“A License To Steal”
February 11th, 2024
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BY IRA KAUFMAN
As usual, the Bucs have a quarterback problem on their hands.
Baker Mayfield just proved he can get Tampa Bay to the postseason … and that’s worth celebrating. But in the big picture, Mayfield doesn’t solve the overwhelming issue facing this organization through its history — the lack of a franchise quarterback.
Why is it so important to have the right guy under center? NFL history tells us that elite quarterbacks are the key to sustained success. That’s why.
No quarterback drafted by the Bucs has ever received a second contract with the organization. When I drop that nuggest on out-of-town NFL writers, they are uniformly astonished.
Rightfully so.
This franchise began play in 1976 and the Bucs are still seeking that long-term answer at the game’s most critical position. And in case you were wondering, no quarterback drafted by Tampa Bay has ever earned All-Pro honors as a Buccaneer.
So here comes Mayfield, who is likely never going to be considered elite. He’s feisty as all heck, a terrific competitor with impressive leadership skills, but can you see him as a Top 5 quarterback in this league?
When it comes to the Bucs and drafting quarterbacks, the less said the better. Doug Williams left in a contract dispute, Vinny Testaverde was much better elsewhere and Trent Dilfer lacked the right stuff.
Josh Freeman turned out to be a one-year wonder and Jameis Winston remains a turnover machine.
It’s been 15 years since the Bucs drafted big Josh Freeman in the first round.
Different general managers working out of One Buc Place have tried to solve the problem, yet the song remains the same. Look around at the NFL landscape and see what happens when you hit on the right guy.
In Tom Brady’s 18 years as a starter for New England, the Patriots enjoyed 17 double-digit winning seasons. The Saints won at least 10 games nine times in 15 years with Drew Brees under center. During Brett Favre’s 16 years in Green Bay, the Packers posted 13 winning seasons, two less than Ben Roethlisberger had in Pittsburgh.
The only time the Bucs have reeled off more than two consecutive winning seasons came between 1999-2002. How did that happen? All you need is a historic defense led by four Hall of Famers.
Realistically, how often can you bank on that?
Ron Wolf, who was in charge of football operations for the inaugural 1976 Buccaneers, landed in Canton as a Hall of Fame executive. His best work came in turning around the Packers in the 1990s. He traded for Brett Favre, signed Reggie White as a free agent and drafted wisely. Despite Favre’s incredible durability, Wolf made it a point to select a quarterback in 7-of-8 drafts between 1992-99.
“I learned very early in this game, if you don’t have a quarterback, you don’t have a chance,” Wolf said. “We were very lucky that we had a unique quarterback that never missed a game, but that didn’t stop me from drafting in late rounds. It’s the premier position and you better be able to cover yourself.”
The Jameis Winston era was more nausea than smiles.
In 2015, Jason Licht opened the draft by selecting Jameis Winston. Marcus Mariota went next to the Titans. All these years later, they own a combined 68-86 record as starters. Both are now backups.
Those two didn’t work out, but Licht should keep trying. Although there are plenty of NFL quarterbacks worse than Mayfield, he’s not Brady, Favre, Brees, Roethlisberger, Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, Matt Ryan or Philip Rivers.
He’s not Matt Stafford or Russell Wilson in their primes.
The Bucs have kicked this quarterback can down the road for so long, they find themselved stuck in a ditch. Mayfield is only 28 and he seems to own considerable leverage as a potential free agent. He has won over Todd Bowles and teammates and let’s face facts: Tampa Bay doesn’t have appetizing options under center beyond No. 6.
How will Team Glazer chase greatness?
The Glazers would surely love to find the future face of this franchise in the draft. He doesn’t have to play right away, but landing the right quarterback on a rookie contract is a license to steal.
At this point, Mayfield looks like a middle-of-the-road quarterback and the 9-8 Bucs look like a middle-of-the-pack team. Once again, Licht looks at this roster and sees a competitive group.
Buc fans crave long-term success. They want to stack those 10-win seasons with a C.J. Stroud clone you can build around.
The Bucs don’t have one of those. Go find one.
Yes, that warranty is on EVERY new vehicle!
Ira drives a 2020 Ford Escape (cherry red).
February 11th, 2024 at 10:52 am
Nonsense. Mayfield is easily a top 8 QB. He out dueled Patrick MaHomes in college. Mayfield has an elite arm and can make all the throws an NFL QB needs to make. Matthew Stafford spent 10 years in the Detroit wilderness until he became an elite Super Bowl QB with a well coached and well built LA Rams team. Here is another one for you armchair football experts. Tom Brady on the Cleveland Browns circa 1999- 2020 would never have become “Tom Brady” the GOAT. He would have been buried under dysfunctional ownership, poor coaching and lack of talent. There is no question that Andy Reid’s KC Chiefs both offensively and defensively are a more talented team than Mayfield has ever played in the NFL. John Dorsey one of the best talent evaluators in the NFL selected both MaHomes and Mayfield to be franchise QB’s. I trust Dorsey more than any opinion maker on this blog.
February 11th, 2024 at 10:56 am
It should be a crime this Organization has never had a long-term franchise QB.
……….does this mean all of TB franchise owners since inception have been cheap????
February 11th, 2024 at 10:58 am
Nice piece Ira.
I heard people saying this year has the most talent at QB since 1983 (Elway, Marino, Kelly)
Marino was drafted #27 that year….
Just sayin…
Do your homework Bucs. If there’s a QB you like at the right “value” this draft (Whether 1st rd or 7th) – Take him!
February 11th, 2024 at 11:08 am
Hi Sage, while I agree Mayfield may not ever be seen as an elite QB, the Bucs won their first Superbowl without an elite QB. It IS a team game. There are 23 other positions besides QB. Get enough talent (and depth) for the other positions and a team can compete for the Championship.
How would TB12 or Patrick Mahomes have done as QB if they had been the QB for the 1977 Buccaneers?
February 11th, 2024 at 11:09 am
The bucs always been ignorant when it cones to QB Kyle Trask is the Qb of the future
February 11th, 2024 at 11:32 am
In his first year with the Bucs, Mayfield (and the team) took us to the playoffs. Who is to say (with authority) that he can’t get even better each year? I say, build around Baker and give him another chance.
February 11th, 2024 at 11:52 am
Sage … ‘At this point, Mayfield looks like a middle-of-the-road quarterback and the 9-8 Bucs look like a middle-of-the-pack team.’
I’m sure that you know that them’s fightin words to the Bakerites. I for one don’t disagree with your assessment from a big picture standpoint, but at the same time I agree with Crickett … ‘Who is to say (with authority) that he can’t get even better each year?’
It’s all about TEAM far as I’m concerned. Surround Baker with an improved supporting cast (including improved OC play-calling), and there’s no reason they couldn’t improve on that 9-8 record. His strength is his LEADERSHIP skills IMO.
Balls’ in JL’s court right now. We don’t have much salary CAP space to play with ($37.6 mil for the Top-51 according to Spotrac today), but he can do some wheeling & dealing and create more space. Bringing back ALL of our Top-5 FAs (Evans, Mayfield, Winfield, LVD & McLaughlin) won’t be easy, but I’ve become convinced that it’s ESSENTIAL. All performed very well in 2023, and replacing that level of performance with someone else at their position won’t be easy … and won’t come cheap. It’ll also take another fantastic draft to improve our depth with young, inexpensive players. Should be right up JL’s alley.
February 11th, 2024 at 11:59 am
Cynical Ira.
February 11th, 2024 at 12:11 pm
Ira, you should know better……..Burrow, Rivers, Allen & Ryan have never won a Superbowl….
The Bucs have had many QBs who won a SB either with the Bucs or someone else..
Brady, Johnson, Dilfer, Williams, Young…..
So, we’ve had winners under contract at some point.
February 11th, 2024 at 12:19 pm
Trask is better than Baker. If Trask ever plays Baker will go in the way of Bledsoe
February 11th, 2024 at 12:20 pm
I had such hopes for Parnell Dickinson
February 11th, 2024 at 12:21 pm
The Bucs haven’t had a franchise QB but they haven’t been much of a franchise as an organization. The truth hurts.
Ownership, GM, coaches need to be solid for a QB to succeed. I like to use Justin Herbert as an example. I’m sure Ira and others would consider him a “franchise QB”. He has the skills and the stats, right? But what has he done? No playoffs the past 2 years.
We had Steve Young. He’s a multiple SB winner and in the HOF. He did that with another team. See a pattern here?
Mayfield has skills comparable to Herbert with some extra “moxie” thrown in. He’s been with “lousy organizations” since Day 1 of his pro career. Now he’s on a Bucs team with weapons, owners and a GM who want to win and decent coaches. No reason to think he can’t succeed here and become (in people’s minds) a “franchise QB”. We are trending up in all areas and Mayfield is still on the young side.
No disrespect to Ira, but we already have our franchise QB. We just need to re-sign him and keep building around him. That’s what winning franchises do. Losers look a gift horse in the mouth and gamble on the draft (and some mortgage their future) only to end up with a Ryan Leaf or Bryce Young.
February 11th, 2024 at 12:21 pm
“Although there are plenty of NFL quarterbacks worse than Mayfield, he’s not Brady, Favre, Brees, Roethlisberger, Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, Matt Ryan or Philip Rivers.”
and thats why this is such a lousy piece and at this point in time pretty worthless. Our pick this year is 26 – You couldn’t pick a worse time to go on about “GO find one”
The paragraph above destroys you argument. YOu go back nearly TWO DECADES of Brady and ahem how many more names could you come up with in two decades?
Mahomes , Favre, Roethlisberger and then you run out of Qbs thay have been so good they won more than one Super bowl. ( the mannings being the only other two who you feft out ).
Quite ofteen tampa bay media is as bad in analysis as the comment section here at JBF. Its no suprise whatsoever there are mutliple teams that have never had and ultra eiite QB.
THE SUPER ELITE RARELY COME ALONG
If you are talking about just getting to the super bowl ( since Burrow hasn’t won squat)
Names galore of non super elites – Garrapolo, Newton. Kaepernick. Gannon , McNabb etc all made it to the big dance – and history has borne out multpile times – IF you go – sometimes you won – egads without a super top five Elite QB? Yep
I dunno if we even have five Elit Qbs now in the league. SOme of the names people bandied about came up pretty badly this post season
and by the end of today we will add Purdy in one of those columns ( and I aint buying Purdy is elite – just very good on a Great TEAM) .
IF you are in position to pick up a Stroud then great but its pretty assinine to look at how rare elite Qbs have come around in the history of the leagiue and think “Go find one” is a magical fairy command that will make it happen.
and what exacly are the 27 other teams without top five Qbs supposed to do ? twiddle their thumbs? or heres a thought
Go build a team that doesn’t have to rely on lightening striking to win a super bowl. Kinda like I dunno – what the Niners may end up doing to no one ‘s surprise later tonight.
February 11th, 2024 at 12:23 pm
Huh?
Dude is young. Why can’t HE be “the” franchise QB?
February 11th, 2024 at 12:28 pm
Trask is better than Baker. If Trask sees the field Mayfield will go the way of Bledsoe
February 11th, 2024 at 12:37 pm
Resign BM6, ME13, and AWjr31 and let’s see how far BM6 can take this team! Dump the dead weight and shore up the weak links with a good off season then…then anything can happen.
February 11th, 2024 at 12:40 pm
Pickgrin Says:
I heard people saying this year has the most talent at QB since 1983 (Elway, Marino, Kelly)
Marino was drafted #27 that year….
Just sayin…
————
It not saying much because heres the thing with the assessment of the
1983 draft – It was after the fact.
This draft is hyped from before the draft which means everyone is looking over it for Qbs. Unlike in 1983 everyone is saying Qb for this draft – so one is unlikely to fall under the radar. IF theres one at 26 then he will be down at 26 for a very good reason.
February 11th, 2024 at 12:42 pm
robbie Says:
February 11th, 2024 at 11:28 am
Ira,
Nice job showing his photo towering over the midget and yet avoiding why Kyle Trask, the Bucs’ 6’5″ second-round quarterback, has now gone 3 seasons without playing a single series in a game with the starters.
^^^^^^^^
Robbie: Was Mike Glennon better than Drew Brees because he’s taller? Is Brock Osweiler in the NFL Hall of Fame? I shouldn’t have to tell you that being taller doesn’t make you better, you should be able to figure this out on your own.
February 11th, 2024 at 12:43 pm
Keep adding a few needs here and there and I believe Baker can get us a few more wins. Then will he be considered above average?
February 11th, 2024 at 12:53 pm
Glass half full. Looking at this another way one could say, even though the Bucs have never signed a drafted QB to a second contract they have won more Super Bowls than some other teams with HoF QBs. Burrow, Allen, Ryan, Rivers, Brees and Farvre, to name six.
February 11th, 2024 at 12:55 pm
Cretins who proclaim Trask is better than Baker really crack me up. Only an idiot looks at college performance and assumes it just continues in the NFL.
Maroons.
February 11th, 2024 at 1:14 pm
IRA – Mayfield had the worst running game in the league. No #3 wr and Cade is a joke at TE. Give Mayfield some help.
Not one of your best pieces buddy.
February 11th, 2024 at 1:15 pm
Oh, and Mayfield went 9-8 with $80 mill in dead cap. I’m sure that made his job easier. What a hack job by Ira
February 11th, 2024 at 1:29 pm
“NFL history tells us that elite quarterbacks are the key to sustained success.”
Agree with that sentiment but not with the “implied” suggestion you have to draft one high. Don’t wish to put words in IRA’s post though.
Again…1st round QB’s work out at 50-50 as pointed out by Warren Sharp who simply used the combined records of wins and losses. Perhaps statistically misleading but 1st round pick have total records that split 50-50.
Late round draft picks also have decent %’s of success, and of course as the Bucs can attest FA’s also can get you to the promised land. BOTH Bucs SB winners were FA’s…Both were very late round picks.
OTOH Josh Allen, the most physically imposing of all the elite QB’s has not really fared all that well. Yes he wins at an incredible 70% but fades like a Dak Prescott in the playoffs! Well that’s hyperbole. He’s 5-4 which is not Prescott like but the fact remains…
Despite having the third-best winning percentage in the NFL since Allen was drafted in 2018, the Bills have gone to one AFC Championship in that time and have zero Super Bowl appearances. If that was Mayfield all the Trask bois here would be going ballistic!!!
February 11th, 2024 at 1:33 pm
Dan McGwire.
February 11th, 2024 at 1:38 pm
The Eagles gave Hasson Reddick permission to seek a trade. He is coming 2 consecutive 10 plus sack seasons and high quarterback pressure numbers. Bucs defense lacked enough pressure on Jared Golf in the divisional playoff game. Bucs have not had a consistent and serious pass rusher off the edge since JPP. Jason Licht should seriously consider trading for Hasson Reddick.
February 11th, 2024 at 1:44 pm
Is Dak elite? Is Lamar elite? Is Burrow elite? Their gardeners make more than Baker did last season, and they weren’t any more successful than he. I can’t be convinced, at least at this point, that Baker can’t be a winning Super Bowl QB.
February 11th, 2024 at 1:48 pm
Get Baker a decent run game and we can get to the big game. Winning it will take a better defense and some luck. I think we can get there with Baker because he knows he will have to take a lesser deal to keep greater talent around him. Something the GOAT did regularly. Bake has all the intangibles to make it happen but needs be throwing less than 35 times a game. We need a Gibbs type back.
Robbie you point out the big Josh Freeman towering over the wee little Drew Brees and how we need to play our big man Kyle Trask however you fail to see the irony of how great Brees was and how laughable Freeman’s career was. Size ain’t everything, it’s 90% between the ears back there.
February 11th, 2024 at 2:02 pm
Baker is due an off year that is his M.O. since drafted by the Brown’s since he he did pretty well last year.
The Bucs drafted a future qb in the 2nd round who with all things even out played a 6th year vet but was jobbed out of the starting gig because the head coach who didn’t draft him was trying to save his own job. He showed remarkable improvement in off season practices and pre season games and it stands to reason that he would finally start to be even better as the season went along with more experience in the system but our coward coach went with the qb he wanted to draft.
So now the fanbois and even Buc fans want the Bucs to sign Mr Mediocrity to a big contract instead of further developing the one we drafted and subject us to another year of roller coaster at qb.
Cut bait now let him get his big pay day somewhere else and subject them to his down year and develop the guy we drafted to save money now and to build up for the future.
February 11th, 2024 at 2:09 pm
Stick with Mayfield and build the trenches. Give mayfield pocket time, and the opposing QB no time – and we’ll be fine.
February 11th, 2024 at 2:14 pm
Well said, Ira. This time, we agree.
February 11th, 2024 at 2:18 pm
So alls we need is 4 Hall of Fame defensive linemen. That lets out Plan 9 from Outer Space.
February 11th, 2024 at 2:35 pm
Gipper says Baker out dueled Mahomes in college! Well there you see how delusional the Baker fan boys are. Ira, is right, but it is true you can win the S.B. with a middle of the road QB. So Baker boys, hang your hat on that.
February 11th, 2024 at 2:42 pm
realistic-optimistic Says:
Well said, Ira. This time, we agree.
——
Thanks RO.
If that isn’t enough to convince Ira of the error of his ways nothing else will.
February 11th, 2024 at 3:00 pm
I think a guy like Brock Purdy is the exception.
Kyle knew that with a loaded team, you need a “smart” QB and it works for their team. No way he would excel at Carolina for instance.
Caleb Williams is intriguing because he has the Mahomes intangibles so DUH.
Every other sure fire QB is a crap shoot and he better have what YOUR TEAM NEEDS.
Is it Arm Talent from any angle like Love and Stroud?
Well Jamies had that and the TOs roasted him.
Mariotta could scramble but no arm talent.
I WANT a Franchise QB, but finding them is like winning the lottery.
You can’t just say go find them, but we shouldn’t give up.
I do like having the flexibility to land one in the latter rounds and not HOPING our 5th and 6th round WRs start.
That I agree with totally. Keep trying.
February 11th, 2024 at 3:24 pm
The only way to shut up the so called “experts” on this blog about Mayfield is for him to go to ATL. or PITTS and for him to win multiple SuperBowls with either of these franchises. Can hear the same naysayers now. “ I never said that about Mayfield. I liked Mayfield just thought we should pay him $1.5Million with a $40million bonus for every Super Bowl.” Again, really entertaining to hear from the collection of football rubes on this blog who know more about NFL QB play than Baker’s coaches and fellow players.
February 11th, 2024 at 3:38 pm
Beeej Says:
February 11th, 2024 at 12:20 pm
I had such hopes for Parnell Dickinson
___________
So very true, especially after the Spurrier train crashed and smoldered!
February 11th, 2024 at 3:41 pm
Bobby Says:
February 11th, 2024 at 1:38 pm
The Eagles gave Hasson Reddick permission to seek a trade. He is coming 2 consecutive 10 plus sack seasons and high quarterback pressure numbers. Bucs defense lacked enough pressure on Jared Golf in the divisional playoff game. Bucs have not had a consistent and serious pass rusher off the edge since JPP. Jason Licht should seriously consider trading for Hasson Reddick.
____________
Who would be more beneficial to the TEAM?
ME13
or
Reddick?
I say Reddick or another major disrupter on D.
And with the spare change we could afford more depth on both sides of the ball.
Bye Mike
February 11th, 2024 at 3:42 pm
74 Bucs Fan … ‘Stick with Mayfield and build the trenches.’
Don’t disagree with you, but there-in MIGHT lie the Bucs’ dilemma. IF Baker won’t settle for less than $35-$40 mil, it’ll be hard to make the pennies left over go far enough to build a BETTER TEAM around him.
Suppose for a minute that we pay Mayfield that much (say $36 mil, the franchise tag). We eat the whole $36 mil in 2024, and basically have next to nothing left over from our current $37.6 mil CAP available.
Plus let’s say we release Davis, Gage & Nelson. Appears to save us almost $20 mil in 2024, BUT the NFL would make all their VOID YEARS come due in 2024 if we released them before 1 Jun. And that’s where kicking the can down the street in 2021-2023 kicks us in the butt. Instead of saving $20 mil, we’d end up OWING $2 mil (but erasing ALL of their VOID YEARS helping us in 2025, 2026 & 2027). So we’d effectively still have $0 salary CAP space left.
We could restructure Dean, Vea & Godwin, extending their current deals in the process but gaining salary CAP space (potentially $30 – $40 mil depending upon how the new contracts were structured). Of course with that amount we’d have to (1) sign several starter-capable FAs to replace the key starters we cut or couldn’t re-sign; (2) sign our draft class; and (3) oh ya, re-sign Winfield and Evans.
Tall order right there. Gonna be an interesting off-season.
February 11th, 2024 at 3:42 pm
All the talk about Favre and Brees all these years, and throw in Rodgers as well, and they each won one Super Bowl. Long careers. One.
So let’s don’t pretend like they were that great in the postseason. They’re all tied with Trent Diller and Brad Johnson and Nick Foles — and all one ahead of Dan Marino. So stop with the quarterback nonsense. It’s one player.
February 11th, 2024 at 3:51 pm
There’s a saying in the NFL: Either you have a QB or you’re looking for one.
In other words, there’s no such thing as a “middle of the road quarterback”. You either have one you can win with, or you don’t. Mayfield has proven we can win with him. Does he have all the incredible skill of a Mahomes or a Josh Allen? No, but neither does Brock Purdy, who is playing for a Super Bowl championship today.
I don’t disagree with Wolf’s strategy of drafting QBs late. It might not be a bad idea in April, since Trask’s rookie contract runs out soon. But in no way shape or form should we be worrying about drafting an “elite” QB to develop now. We made it to the final eight with Mayfield, and Mayfield was not the reason we didn’t make it further.
February 11th, 2024 at 4:24 pm
is this post click-bait to trigger a significant portion of the fan-base? Or a play to negotiate lower pricing with Baker or preparing the base for his departure because the team went cheap?
A simple question – Brock Purdy is in the Super Bowl today. If he was playing for the Bucs in 2023 with Dave Canales as his new OC and play caller, Bowles as his HC, the team weaponry and defense as it was…. would he see the field over Trask? If he did, would have gotten us to the divisional round? I’m not 100% or even 50% sure the level of success would have been more or the same.
Point is, it’s a team sport. Quit looking for unicorn quarterbacks like Mahomes. Trey Lance cost San Fran 3 freaking first rounders and he is now a backup in Dallas. Broke Purdy’s success has a lot to do with him but probably more to do with his team. Brady doesn’t win a SB in Tampa without all these defensive players in their prime clobbering Mahomes in the SB, the offense (Evans, Antonio Brown and Fornette). Build around someone that has proven you something rather than looking for that magic pill prescribed by armchair hacks.
February 11th, 2024 at 4:28 pm
I get the sense Baker will settle for far less than the mid $30’s, he’s KIND of hinted around at it. Brady never made, never DEMANDED top $, because the Pats would have ended up like the Cowboys, a gazillion$ QB and no supporting cast.
It DOES seem that winning on the field creates endless financial opportunities OFF the field, which Baker seems to be making use of right now
February 11th, 2024 at 5:29 pm
Hodad,
What is delusional about telling the simple truth that in a head to head competition in college when their teams were essentially equal Baker outgunned MaHomes? Anyone can Google that matchup and read the account of that game. The key is you have to be willing to do this rather than just snidely dismiss this. In that game both Baker and MaHomes threw for over 500 yds each and each had over 5tds. Pretty hard to argue that Tampa is a stronger overall team than KC. That is why KC routinely shows up in Super Bowls—strong defense, strong coaching and MaHomes make a formidable team.
February 11th, 2024 at 5:31 pm
Baker can be a top 10 QB and that is good enough. It would be nice to have to top 5 guy but that is extremely rare and you don’t need one to win a SB. Buc’s just need to continue to add talent in draft and they will get another SB with Baker at the helm. The dude looks like a Buccaneer captain of old!
February 11th, 2024 at 5:40 pm
Gipper Says:
“What is delusional about telling the simple truth that in a head to head competition in college when their teams were essentially equal Baker outgunned MaHomes?”
Not true. The Oklahoma Sooners had the 69th best defense out of 128 teams that year, 2016. The Texas Tech Raider defense was ranked 128th. They weren’t even teams. Baker was fishing with fish in a barrel with dynamite. Mahomes had to use a net for that barrel.
🙂 🙂 🙂
Projecting professional success with college performance is as tricky as forecasting the weather in Texas.
February 11th, 2024 at 5:50 pm
After reviewing 30 years of Ira Kaufman’s work…I am left to ponder why we don’t have an elite sports writer covering our Buccaneers.
February 11th, 2024 at 6:18 pm
The Bucs have a Coaching problem that’s worse. Todd Bowles is a master at blowing big games in the 4’th quarter.
February 11th, 2024 at 6:27 pm
Ghost of Brady,
Who won the game? Who threw for 7 Td passes. That’s what I thought, Mayfield threw for 7td’ s and Oklahoma won 66-59. You guys try so hard to run Mayfield down that you sound absurd. Would love to see Baker on a team with top 5 defense like KC. Baker only 28. He has a long way to go. If not with TB, then somewhere else. Hope you Traskies get to cheer on your man in 2024. Baker will land on his feet and do well wherever he ends up.
February 11th, 2024 at 6:43 pm
Joe wrote: “Wolf made it a point to select a quarterback in 7-of-8 drafts between 1992-99”.
Yep, and he hit on zero of those seven. Rodgers wasn’t drafted until 2005 and he was drafted in the first round (2nd QB taken).
February 11th, 2024 at 7:48 pm
Did Ira hit the bromosas this morning? Baker is the definition of a franchise Qb. He’s not Mahomes. So what? We have a QB. Move on.
February 11th, 2024 at 7:55 pm
I feel the exact same way as this Joe. We have to find a quarterback. Mayfield had a great season for Mayfield. But not so good for a good quarterback. Not knocking him. But I’ve had enough of the mccowns and the like. Let’s find our purdy come hell or high water.
February 11th, 2024 at 9:59 pm
Ira,
Want to apologize again for my rude and unwarranted comment last week.
But gotta disagree strongly with you here.
Baker Mayfield took a bad team two games deep in the playoffs.
No running game. At all. That still blows my mind.
Average defense at best. Starting CBs hiding on injury list.
No pass rush
No TE production
Low expectations. Many of our “stars” were playing not to get hurt. They had checked out. I pointed it out all season long.
Terrible offensive line. Horrible at Center and Guard.
Yet Mayfield drug this pack of misfits to the NFC championship.
Its the most amazing season Ive EVER seen by ANY QB.
And Ive been watching Football almost as long as you have.
Tom Brady had a better team the year before, and did less with it.
Mayfield is an Elite QB. Obvious in Cleveland, obvious here.
How can you even think otherwise, with the dead weight he had to drag this year.
Thanks Ira
February 11th, 2024 at 10:06 pm
Maybe MaHomes will be available? Watching the Super Bowl and he isn’t exactly lighting it up with 16 points at the 2minute warning. In fact, he must really stink because he threw an INTERCEPTION. Maybe he is underpaid at $50Mill/year? Or maybe playing QB in the NFL is really difficult and no QB can excel running for his life? One thing for sure is the game is very easy for pot bellied arm chair QB’s who have all the answers.
February 11th, 2024 at 11:25 pm
Gipper Says:
“Who won the game? Who threw for 7 Td passes… You guys try so hard to run Mayfield down that you sound absurd…”
Hey man I was just kidding. I was really making fun of the OU and Texas Tech defenses. Mahomes or Baker in 2016, who was better? Baker was better in college. He led with success. Mahomes just hero-balled on a team that had such a bad defense, the offense had double the number of possessions compared to the average team because teams scored so fast on them.
I’m definitely pro-Baker. As I’ve commented a few times already. Baker came to a 1-31 team (4-38 counting previous 3 years) and broke the Rookie QB record in 14 games with basically Jarvis Landry and a bunch of #3 and #4 WRs. He then took that team to it’s first playoff victory in 8 presidential terms. With his 4th HC in 3 years. The crooked owner then kicks him off the team because he played poorly sacrificing himself with a bad shoulder to try to make a playoff run. Mahomes inherited a playoff team with mentoring from one of the best team-friendly QB in history Alex Smith and coaching from Andy Walrus Reid. I think Mahomes going to the Browns in 2016, he would have lost confidence and not be who he is today.
Lets hope whatever Baker’s asking price, the Bucs cover it. And there is plenty of loot left to field a well-rounded team on both sides of the ball and the placekicker. Man I am excited about deep playoff runs for this team. With a hammerlock on the division when David Carr and Dennis Allen finally burst and sends the Saints out of the picture until the next presidential cycle. I’m not even worried about the Panthers and Falcons.
February 11th, 2024 at 11:53 pm
@ScottyMack said:
“Yep, and he hit on zero of those seven. Rodgers wasn’t drafted until 2005 and he was drafted in the first round (2nd QB taken).”
You need to research your NFL history. Wolf flipped a lot of those backups for draft picks after their time as Favre’s backup. Every heard of Matt Hasselbeck? Mark Brunell? Aaron Brooks?
February 12th, 2024 at 2:08 am
I think the best option would be to franchise Mayfield. It would be detriment to the cap, however we would not be locked in for 3 or 4 years to a Mediocre, midland QB. Think Daniel Jones. Bucs need to seek a franchise type QB, maybe it’s not this year, maybe next or the year after. Can’t go all in on average.
February 12th, 2024 at 2:28 am
First, Mayfield is good enough to win a Superbowl with a strong running game and good defense. I’ll be eager to see how they improve this year.
Second, if the suggestion is to draft a QB in round 1 this year, I would just say that if this team that wants to take another step in the playoffs next year, they really need to beef up the C/G positions, add more Edge help, add another runner to compete with Rachaad for carries, and possibly draft WR3… Putting your #1 pick into a QB this year, especially if you’ve just committed a bunch of money to Baker, is just not smart if you wanna fill those other needs.
Also, if you’re targeting a QB this year, the 26th pick isn’t gonna do it. I wouldn’t touch Penix. So what are we gonna do? Trade more picks to move up for one of the better guys this year? And further neglect the aforementioned needs? I don’t see it. I could see drafting a later QB and hoping he’s the next Brock Purdy.
February 12th, 2024 at 8:05 am
JJ McCarthy has a lot of Mahomesish capability and could easily be available when Bucs pick. McCarthy has a very high ceiling and he sure seems to win games in abundance.
February 12th, 2024 at 10:47 am
Capt. Tim,
You are right on the mark about Baker. Noticed today that no less authority than Josh Allen was raving about Baker’s powerful, cannon like arm. Interesting that there is a group of detractors that can’t see the obvious.
February 12th, 2024 at 7:16 pm
who is to say that baker can’t be a top 5 quarterback? he’s been in the top 10 twice now, and that was playing for the browns with 5 different coaches/offensive coordinators in three years, and then this season in his first year of a new offense with an oc that had never even called a pass.
he’s been as successful as he has with all of the sh!t he’s been through, it’s not at all crazy to think that he can improve with more stability. who knows where josh allen, pat mahomes, lamar jackson, etc. would be if they’d gotten drafted to the browns and then traded to the panthers?
February 12th, 2024 at 7:50 pm
We won a Super Bowl with Brad Johnson, he wasn’t a top 5 quarterback but more of a journeyman who didn’t make a lot of mistakes and allowed the guys around him to make plays. I know it’s not the popular thing but you can win a Super Bowl without a top 5 quarterback. You have to have a really good defense and a good running game with receivers who can catch and create big plays. Look at Joe Flacco, Trent Dilfer and others who have never been construed as franchise quarterbacks won Super Bowls.
February 14th, 2024 at 2:03 pm
The Bucs have a QB. Draft some protection. Give him some time to throw and open some holes for a running back. The Bucs need some muscle on both sides of the ball. A good line will make any head coach look good.