Baker Mayfield Restraint Is Admired
March 23rd, 2024
Baker Mayfield has an appreciative fan.
Many Baker Mayfield fans are impressed by the almost-29-year-old for different reasons.
Former stud Bucs receiver Keyshawn Johnson admires Mayfield as a fellow No. 1 overall pick that has matured and overcome adversity.
Johnson said on FS1 this week that he greatly appreciated how Mayfield bit his tongue this month and took a high road after signing his three-year, $100 million with the Bucs … while the Falcons paid a lot more for injured Kirk Cousins.
A younger Mayfield might have taken public shots at Atlanta and shown a little bitterness at the over situation, per Johnson, who suggested Mayfield could have said, “‘Look, they got the second choice. They danced with the second girl.'”
Johnson tossed out several other hypothetical comments and one-liners that a less mature Mayfield may have shared. It adds up, he said along with Mayfield’s play last season, to the Bucs finding a quarterback that has what he needs mentally and physically to make his team a significant contender.
“There is a lot of players that move on to different teams that don’t have success, and before you blink they’re at home dropping their kids off at school every day because they can’t stand the pressure that this stuff comes with,” he said. “They’re on the couch. [Mayfield] fought through those battles.
“… So many quarterbacks in particular … they can’t stand the pressure that comes with being the starting quarterback of a football team. There’s so many of them.”
Joe loves Johnson’s perspective. It’s rarely talked about how so many QBs can’t handle everything that comes with being a starter. Mayfield has proven he can do it, after being a stud rookie for a miserable franchise and walking into Tampa behind Tom Brady.
Does Mayfield have enough to send the Bucs back to promised land? Joe can’t answer that, but it’s a resounding “No” if the Bucs don’t fix their running game or upgrade their edge rush.
March 23rd, 2024 at 8:42 pm
Baker should have been comeback player of the year. He’s a fighter that hates to lose. He played pretty well despite the worst running game in the league so defenses ignored play action fakes. Hopefully he progresses this coming season with a run game and non-rookie play caller.
March 23rd, 2024 at 9:11 pm
Is Baker Mayfield being restrained from being more than an “average at best, flag football MVP QB”?
Find out next time on Dragon Ball Z!
RIP Akira Toriyama
March 23rd, 2024 at 10:13 pm
I agree…Baker should have been comeback player of the year…no disrespect to Flacci but Baker flat out out balled him
March 23rd, 2024 at 10:22 pm
Better OLine = better running game and more time = better Baker
Assuming Licht does his job and drafts us more IOL talent – I think we see an improved Buccaneers offense in 2024.
Like 4-5 points per game improved (25-26 ppg average instead of 21)
I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Bucs win 12 games in 2024. If they win less than 10 I will be shocked.
March 23rd, 2024 at 10:26 pm
Pickett complaining when Wilson was signed has the marks of a young, unseasoned qb. Baker may have exhibited this, in small fashion, during his last year in Cleveland. I remember his last Cleveland game. Tj watt was teeing off on him, and baker was a bit frustrated stefanski didn’t have a rb chipping him. Airing public displeasure, whether justified or not, is something I don’t think he’d do now.
March 23rd, 2024 at 10:54 pm
I don’t think Stefanski and the Cleveland organizations as a whole could have treated him any worse than they did….he was handed a raw deal… different OC every year and playing injured…I think it’s coming back to bite them on the ass with Watson and I hope it continues too
March 23rd, 2024 at 11:00 pm
That last Mayfield, Clevealnd game against Pitts was a joke. A badly injured Mayfield had tried to play all year and the Browns put a rookie OT who hadn’t played much that year against TJ Watt the best defensive player in the league in 2021. Watt sacked Mayfield maybe 7 times and probably hit him 16 times. Stefanski, the coach and play caller, never had a TE end or back help the rookie OT. Moreover, Stefanski, never called a draw play or a screen to slow down Watt. It gets worse because Stefanski kept trying pass plays that required deep drops and deep routes. After being physically being beaten up, Mayfield wondered out loud why the rookie wasn’t given any help? Watching that game many fans wondered the same thing. Those of us who saw Baker resurrect that Cleveland franchise mess, believe he is better off in Tampa with more competent ownership, GM and coaching. The Browns continue to show their ineptitude with the Watson deal. The big winners in that deal are the Houston Texans who got 3 #1 draft picks for a QB who quit on them and has played a total of 12 games in 2 years in Cleve at $45mil/yr.
March 24th, 2024 at 1:05 am
The only real winner in that deal from the Browns and Texans is Watson. That guy definitely isn’t good enough to warrant the money he’s getting. It blows my mind how some great players struggle to get paid what there worth and then there are mediocre players that sometimes get paid multiple contracts and are unbelievably overpaid. A couple of examples, including Watson, Kirk cousins, Sam Bradford
March 24th, 2024 at 1:20 am
The Browns have their name for a reason, and it’s not just because brown is the color of the Cuyahoga River.
March 24th, 2024 at 1:22 am
Incidentally, perfect spot for Winston to hammer the final nails into the coffin of his deeply underachieving career.
March 24th, 2024 at 1:42 am
Jack Clark says may I ask were u born a jackass or is it something u grew into I think u were born that way loser!
March 24th, 2024 at 1:50 am
How do u get come back player of year when u only play 5 games that’s as bad as crooked fani Willis fat ass in GA.
March 24th, 2024 at 1:52 am
then play 1 playoff game & throw 3 INT’S & get sacked 4 times & his true colors shined & gets dumped by browns
March 24th, 2024 at 4:40 am
Agree, Baker should have been the comeback player of the year. He has respect on and off the field.
The Browns made a huge error in judgement when they decided to draft Watson with an unbelievable contract. It showed we women what they really thought of us by their actions. One of my good friends worked for the Browns office years ago and many of the fans were not happy either, and are not now.
March 24th, 2024 at 6:04 am
Mayfield only really talked smack on people that picked fights with him. I don’t think Atlanta was a real option for him.
March 24th, 2024 at 8:39 am
Funny thing about Winston in Cleveland is his exploits are mild compared to Watson’s. Now all they need his a third pervert to complete their QB room.
March 24th, 2024 at 8:46 am
I know Evans dropped the JFF comparison. Herr Fussball was 2 years ahead so Bakerman was a junior in HS when Johannes Vootball made history. No doubt this inpsired the new daddy. The difference is as per netflix when he beat the Tide the pressure was on and he turned to mind altering substances. I would have told him Trancendental meditation clears out stress. Baker handled the pressure of a college playoff and overall #1 with cocky bravado. Eventually that annoyed people. He seems to be talking about God now as a coping skill.
March 24th, 2024 at 8:50 am
Very funny Hodad. hmmm can,t think if one. R. Kelly can record opening day national anthem from jail. Oh, the former Indians pitcher banned by MLB can throw out the first football.
March 24th, 2024 at 8:52 am
Duh, hodad, Big Ben comes out of retirement…..
March 24th, 2024 at 8:58 am
I would have traded for Pickens to replace that other tall guy. Baker could have mentored him having gone through a similar situation already.
March 24th, 2024 at 9:00 am
My disdain for Baker came when he spoke negatively about another player who was holding out during a contract dispute. Then, he spoke negatively about Hue Jackson during his “Power struggles” with Greg Williams, which I felt was inappropriate. There’s no doubt in my mind that he has matured immensely. Everyone talks about the Brady effect but the influence of Mike, Chris and Lavonne on that locker room is astounding. Their non-publicly-critical demeanor has rubbed off on the team.
The ONLY public potentially disruptive talk coming out of that locker room over many years was from Devin White who probably has narcissistic personality disorder.
But, Baker came to the perfect situation to help him grow into a mature quarterback. With an improved offensive line and better running game and experienced play caller he should do much better this year. I expect 10-12 wins plus an appearance in the conference championship game. But I still think that KT is better.
March 24th, 2024 at 9:49 am
Hodad and Marky Mark – Good points. I had forgotten about Big Ben.
March 24th, 2024 at 12:00 pm
@ATLBUC, I figured that was what your problem was. It’s a stupid reason to hate a guy, but whatever. A mot of people in the black community hate baker because Hue was a black head coach and they blame Baker for ending his career which couldn’t be further from the truth, but it’s easy foe sime black people to hate a white kid from the suburbs I guess. This is the exact reason Joy, Shannon, and MarcelWiley hate Baker. It’s stupid, and if the rollss were reversed, it would be xalled racism, which would be correct and is correct for Marcellus, Joy, Shannon, O’Dell dad, and many others. The beautiful thing is 5hat Tidd Bowles and Baker have a fantastic relationship, and hugh respect for each other, which squashes a lot of the racist opinions on both sides. Too bad it worked out his way for you, but it’s great for everyone else.
March 24th, 2024 at 1:33 pm
I’m no Baker apologist, and while I find his reads & in game decision (eg sacrificing his body/season for 1 yd) to be average at best, I cannot help but to root for the guy. Cleveland took him for granted, abused him, and threw him on the trash heap. Never did they develop him as a player or nurture him as a professional. I think being appreciated by a franchise will propel him to another level. Maybe not elite skill wise, but leadership wise he is well on his way.
March 24th, 2024 at 1:49 pm
Now I’m picturing a Dating Game skit with Watson, Winston and Big Ben as the contestants. It almost writes itself.
March 24th, 2024 at 4:17 pm
Please draft Penix Jr. Let’s Go Bucs!!!
March 25th, 2024 at 10:43 am
If Baker does well over the next 2 years, expect him to get a lucrative extension. Also, at that point his guaranteed money will be up. Expect Kirk Cousins to either get hurt or not play well after his achilles injury. I think, in the long run, Baker will fare better and be with us for many years. Cheers.
March 25th, 2024 at 10:46 am
I think I’m most impressed by the maturity and perspective Keyshaun is showing. Didn’t see that coming.
March 25th, 2024 at 11:23 am
I so agree!