“You Need To Maximize Dollars And Opportunity”
February 19th, 2024
Six-time Bucs Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy talks Baker Mayfield.
Joe was intrigued by this take because the guy doing the talking said he spoke to Baker Mayfield multiple times in Las Vegas during Super Bowl week.
Joe is referring to six-time Bucs Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, a fellow University of Oklahoma star, as was Mayfield.
McCoy, now an NFL Network analyst made a quick visit to WDAE radio before the Super Bowl kickoff and noted that his chats with Mayfield, and McCoy talked about how Mayfield is a tremendous teammates and got a bad rap in Cleveland.
“Every locker room he goes into, guys gravitate to him,” McCoy explained.
‘Bring back, Baker,’ is what McCoy would shout to Bucs general manager Jason Licht. But McCoy acknolwedged — after talking to Mayfield — that the Tampa Bay quarertback knows it’s his time to cash in, wherever that may be.
“The window of the NFL is very short, so you need to maximize dollars and opportunity as much as you can. So if he believes that a better opportunity can be out there, he’s keeping his options open,” McCoy said of Mayfield.
“But in my heart of hearts, I believe that, yes, he would love to be back in Tampa.”
Joe thinks a lot of this Mayfield free agency chatter is pure silly talk. The Bucs want him back and will find a way. The franchise tag is an option, and why exactly would Licht and Team Glazer not use it?
If the Bucs let Mayfield walk, then it would be obvious that team officials have no faith in Todd Bowles’ ability to improve from his 2023 showing.
February 19th, 2024 at 2:15 pm
baker will be back in TB. Nobody really wanted him last year, and I don’t think that has changed outside of TB. I would think Atlanta may kick the tires on Baker but that’s about it. I hope its a team friendly deal. Unfortunately, I think we have already seen the ceiling of the Baker/Bowles era.
February 19th, 2024 at 2:17 pm
Mayfield shown me he can bring it, but without Mike offense is going to implode.
February 19th, 2024 at 2:22 pm
Baker played well above expectations, meanwhile the other options are at least inferior if not horrible. Wolford could come in and win a game or two if Baker goes down, and Trashk could help with the clipboard and gator is bottles.
Get Baker and Mikey back. Jason. Figure out a way.
February 19th, 2024 at 2:32 pm
Baker should love the franchise tag , big payday in 2024 and a massive once in a lifetime contract in 2025
February 19th, 2024 at 2:41 pm
McCoy bilked The Bucs out of over $100 million dollars during his time in Tampa. This is a case where his advice is credible/right on the money ( pun intended ).
February 19th, 2024 at 2:41 pm
Who would be our number one receiver if Evans leaves. I love Godwin but I don’t think he has the speed. If he does they definitely don’t utilize it. Baker and ME13 are a package deal and should be viewed as such. Licht would be a complete idiot if he let them get away. I don’t believe that Licht is an idiot. Hopefully the Glazers won’t insert themselves into this situation
February 19th, 2024 at 3:00 pm
“But McCoy acknolwedged — after talking to Mayfield — that the Tampa Bay quarertback knows it’s his time to cash in, wherever that may be.”
So bake is looking to make big bank. Let him walk as well.
We are a run 1st team!!!!! We need a game manager……whether that be gabbert or another vet or Trask…… who needs a gunslinger with no touch and no basketball player dropping balls. …sorry but mike is as good as gone.
Take that 50 mill and BUILD THE TRENCHES!!!
February 19th, 2024 at 3:05 pm
We don’t have another receiver who can catch the kind of passes Evans does, if he leaves we would have to go find one or change the way we do things
February 19th, 2024 at 3:20 pm
Bucs need to strengthen the offense behind Mayfield with a C/G, TE & RB in the first 3 rounds….
February 19th, 2024 at 3:20 pm
Teams will certainly express interest if only to drive Tampa to overpay for him.
PFF has Mayfield free agency compared to something similar to Winston’s deal with the Saints in 2022. CBS has him valued at around 2 years @ 16mil per.
There’s a big difference between a 2 year 30mil deal and 3 years 100mil+. Maybe it falls somewhere in between.
If CLV and Giants trade Watson for Jones it won’t be because CLV feels that Jones is worth 40 million a season. Strictly saving $$$. Maybe they want to free up money to draw Mayfield back to the Browns on a 4 year 200 mil deal. After all he has proven he can go 9-8 in a weak division and win a playoff game against a floundering team.
February 19th, 2024 at 3:26 pm
Baker earned a new contract.
I just hope the Bucs don’t give him more than two years worth of guaranteed money.
If things don’t go well the Bucs can plank walk Baker after 2025.
$25-$30M per season is my expectation.
February 19th, 2024 at 3:35 pm
Let him walk
February 19th, 2024 at 3:45 pm
Joe … ‘If the Bucs let Mayfield walk, then it would be obvious that team officials have no faith in Todd Bowles’ ability to improve from his 2023 showing.’
WHY in heaven’s name make this about BOWLES? Jason Licht knows better than any of us what he can afford to spend on a QB, given all the other NEEDS he has to address & fill. If Mayfield insists on MORE than that, JL has to let him walk. It has NOTHING to do with Bowles being a good or bad coach who can ‘improve on his 2023 showing’.
Using the $36 mil franchise tag on Mayfield is akin to surrender on JL’s part. We will have eaten up just about all of our available salary CAP space & that gives the upper hand in future negotiations to all the players (we’d have no leverage). Besides, that’s a 1-year stop-gap measure. What would we do next year? Baker a UFA (and too expensive to franchise tag a 2nd time); no Kyle Trask (he’d be a UFA too). JL would’ve totally painted the Bucs into a corner.
February 19th, 2024 at 3:45 pm
Imagine that, an Oklahoma Sooner sells a fellow Oklahoma Sooner.
February 19th, 2024 at 3:49 pm
Dave Pear Says: “Wolford could come in and win a game or two if Baker goes down, and Trashk could help with the clipboard.”
The only unknown is whether Dave dropped out of FSU, or did he graduate? Based on his comments, I’d say dropped out for sure.
February 19th, 2024 at 3:52 pm
For cheap again yes.
For 35 million move on.
Tag should NOT be an option for 36 million.
It’s too risky.
Go get proven talent with that money.
February 19th, 2024 at 4:00 pm
Marine Buc … Totally agree with you. Baker earned a new contract. He’s displayed very good LEADERSHIP SKILLS (something that Jameis never did). He’s rugged (played through a lot of pain I’m sure towards the end of the year). He’s accurate enough & mobile enough for THIS offensive scheme.
The $25-$30 mil range surrounds the $27.1 mil Market Value that Spotrac shows for him. A 3-year contract with as many as 2 years guaranteed would be fine IMO. If Baker insists on more than that, adios & have a nice life.
The key for the Bucs is to sign a QB early. Right now there are 27 QBs who are Unrestricted FAs, Mayfield being but 1 of them. The highest Market Value? Kirk Cousins ($39.3 mil). He won’t get anywhere near that at 35 years old. Reasonably priced? Gardiner Minshew ($5.3 mil), Jake Browning ($5.2 mil), plus several others. Both of those 2 intrigue me, but for different reasons. Of the 2, I’d much rather have Browning (much better mobility).
February 19th, 2024 at 4:16 pm
It’s laughable when commenters on this site talk about how Baker played so horribly during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Duh! Baker was injured during game #2 of the 2021 season with a complete tear of the labrum along with a fractured shoulder.
So, of course, he’s going to look bad!
Why the Browns didn’t shut him down for the season after that severe of an injury tells you what a p*ss poor organization Baker played for. No matter how much he insisted on playing.
Then he gets traded to the worst team in the NFL (the Panthers) just before training camp in 2022. Then, McCaffrey suddenly gets traded to the 49ers. So Baker was doomed there.
Baker’s season with Tampa in 2023 was no fluke, as evidenced by a few knowledgeable fans like Tony Marks and the Gipper who have already told you about his solid seasons in 2018 and 2020.
So, stop all the BS about his inability to play like a franchise QB. I don’t believe that Baker has hit his ceiling yet. Unfortunately, Tampa may find that out if they allow him to slip away and sign with another team.
February 19th, 2024 at 4:24 pm
18th in QBR
20th in scoring
He’s a middlingly, inconsistent QB, who has been a bust and just had a career year – and ended the year choking at the biggest moment of his career.
The Bucs would be flat out stupid to do any sort of real multi-year deal for big money for a middling QB with a very high percentage of being a bust.
If they let him walk because someone else wants to pay him, then so be it. I have no issues bringing him back for one year – to see if he can improve – but QB’s in his situation almost always return to mean.
February 19th, 2024 at 4:31 pm
Maybe it’s time to apply Occam’s Razor , which states , the simplest solution to a problem is usually the best and the easiest to apply, in this case We should let Mike and Mayfield walk; Mike has served us well, he is a great receiver and will go into the Hall of Fame, no question, but if we can not pay him what he is worth without damaging the team and maybe getting him hurt while making him lose money on his last chance for a big money payday, is that any way to pay him back?As for Mayfield , he played probably the best of his career , but was inconsistent at best, can we really afford to lock him , and us , into a big money contract for years , only to see him convert , or , revert , to his previous form that got him here?No, we can’t. If We let them go ,think of all the holes and upgrades that money we save can be used to strengthen the team, and usually good teams are built and then the Quarterback is added,( look at Houston) , in our case We still have two good quarterbacks in Kyle and John, maybe one ,or both , of them could be our long term answer , we would really look foolish if We did not give them a chance and they go elsewhere and excel, also we have them at a very low price for the next year , ( giving us more cap space) , and that failing , we will have built a younger ,stronger team, for whoever the savior is you want to draft next year, because We don’t have the cap space to compete in this draft or free agent market, so ,what do we have to lose?
February 19th, 2024 at 4:41 pm
McCoy went through the Fitzpatrick thing…I would think he’d have learned enough to be cautious.
That said, I do believe Mayfield will be back, as he should be. But with a deal that protects the team. I don’t think that is too much to ask for a player who has mostly been down his career.
February 19th, 2024 at 4:44 pm
JD Still Says
“As for Mayfield , he played probably the best of his career , but was inconsistent at best, can we really afford to lock him , and us , into a big money contract for years , only to see him convert , or , revert , to his previous form that got him here?”
This is the Fitzpatrick effect, which happened to Fitz not once, but twice in his career…and it is my greatest concern with Mayfield.
Yes, I do think that he is worth taking the risk. No, I do not think we should break the bank on him…and we need an out after 2 years.
February 19th, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Rod Munch Says
“The Bucs would be flat out stupid to do any sort of real multi-year deal for big money for a middling QB with a very high percentage of being a bust.
If they let him walk because someone else wants to pay him, then so be it. I have no issues bringing him back for one year – to see if he can improve – but QB’s in his situation almost always return to mean.”
I don’t know if a multiyear deal would be stupid. After all, a two year deal is pretty much the same as a one year deal, right?
I do not have an issue with a 2-4 year deal…so long as the Bucs can get out cheaply after a year or so if he busts.
I think there is at least a chance that he has turned a corner…and letting him go, if that is the case, would be a mistake.
I was here before the Saints got Drew Brees…and many Tampa fans (it was either here or on the old Bucs forum…I forget which)…did not want the Bucs to sigh him because they felt he was washed up…no more arm strength, etc.
They were wrong at the time, and the Saints got him. The rest is history.
Now, I’m not saying Mayfield is even close to being Drew Brees, who was one of the best, but…I am saying that fans can be wrong, in either direction.
In the case of Baker Mayfield…to me he’s around the 14th best QB base on last year. That means he has room to grow…and he had some games where he seemed to do just that. So he MIGHT continue to do so.
After me being wrong about him last year, I’m willing to root for him this year…at least if he keeps improving. But I DO see the value of extreme caution.
My suggestion is one of two options:
Franchise him.
PRO: lower risk that we are stuck with him if he blows it.
CON: If he does extremely well this year, his price to sign long term will skyrocket the following year.
Sign him.
PRO: Lock him into a few years at a set price. Cautiously. Don’t overpay.
CON: If he bombs, it will affect the cap for a few years.
No doubt, Bowles will be tied to this one.
February 19th, 2024 at 5:25 pm
@ Bonzai
We really can’t afford to franchise anyone this year.
But if we do it will be Winfield at @ $17M not Baker at @ $36M.
February 19th, 2024 at 5:27 pm
Joe said: If the Bucs let Mayfield walk, then it would be obvious that team officials have no faith in Todd Bowles’ ability to improve from his 2023 showing.
——————-
Perhaps if they let him walk, they have no faith in Bakers ability to improve. Duh!!! 🙄
February 19th, 2024 at 5:27 pm
5 years 200 million for mayfield. Lock up this most important position. Don’t be afraid. Just do it.
February 19th, 2024 at 5:28 pm
Diddle now, snivel later.
February 19th, 2024 at 5:28 pm
@ DR
I agree.
Would love to keep both Baker and Evans but there are limits.
A solid plan B would be to bring in a FA QB like Minshew, Tannehill or Browning and let them compete with Trask while also maybe adding another QB via the draft in the mid to later rounds.
February 19th, 2024 at 5:33 pm
I don’t want us to break the bank on Mike or Baker. They deserve to get paid, but I believe in letting someone else do that. I know Greenberg can work magic, but he can’t move worlds. That’s why grabbing a QB this year makes a lot of sense, possibly adding a receiver. We can all fight about who’s more right or wrong, that’s not my intent. I’m merely pointing out the how we can take a risk, just like signing Baker will be, but not throwing our future monies away.
God forbid Mike or Baker get injured next year, we pay them what they deserved, and now we’re strapped to guys makimg a kings ranson as they sit on the bench.
There’s definitely a future that doesn’t involve Mike or Baker in it that’s successful.
February 19th, 2024 at 5:39 pm
Bonzai: Drew Brees has said on multiple occasions that Baker has the talent to be better than he was. That’s saying a lot from someone who’s going to the HOF. Of course Baker’s destiny is still to be decided. But Bonzai, you continue to underestimate Baker. And he has proven you wrong over and over again. Time for you to go back to therapy.
Capt’n Munch: Your credibility on this site pertaining to Baker was judged to be a joke long before the season ended. But I’m certain that your hatred for him will continue to grow over the next 3, 4 or 6 years with Baker as Tampa’s QB. LOL!
February 19th, 2024 at 5:55 pm
@ Rod
“He’s a middlingly, inconsistent QB, who has been a bust and just had a career year”
I agree.
It will be interesting to see if we re-sign Baker and Mike Evans leaves…
Will Mayfield’s stats without ME13 match his production with ME13?
I hope so but I highly doubt it.
February 19th, 2024 at 6:00 pm
On second thought, Trashk would fumble the clipboard while staring down the gatoraid cooler. Best to cut losses with him and open up a roster spot for another backup who at least has a chance to succeed at the NFL level.
To the idjut thinking this is FSU bias – wrong. I’m a Gator graduate and know from all the years of following them, that there is a law of the universe that guarantees the Gators will never produce a franchise QB, or even someone better than Rex Grossman.
February 19th, 2024 at 6:27 pm
WyomingJoe … ‘Baker was injured during game #2 of the 2021 season with a complete tear of the labrum along with a fractured shoulder. So, of course, he’s going to look bad!’
You keep making the same excuses for Baker, but the record is what it is Wyoming. Mayfield exhibited very poor judgment IMO playing with a ‘complete tear of the labrum along with a fractured shoulder’. THAT’S irresponsible, and it didn’t help the Browns that season (they went 6-8 with him in there, and ended with a losing season).
Here’s a quote from Baker Mayfield about that season and the injury:
“So I tore my labrum completely, like full front and like basically 90 percent in the back,” Mayfield explained. “That was Week Two. I did that in the first half. Played the rest of the game, I was fine. . . Four weeks later, we were playing the Cardinals, and I dislocated my shoulder again. But I dislocated it so bad and at a different angle, that the bone — like the humerus that goes up into your shoulder socket — the big bone right here [that] comes up into your ball and socket and it forced its way out.”
“And I fractured the bone because it wasn’t gonna be a clean exit,” he added. “So I fractured the bone. So when I had the labrum done and that fracture, the inflammation, and everything, I had no function in my left shoulder. And we were going into a Thursday game that week. Monday, I couldn’t lift my arm. When I couldn’t raise my arm, I was like, ‘I can’t do this.’”
So Mayfield first screwed up his arm/shoulder in Game 2 (on Sept 19th), and again in Game 7 (on Oct 21st), to the degree that he had ‘no function in his left shoulder’. Case Keenum started that Thurs night (and won), but Baker was back in by the next game & went 3-4 before Case Keenum started the last game (won that game too).
Baker didn’t do anyone any favors by playing hurt. Check the box scores (he played average to poor). Cleveland would’ve surely done much better if he’d sat out and let Case Keenum start the rest of the season (Keenum went 2-0 in his 2 starts). What you apparently see a a badge of honor Wyoming, I see as selfishness because it hurt the TEAM. And the TEAM comes before everything else.
February 19th, 2024 at 6:30 pm
Just because someone thinks Baker should be our starter moving forward doesn’t mean that they have no faith in Trask. I loved the Trask pick but Baker is simply better right now with much more experience. He is a leader of men. Trask is a great insurance policy. He may go on to have a better career than Mayfield, you never know. But Mayfield has earned his stripes. Whenever he has been healthy during his career he has excelled. He has an elite arm and elite leadership and he seems to play better in clutch situations. So I originally wanted Trask to win the job because I didn’t know much about Mayfield but now I have seen the light. Trask could still have a great pro career but that will probably be somewhere else
February 19th, 2024 at 6:31 pm
Thank god one of the good coaching decisions Todd made was playing Baker in the Carolina game and notching the win. The result speaks for itself.
If Trask has started, the Bucs would have a new head coach right now. Maybe in hindsight, not the worst thing for the future.
February 19th, 2024 at 6:37 pm
Thank god one of the few good coaching decisions Todd made was playing Baker in the Carolina game and notching the win. The result speaks for itself.
If Trashk had started, the Bucs would have a new head coach right now. Maybe in hindsight, not the worst thing for the future.
February 19th, 2024 at 7:29 pm
D pear, you keep bringing up Trask as if he matters. Kid has rode the bench for years now. But I look at your comment about Wolford could pull out a win if BM went down……. Then I call BS. You’re talking about the same Wolford that our Bucs had as the third QB? The same QB that has 1 TD to 5 INTs? I mean are you scared of the kid? Am I a fan of BM’s career? Nope. Am I a fan of our #2 or #3 QB’s career? Nope. I will root for whoever starts, but I’m not delusional. No QB on this team right now has proven anything. BM seems to be the best of the bunch, but that isn’t saying much. I’m more than willing to eat crow if I’m wrong, but I honestly don’t think he does it two years in a row. God forbid if ME walks! BM will not have the WR that is known for making OK QBs look better than they are in the stats.
February 19th, 2024 at 7:37 pm
Plz let cleanhouse says walk & the other clowns on this site u people suck no joke
February 19th, 2024 at 7:40 pm
Defense Rules Says:
Baker didn’t do anyone any favors by playing hurt. Check the box scores (he played average to poor). Cleveland would’ve surely done much better if he’d sat out and let Case Keenum start the rest of the season
—
Stick to ananlyzing Cap numbers because outside of that your takes on football itself are always soooo bad. this one above is just beyond silly..
At no time in recent history has a Qb with the browns ever had the power to LET another player play. The coaching staff made the deciision of who they wanted in there and were only happy to have Baker play hurt because they figured a hurt Baker was better than Keenum.
For the love of any diety you beleive in or don’t please go learn something about the NFL and how teams operate. Coaches make personel decisions not Qbs. This is NFL 101 and you flunked with a grade of F.
Hate makes people say and write perfectly stupid things like you just did. Frankly after that mind barf you are cleanly in David territory.
and you are right – Bakrr’s record speaks for itdelf,. Adjusyed for games played he has averaged over 4000 yards over most of his career. The one injured and the year after being the only exceptions. Who needed Evans? He certainly wasn’t in Cleveland so thats another flop.
Outside of that 4,060 IS HIS MEAN as I have demonstrated multiple times .
February 19th, 2024 at 7:49 pm
if baker is middle of the road going nowhere then where did he go this year oh yes the playoffs then u said he had no chance 1 & done u jokers had said the same garbage since he was signed but keeps doing good things for this franchise.u all brag bout Brady yes he won the SB with a already loaded team that’s why he showed up here & he did not I repeat did not have a stellar year baker cud easily win that year as the starter cause he played better this year than Brady did in 3 years here.plus Brady was over the hill & a total bore to watch u people brag bout a loser friggin cheat I celebrate people with a good soul cheaters have no soul.baker ain’t no cheat I wud take him in a minute over 95% of the QB in the nfl
February 19th, 2024 at 7:59 pm
Marine Buc Says:
Will Mayfield’s stats without ME13 match his production with ME13?
I hope so but I highly doubt it.
—
That right you rarely know anything of what you are e talking about so you don’tknow
Baker 2018 14 games played adjusted for today’s 17 game season is 4500 yards
Baker 2019 16 games played adjusted for today’s 17 game season is
4.066 yards
Baker 2020 16 games played adjusted for today’s 17 game season is
3785 yards
SO OBJECTIVE FACT
We don’t need to see what baker can do without Mike. We’ve already seen it . The stats inform your ignorance. 2018 – 202p Baker had no Mike Evans throwing to. YOu lose….again
Its EVANS that is not worth 30+ million which is allegedly what he wants.
so he is the likely one to walk but honestly I’d love seeing Baker in a steelers uniform and then coming over here and hear you crying about not havin a qb for the nxt five years or more.
wathcing karma gnawl haters is always entertaining.
It woud suck as a Bucs fan but the pain would be much better reading and laughing at you guys crying for the next five years.
February 19th, 2024 at 8:00 pm
At DR:
Jake Browning ($5.2 mil) may be market value.
But the Bengals control Browning as an ERFA.
So, essentially, he will be signed this year for under 1 million by the Bengals.
February 19th, 2024 at 8:58 pm
geno711 … Rats
February 19th, 2024 at 9:03 pm
Tony marks … ‘The coaching staff made the deciision of who they wanted in there and were only happy to have Baker play hurt because they figured a hurt Baker was better than Keenum. For the love of any diety you beleive in or don’t please go learn something about the NFL and how teams operate. Coaches make personel decisions not Qbs.’
You’re blowing smoke & you know it. Show me IN WRITING where what you just wrote is true. Coaches know better than that; the liability would be overwhelming. Mayfield was the one who told the coach ‘I can play’ when asked, because he was afraid of losing the starting gig just like every other QB is.
February 19th, 2024 at 9:31 pm
If Baker is looking for $30+ mil and Mike wants $25+ I don’t see keeping either of them. Take the $$$ and build the roster. We’ve paid Mike Well and he’s proven his worth. But it doesn’t make sense to break the bank on his terms so he can retire as a Buc. As for Baker, if he wants to squeeze any team for top of market money, let him move on. I always felt like arrogance was part of his poor track record. Have seen that same guy reappear over the past month. No thanks.
February 19th, 2024 at 9:45 pm
Defense Rules Says:
February 19th, 2024 at 9:03 pm
You’re blowing smoke & you know it. Show me IN WRITING where what you just wrote is true.
—
LOL What the junk. . What a dooofus. I have to show you in writing that COACHES IN THE NFL decide whose going to play???
Really? lol
Geesh this comment section is just getting more IQ deficient every week
and no – no one has EVER been afraid of losing their starting Job to Keenum. Did baker want to play because he is competitive – no doubt but its on the coaches to determine whose on the field.
Theres not a coach in the leagues that says – i don’t want this Qb to play because he will cost me games because he is injured but errr….ummm. he says he wants to so by golly what can I do I am just the ummm head coach?
Get a book from amazon or hire a tutor on the subject of the NFl. Seriously you are embarrassing yourself
February 19th, 2024 at 10:01 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai Says:
I don’t know if a multiyear deal would be stupid. After all, a two year deal is pretty much the same as a one year deal, right?
———
Depends on the dollars – but I’m talking more about the people saying lock him up on some big deal like he’s a franchise QB – because he’s not.
Also what is the bust rate on guys who are busts, then have a career year? I’m going to guess it’s around 90% – if not higher.
That doesn’t mean Baker WILL be a bust, but that is by far the most likely outcome. So the Bucs should protect themselves and not spend like Baker is a franchise guy – and they should give themselves an out of any deal they do. That does mean paying more up front, but the bust rate is so high, that’s very much the less risky play.
In any case, I don’t care what sort of deal the Bucs announce, just so long as they can get out of it and we’re not suck with Baker next year at this time if he’s terrible, because the Bucs can’t afford to move on.
February 19th, 2024 at 10:19 pm
Not signing BM or Mike today lets us know a lot about the Bucs’ stance on overpaying players. They lost $14M by not signing them. Apparently the Buc think they can save more than 14M by letting them go. If we have to lose Mike to get rid of Baker.. HOLLA!!
We are better off at quarterback if he leaves. The Bucs know that. We will draft either OL or edge in the first and a receiver in the second or vice versa
February 19th, 2024 at 10:34 pm
we have fans that care more if player X retires a buc than winning.
I don’t get it. We stumbled into Baker. He’s decent. Put pieces around him.
You can’t break teh bank for everyone. Mike can’t win games on his own. He can’t. Mahomes won without Tyreek. So wake the f up and stop being whiny.
February 20th, 2024 at 12:32 am
Hey, another weird similarity between Baker and Breeze, Breeze was 27 years old when he was unceremoniously dumped by the team that drafted him, and got a chance to ‘prove it’ to the Saints brass.
Kinda interesting.
Also, judging from the post count in Baner related articles, the Baker-haterz & TraskForce will continue to find uncomfortable articles every day.
Post on @JBF!
February 20th, 2024 at 12:42 am
Let’s put things in perspective…Baker had a career year, after his career was on life support. Good for him….If he can cash in for bank…Great. But that doesn’t have to be at the expense of Tampa overpaying for his services.
Liam Coen is bringing in a very QB friendly Offense that asks the QB to just make good decisions & be accurate. That QB does not need to be overly great to do great things. Make good decisions & be accurate. That’s it.
Looking at the FA QB class…There’s a few guys that stand out as guys looking for an opportunity to be the GUY …& could fit the bill without breaking the bank.
The FO needs to look at all the options before throwing $30M+ at Baker…I mean, he was straight off the scrap heap before having a resurgence year in 2023…Who’s to stay that there’s not another guy just as capable of performing with the collection of talent the Bucs can field in 2024??? (Gardner Minshew!!!)
Frankly, if Baker & Evans walk in FA…It’s not the end of the world…The FO could restock the cupboard with multiple guys with that $40M (estimate) in 2024 cap space!! (Minshew, Tee Higgins & Van Jefferson for less $$ than Evans & Baker will command.)
February 20th, 2024 at 4:54 am
Marks … ‘I have to show you in writing that COACHES IN THE NFL decide whose going to play???’
That wasn’t the question and you know it. Nice try at deflection though.
Show me in writing where head coaches, as a matter of policy, will order any player who’s badly hurt to play despite his injury.
February 20th, 2024 at 9:19 am
I know one of the Joes has stated many times that since Mayfield had a career year this past season, it’s likely that he “drops off”. Fair point.
I just have a gut feeling that he may post new career numbers next year. Why? Because I think Coen won’t wait until week 12 or 14 to open up the playbook and I think Bowles really liked what he saw once Canales got more aggressive, starting in GB. Bowles seemed almost “giddy” when talking about the offense.
Of course getting Evans back will be huge, but there are other WRs out there in FA or the draft, so I think Licht will make sure there are plenty of weapons if they get Baker signed plus (hopefully) a better ground game to go with it with our o-line gaining more experience or maybe gaining a new piece or two.
February 20th, 2024 at 9:25 am
Sure hope so!
Just trying to be reasonable. Not a knock on Mayfield in any way. It’s really tough to have two career years back-to-back. Joe’s not saying Mayfield will fall off the map, but perhaps a slight decline.
February 20th, 2024 at 12:16 pm
I also may be wrong here but I think 2023 was the first season that Mayfield played a full 17-week season since the extra game was added, so that might account for aome of the extra numbers like passing yards, etc. to make it the best of his career.
However, that extra game is another game where picks can be thrown and he didn’t throw many compared to prior years, so I feel “Half Full” in that regard. Lol
February 20th, 2024 at 2:05 pm
Defense Rules Says:
That wasn’t the question and you know it. Nice try at deflection though.
Show me in writing where head coaches, as a matter of policy, will order any player who’s badly hurt to play despite his injury.
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What I know for a fact now is you are a nitwit and worse than David . I point n blank stated due to competitiveness Baker would d want to play but at the end of the day a player is only out there because a coach agrees to it in the interest of the team and winning.
so dufus I addressed your question now twice. Claiming I didn’t is your own deflection
February 20th, 2024 at 5:15 pm
Well since Marks can’t answer simple questions, but just type insults….. Can I ask you a serious question Marks? I really mean a serious question.
February 21st, 2024 at 11:25 am
Marks needs a reality check, everything dude types is cringe and mainly just insults not actual knowledge. It’s clear he believes he’s very intelligent but the things he types is quite the opposite.
February 21st, 2024 at 12:03 pm
Tony marks opened the topic in a good light: Baker’s stats without a Mike Evans type receiver will not be the same(it doesn’t have to be ME just a top tier receiver) That said, ME had one of his best years because of Mayfield, the same logic follows: Keeping THIS squad together and adding to it, is best for the BUCS .
The second free agency point to Baker is this:
A. Folks are trying to compare Baker to Cousins and Wilson but the great staff who have those two QBs are looking to move on from them and looking at Baker as a replacement for a reason: THEY believe he’s better! So if the best QB offensive minds in football think Baker’s better, and the film studies show how great Baker is at so many things other QBs lack, and other teams and QBs are freely admitting how good Baker is (and they are), you can bet that that the folks talking about Baker as though he’s second tier either don’t know anything, or have an agenda of their own.
B. You can’t win the Superbowl if you don’t make the playoffs: Baker has proven he can get you there and win when he does…that’s HARD TO FIND!
Sign Baker, Tampa will spend MORE $ to get as good if they don’t, or, worse yet, they won’t find a QB with Baker’s ability for another 20 years like many teams out there.