“Ideal” Move
June 7th, 2024
Had to do it.
If one is to believe receivers make a quarterback — Joe finds that preposterous — then this was a no-brainer of no-brainers.
Joe knows Baker Mayfield is not the most popular quarterback out there. Largely undeserving, folks like to crap on Mayfield for some odd reason. Hell, he got the Bucs “this close” to the NFC title game and won the Pro Bowl MVP.
So what did Mayfield get in return from national #NFLMedia? Ambivalence, at best. #Sad.
For those folks who think Mayfield is a blah quarterback, then the following had to be done. In typing a column on the best offseason move of each NFL team, Mike Sando of The Athletic praised the Bucs for keeping the best receiver in franchise history, Mike Evans.
Keeping franchise icon Mike Evans on a short deal (two years) with a reasonable APY ($20.5 million, which ranks 15th among receivers) seems ideal. Evans finished last season with his third-best single-season mark for yardage (1,255) and second-best for touchdown receptions (league-high 13). He is the only player in NFL history to reach 1,000 yards receiving in each of his first 10 seasons (Jerry Rice did it in his first nine). It’s great when logic prevails in these situations.
Evans doesn’t care who his quarterback is, he just catches balls, racks up touchdowns and produces. Stewart McClown, Mike Glennon, America’s Quarterback, FitzTragic, GOAT or Mayfield, Evans simple gets the job done.
So if one really believes the nonsense that receivers make a quarterback — and doesn’t believe in Mayfield — then the Bucs certainly did what they had to do with Evans.
June 7th, 2024 at 9:02 am
Go Bucs
June 7th, 2024 at 9:12 am
You should add Manziel to the list. Jonny joe mancrush.
June 7th, 2024 at 9:26 am
“folks like to crap on Mayfield for some odd reason.”
I’m a huge fan of Baker but it’s not really an odd reason. People do not like people who talk smack unless the guy plays for them. How many here loathe Cam Jordan or Lattimore, or Sean Peyton. But who here denies that those three are very good at what they do?
Baker has many well documented cases of boorish behavior in his YOUTH! He’s now a grown man who has suffered through injury, playing for two of the crappiest franchises in all of the NFL, with mouthy aholes like OBJ, his start has been rocky but still smattered with some amazing on field success. What other QB has won with the Cleveland Browns?!!!
But clearly he has matured. He’s a father, he’s aware of just how lucky he was to end up with the Bucs which, I can’t believe I’m typing this, are now finally a really great franchise to play for with GOOD guys as teammates and targets like ME and CG who are class on and off the field.
Baker now gets it! The league simply hasn’t figured that out yet. We’re here watching it in front of our eyes and it’s a joy. No he’s not Patrick Mahomes or Burrows or Josh Allen, but he could certainly grow into Rich Gannon or Fran Tarkenton with the right supporting cast. How can you not like his style, balls to the wall let er rip. He’s matured but has retained enough feistiness to be a terrific leader. Who will forget, “get your weight up”. LMAO
I frequently wear Tshirts that say “Gratitude is my attitude.” I’m well aware of my LUCK and the gifts I’ve received. It’s an absolute joy for me when I see other people who also “get it!”. Baker now “gets it!”.
June 7th, 2024 at 10:13 am
Loved your post, St.PeteBF.
June 7th, 2024 at 10:19 am
Mr.1000 is a top 3 Bucs of all time. Here’s to another 1000+ yards this year
June 7th, 2024 at 10:19 am
“Jerry Rice did it in his first nine”
Huh?
Rice’s first season he had 927 yards rec. He then HAS the longest streak of 1K seasons with 11 straight. Evans ties that this year. Rice also owns the most total with 14.
Moss owned the previous record of most 1000 yards seasons to start his career.
June 7th, 2024 at 10:29 am
Sly, ME13 has had aleast a 1,000 yds receiving his entire from the time he was a rookie. Thats the record ME13 has
June 7th, 2024 at 10:41 am
To get the effect you wanted you have to write “this close” as “thisclose” or “closerthanthis”.
June 7th, 2024 at 10:44 am
Evans was the only one to ever start with 7 in a row. Now he has 10 in a row.
People write so wrong.
ME13 is the beast and needs to remain a Buc for life.
June 7th, 2024 at 10:48 am
SlyPirate, yeah, you’re right.
June 7th, 2024 at 10:49 am
THX Crickett!
June 7th, 2024 at 11:00 am
stpetebucfan Says:
June 7th, 2024 at 9:26 am
“folks like to crap on Mayfield for some odd reason.”
……….
Agree with most of what you said. Where I live I see the Chiefs every week, Mahomes has worn on me but he has been blessed to be with Andy Reid and his surrounding cast. Baker has never had that. Mahomes has played with one head coach where Mayfield has played with 6 or 7 OC and Head Coaches.
Mahomes does a lot of foolish things when pressured, for those that don’t believe me just go back and watch the last Raiders game in 2023 and see all the screwball things he does when it goes bad.
Mayfield should have a career year IF everyone stays healthy and this new OC is what he is touted to be.
June 7th, 2024 at 11:12 am
@buccaneric
My first thought was Manziel as well.
June 7th, 2024 at 11:34 am
BakerFan
I’m the cockeyed optimist so I do not mind your comparison to Mahomes. But I concede that Baker first has to prove it. So far he has shown me a lot but Mahomes is on an HOF trajectory, Baker is not…YET.
Who knows where he’ll end up though. He’s still young and the Bucs could be on the cusp of building something special around him. I LOVE the job TL has done surviving the SB mortgage of lost cap space, and the GOAT’s disastrous final year.
To see just how QUICKLY Light and Bowles have turned this around is really pretty amazing if you think about it objectively. Now they just have to do it on the field to confirm my cockeyed optimism.
June 7th, 2024 at 12:11 pm
LFG
June 7th, 2024 at 12:25 pm
Why do the Bucs have 13 Wrs on their roster? Seems a bit much for even a 91 man roster.
June 7th, 2024 at 12:26 pm
Man, if Baker could reach deep and conjure an elevation to the next level…..sky’s the limit for this team.
Oneiltard and his cronies wouldn’t be able to breathe
For those laughing, let’s consider Jared Goff. Most, including me, thought he was never going to get better. The last two seasons he has played some of the best quarterback in the league. Who saw that coming? He has outplayed Stafford these last two seasons.
LFG, indeed
June 7th, 2024 at 12:30 pm
I remember you being a big Jameis Winston fan and giving him that America’s QB moniker, but it’s time to quit driving that bus. If anyone deserves to have the tragic surname added to them, it’s Winston.
I truly believe the main reason Mayfield got so much hate was because of the huge endorsement deals he received when he first came into the league. Most people didn’t think he deserved them with being in the league for such a short period of time.
Of course that mindset is absurd and also Anti American. Not one person would have rejected those deals and money if they were presented with them, no matter how undeservedly everyone else thought they were.
June 7th, 2024 at 12:42 pm
That’s right, Mike Evans is one of the best and has made many QBs look great, including JM at A&M. Thank you for listing all the Bucs QBs throughout Mike’s longevity. He is humble about his own greatness.
Baker did well last year and remember he was in the middle of that entire financial issue with family members, $12 million of he and wife’s money were at stake. That had to be upsetting for the both of them. Throughout, Baker gave it his all, showed up, and did his job. He will be even better this season!
June 7th, 2024 at 1:23 pm
So Joe I notice you have nicknames for all the Bucs former QBs but you don’t have a nickname for Mayfield. Time to get those creative juices pumping!
June 7th, 2024 at 1:30 pm
I could live without the nicknames for Mayfiled or anyone else
June 7th, 2024 at 1:47 pm
A quarterback can make receivers. Case in point is Brett Favre, who – unbelievably – never had a single Hall of Fame caliber player at any offensive position (other than himself), yet turned receiver after receiver into great receivers and shattered all (then) NFL passing records.
June 7th, 2024 at 1:54 pm
Well said St Pete
June 7th, 2024 at 2:16 pm
Poor pitiful 30 million doallar man. Cry me a river.
June 7th, 2024 at 2:36 pm
Trey Alderson-Cloutier Says:
June 7th, 2024 at 1:23 pm
So Joe I notice you have nicknames for all the Bucs former QBs but you don’t have a nickname for Mayfield. Time to get those creative juices pumping!
__________
Last year Jo (new spelling) came up with Traskfield when there was a “competition” at QB.
Not a full-on moniker for Baker, but I think Jo struggles with creativity at times.
😀
June 7th, 2024 at 3:10 pm
Jerry Rice got his last 1,000 yard season in 2002 at age 40. He was 10 years older than Evans now.
June 7th, 2024 at 3:57 pm
Listen, the bucs are all in on Mayfield, Before even signing, asked his opinion on oc. Apparently asked for his wishlist, before draft. Now, Sterling Sheppard?? All respect to palmer, gonna be 6 or 7 receivers this year, they keep. IF they can catch, what baker is slinging(fast). Offense is set. Defense, need an edge, BUT, Bowles, would have screamed for 1, if not something in pocket…maybe winfield??
June 7th, 2024 at 3:58 pm
also, pretty much predicated last season. lol
June 7th, 2024 at 4:45 pm
Jack Mullins – yes and an achievement that isnt talked about anywhere NEAR enough. What Brady did in his 40’s is impressive, but it is absolutely next level to have 1200 yards receiving at 40, and almost had another 1000 at 41. Physically, it is no comparison and will never be done again. Further, Jerry Rice’s peak yrs in the 80’s are still better than any receiver playing today in this passing era where theyre getting freaking 200 looks a yr. Greatest football player that ever lived a far as Im concerned.
June 7th, 2024 at 4:52 pm
“No he’s not Patrick Mahomes or Burrows or Josh Allen”
He doesn’t need to be…he just needs to be the best Baker Mayfield…it’s coming !!!
June 7th, 2024 at 5:39 pm
Joe why in the world would you delete my post from this morning?
Legit question.
June 7th, 2024 at 6:25 pm
Hey StPete? “What other QB has won with the Cleveland Browns?!!!”
Bernie Kosar, Otto Graham.
I watched Kosar play against Marino, on the 50-yard line row 12 on Miami’s sideline. I didn’t care who won or lost Free tickets, and 24 hours before the game was spent in Little Havana, smoking and drinking with several Cuban co-workers. Great enjoyable times!!! I don’t remember who won, but that beautiful cuban lady serving drinks still flashes up in my mind…
June 7th, 2024 at 8:46 pm
Bucben61 Says:
June 7th, 2024 at 4:52 pm
“No he’s not Patrick Mahomes or Burrows or Josh Allen”
He doesn’t need to be…he just needs to be the best Baker Mayfield…it’s coming !!!
……
He is not because those guys are pussies. None of them would of played hurt like Mayfield did in Cleveland as well as here in Tampa last year. Again, if any of those same 3 had the hand Mayfield has been dealt the outcome for them would be the same or worse. How many head coaches has Mahomes played for?
June 7th, 2024 at 9:11 pm
Here we go again praising jameis and hating on Fitzpatrick. This has to be personal including the love affair for Winston
June 8th, 2024 at 1:05 am
Sometimes when someone gets that ‘red headed step child’ treatment one must consider the source.
There’s some dumb mo fo’s out there, Joe.
June 8th, 2024 at 1:05 am
“He (ME13) is the only player in NFL history to reach 1,000 yards receiving in each of his first 10 seasons (Jerry Rice did it in his first nine). ”
Incorrect!
Rice had 927 yards his rookie year (1985) – then reeled off 11 straight years of 1000+ yard seasons (’86>’96) before getting hurt and missing all but 2 games in 1997. Rice played 20 years to the age of 42 – and had 14 1000+ yard seasons in his career.
Evans will tie Rice’s NFL record of 11 straight 1000 yard seasons if he hits that # in 2024.
And its very unlikely that anyone will equal or break Evans record of 10(+) straight 1000 yard seasons from the beginning of their NFL career anytime soon – if ever… Randy Moss is 2nd best with 6. Justin Jefferson has 4….
June 8th, 2024 at 5:16 am
This is no knock on Mayfield and I find what he did last year a once in a lifetime thing. Last QB who went frome the outhouse to the penthouse like Baker was probably Jim Plunket.
The ProBowl MVP? What that has turned in to is a mere shadow of its former stature. That award means little these days Joe.
Wow was that a dude from the media praising a Buc and the Buc fron office in the same article?
Go Bucs!
Go Bucs!
June 8th, 2024 at 10:00 am
Extremely happy with Mayfield and his style of play. The Buccaneers organization I’m sure feels the same way. Now comparing King Crab legs to Fitz-magic is a joke. You’re comparing someone who lost his job to a tight end to someone who is a Harvard grad & holds records for most of the teams he’s played for. This is Fitzpatrick’s 19th year in the NFL.
June 8th, 2024 at 2:20 pm
Rusting – Frank Ryan was a winning QB for the Browns in the 60s but all he had to do was hand the ball off to Jim Brown and then Leroy Kelly (a very underrated back because of who he followed).
And he had Paul Warfield to throw to, one of the early WR superstars.
June 9th, 2024 at 12:45 pm
Leave it to the fanboi Joe to force this Baker greatness propaganda choo choo train on our tracks again. Great job trying to low key minimize Evan’s greatness in order to boost Baker up more than he really is. The only qb Evans didn’t make look better was Brady, but for Baker he was about 46% of his td total and 30% of his yardage total. You take that away and where does that leave him? Sure he would’ve distributed a good portion of that to other players but wouldn’t have put that full amount out. The problem with these fanbois is that they ignore his bad play and blame it on others and when it comes to his good stats they put it all on him. They even point out Mike’s dropped passes which are A LOT less than Baker’s bad plays as a reason why Baker wasn’t better. The Tom foolery of the fanbois is incredible. Like women, their feelings get hurt the instant they even assume or realize Baker is insulted or minimalized in any way and lash out. Hell hath no fury like a fanbois scorned!
June 9th, 2024 at 5:37 pm
Poor Mayfield always being disrespected and minimalized! Single handedly took the Bucs to the cusp of the Super Bowl. Evans 1200 yards and 13 tds absolutely had nothing to do with it.