “secret” ingredient here. Wherever he goes, quarterbacks are successful. Do you think JW would have lasted as long as a starter if he did not have Evans? ME13 prolonged his career and made a couple of nothing QBs quite a few bucks signing elsewhere. Put him in the ROH right now.
January 4th, 2024 at 12:19 pm
I just cant see the Bucs and even Todd Bowels finding a way to blow this game…..this would go down as the worst loss in Bucs history.
0 excuses, this is a Panthers team that looks like they dont even belong in the NFL most weeks.
January 4th, 2024 at 12:24 pm
“Joe thinks it is fair to say Mayfield landed in the perfect spot for him to rehab his career.
Not a whole lot was expected of him, though he did follow the greatest of all time. That had to come with some pressure.”
Reminds me of the explanation Howard Stern gave to deciding which station in NY to go to after his WNBC gig. A lot of people expected him to go to one of the more highly rated shows. But he said he never wanted that, and instead wanted to take over the biggest turd bucket of a station there was, since improving would be so much more of a contrast.
In any case, having a weak division and having Evans and Godwin as your primary targets made the decision for him to come here a no-brainer.
January 4th, 2024 at 12:52 pm
Mayfield says:
“I mean, we’ve got a bunch of guys [who] have contributed to my individual success. “That’s why it’s the greatest team sport ever”
Mayfield just revealed the truth about his own journeyman statsby that statement. He can’t elevate a team and he can only be elevated with good players around him.
He played terrible last week. I guess that was a team loss too not his pathetic performance ?
Baker is only a .500 qb so far with all of these good teammates that he claims to be around with. Also a Bucs defense that has allowed less than 25 points in 12 of their 16 games. Bucs should have been better than a .500 team in this weak division.
Bucs has only scored 30 points or more three times this season, considering the most of teams with the wining record have scored more than 25 points a game.
Baker is an incosistent trash mediocare at best.
Toss this trash with TB at once at the firsr available trash can after they get blown out in the first round. Uh wait, they still have to defeat the trash Panthers with their trash qb, Bruce Y.
January 4th, 2024 at 12:54 pm
BM sure seems like a stand up guy. I like the guy….now gitrdone!
January 4th, 2024 at 12:57 pm
There are four things that can be counted on in the comment section:
1) Optimism
2) Skepticism
3) Cynicism
4) Moronism
The two things that have thankfully not crept into the conversation are:
1) Pessimism
2) Nihilism
GO BUCS !
January 4th, 2024 at 12:59 pm
Next after the loss he waill say…Twas but a scratch….of his bashed ribs. Bowles will find a way to lose, if there is one. Ask the Stainks and Rams.
January 4th, 2024 at 1:02 pm
OH NO. Did I overlook NEGATIVISM ?
January 4th, 2024 at 1:02 pm
Now all the trash Baker fans requesting John W. start instead of Trask? They are so afraid of Trask that they would rather see the 4th year trash undrafted qb with 7 games, 58% comp. 1 td, 5 int.
Baker fans: Why are you so feared of Baker’s back up ?
they
January 4th, 2024 at 1:04 pm
Baker is a humble and nice guy to include all players. Evans is the main ingredient that helps Baker. Just like Evans helped all the other QBs that have been on the Bucs. Never forget how he also made Johnny Manziel look really good in college too.
January 4th, 2024 at 1:13 pm
Bo. LOL, Woody’s assistant coach never met a Bowl Game he couldn’t lose. But I’ll give him props, he actually looked like a wolverine with that low profile and hunched back.
January 4th, 2024 at 1:18 pm
Baker should also give kudos to his old friend TB , for gifting him the starters role after losing the supposed pre-season “ competition “.
January 4th, 2024 at 1:20 pm
By the way, Joe, you’re right. Why would Baker sign for $4m (less than quality backup $) if he didn’t see Evans and Godwin waiting to catch w/e he threw. Quality observation, hat tip to you
January 4th, 2024 at 1:25 pm
How does anyone trust this team after last week?
Prove it. Win. Everything else is just talk.
January 4th, 2024 at 1:33 pm
David you are running hour mouth as usual . Remember by your own standards. If Trask starts he must throw more than 2 TD’S. More than 300 hundred yards and beat a team with a wining, which is actually winning record or he is Trash to you. Oooops. You lost already. Panthers have a losing record. But I am behind who ever our starting QB is.
January 4th, 2024 at 1:47 pm
I believe Baker’s rib injury is more than some “bruised ribs”. He risks further and maybe significant injury if he plays this week. His future is on the line. Regardless of his tolerance for pain and willingness to play he should not play. If Wirfs isn’t 100% and Stinnie isn’t playing well in pass protection Baker’s left side is screaming “hit me” and some Carolina player may do just that. Remember Chris Simms? He suffered a ruptured spleen (left side just below the ribs). That could have been fatal. Simms put his life at risk by staying in that game. Now he has no spleen and his immune system is forever weakened. Don’t play Baker ! I want to see you become the next Drew Brees.
January 4th, 2024 at 2:01 pm
If this is arguably Mayfield best season yikes. That’s bad. It’s like having Dilfer again being drug to victories until the post season. Where just having a good defence isn’t enough. Dilfer was a better QB with less talent though. Best season?? Wow.
January 4th, 2024 at 2:02 pm
Just for the record, Baker is gonna male a LOT more than $4 mil this year. Probably about double that actually. I know that $4 mil extra is just chump change to all JBF commenters, but to most folks it’s a big deal. Come to think of it, his ‘incentives’ are more than most American workers have historically made in a lifetime.
January 4th, 2024 at 2:03 pm
Week 17 and the gator portion of the fan base still cant get behind the starter who put us in a playoff position #sad
January 4th, 2024 at 2:10 pm
I can’t understand a word you saying. No one will expect much out of Trask if he starts in his first NFL regular season game compare to your trash qb, Baker 6 years of garbage.
One thing is for sure though, it won’t get any worst that being down 20-0 with 7 minutes left in the game in last week game with your trash qb.
January 4th, 2024 at 2:12 pm
Tbbuc- we are buc fans not QB fans. We don’t worship players we want what’s best for the team. This isn’t a fantasy football fan base here.
January 4th, 2024 at 2:12 pm
That was the reply to DBS comment.
January 4th, 2024 at 2:14 pm
Since76 Says:
If this is arguably Mayfield best season yikes. That’s bad. It’s like having Dilfer again being drug to victories until the post season. Where just having a good defence isn’t enough. Dilfer was a better QB with less talent though. Best season?? Wow.
———————
On no planet was Dilfer better than Mayfield.
January 4th, 2024 at 2:20 pm
LOL. Baker fans dreaming of their trash qb, Baker to become next Drew Brees. He couldn’t even defeat the trash Saints with without Drew B. Uh, wait, he couldn’t even beat two other Dtrash qb’s Desimon R. & Derek C. and he nearly lost to Panthers trash qb, Bryce Y.
January 4th, 2024 at 2:24 pm
If Baker is really hurt then we have to go with Trask – but it’s not fair on Trask to expect him to succeed. I’ll root for the kid because he’s a buc and I want the team to win – but this is such a typical ‘bucs life’ situation.
January 4th, 2024 at 2:25 pm
David, QB’s don’t play against QB’s. Only idiots and the media portray games in that fashion.
January 4th, 2024 at 2:28 pm
The playoff game will be great …. except it will doom us to another year of Bowles and Co. Oh well. Rinse wash repeat. We should of gone 10-7 and deep in to playoffs but for Bowles and his blunders. Carolina is a joke I cant believe anyone thinks they can win. Hype I guess….No more hype for me got fooled once.
January 4th, 2024 at 2:30 pm
Thanks David. After all your running your mouth all season about how fantastic Trask is nobody will expect much from him now? You and your brother have been slobbering over him all year. If he starts I expect him to win. And you also understand exactly what I was saying. You just have selective memory.
January 4th, 2024 at 2:30 pm
Trash Baker is in no win situations now after his last week dismal performance. He really wants to paly as he did back in Cleveland with his injured shoulder but his tough decision for him. Why ?
1. He will be definetly trashed out to XFL if he plays and Bucs lose to Panthers.
2. If Baker decide to sit and let Trask play. Trask will win the division then will get the look and prestige he needed to overtake the starting position that he had won in the training camp.
3. Either way the trash Baker is screwed with his last week performance and his rib injury at the wrong time.
That happens when you are a low level journyman starter in NFL.
January 4th, 2024 at 2:38 pm
How many times can u say the same thing Trask had his chance on the 1 yard line the 1 yard line he blew it he is not baker Mayfield completion he is the bench warmer they didn’t trade him this year cause he had this year on rookie contract he is gone next year & hopefully all u trask lovers will b also
January 4th, 2024 at 2:44 pm
DBS,
You are clueless Baker fan. Trask is basically a rookie and hasn’t have any reps with the starters either. Do you really expect Trask to play mistakes free with multi TD’s vs your trash boy, Baker who played as a rookie last week ?
January 4th, 2024 at 2:49 pm
Baker fans; You act like a pig but you can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig. Don’t act like you are a Bucs fan when you rather see your injured trash boy to play with the season on line than his back up, Trask.
January 4th, 2024 at 2:52 pm
You and your trash Baker destroyed Brown season playing with fractured shoulder. Don’t do it again. Uh, wait, that might be a good reason to ship your trash boy with TB out of here at the end of the season.
January 4th, 2024 at 3:27 pm
Well, boys, Trask is not trash. He brings a different game than Baker, a pocket passer with a not quite NFL starter arm. The good news is the Panthers DC has no tape on him and can’t zero in on his weaknesses. There’s a reason why the backups have 2-3 good games then fall off the ledge
January 4th, 2024 at 4:42 pm
If Baker can make the throws let him play. If the injury affects his velocity and accuracy then he can’t play, no matter what you think of the backups, you cannot put a wounded QB out there who can’t throw the ball.
We’ll see Sunday when the Bucs need some yards through the air if Baker can deliver it or if the ball is coming out weak.
January 4th, 2024 at 7:59 pm
wake and BAKE!! LFG !!
January 4th, 2024 at 8:35 pm
David, sounds like YOU’RE VERY AFRAID of Baker succeeding. Very afraid!
January 5th, 2024 at 2:48 am
Thats just Rah Rah leader tring to get his teams mind right. Would not expect Baker to say much of anything diferent really. Hope it works. But it starts with him playing better from the opening kick off.
Go Bucs!
January 6th, 2024 at 7:36 am
David your a clown. All you people hating on Baker Mayfield. Why because he’s been an underdog his whole life and is written off and hated on every where he goes. Funny thing is your the ones giving him the motivation to silence all you lops. Probably never played a down in your life. Maybe down under your bosses desk.
January 6th, 2024 at 7:46 am
David your a bitch
January 11th, 2024 at 9:24 am
Jack Burton Mercer Says: “Evans is the “secret” ingredient here. Wherever he goes, quarterbacks are successful. Do you think JW would have lasted as long as a starter if he did not have Evans? ME13 prolonged his career and made a couple of nothing QBs quite a few bucks signing elsewhere. Put him in the ROH right now.”
Fully agree. We saw that in TX. He is the guy. Unfortunately, if the ball is short or way off, he doesn’t get the chance. Yes, he has had drop balls. However, he is the secret ingredient like you said. He should be in the ROH.
Baker may see other teams try to sign him.