Baker Mayfield 2.0
August 28th, 2024
“Eye of the tiger, Kyle. Eye of the tiger.”
You know it’s time for a real football game when Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht is talking about the gleam in his quarterback’s eyes.
Man, it’s been seven-plus months of painful abstinence from legitmate Bucs football.
Joe doesn’t care if Baker Mayfield has a new baby (of course, Joe loves babies) or if he has a sparkle to him that hearken’s back to Rocky Balboa’s “eye of the tiger.”
Get on the field, Baker. Make good decisions. Keep grinding daily on the new playbook. Keep fighting for every blade of grass and commanding respect. Keep uplifting teammates.
Speaking today at One Buc Palace, Licht got a little mystical talking about Mayfield’s growth and what might be in store for his second Tampa Bay season.
“You know, he was very focused last year. There’s just a little bit different gleam, I would say, in his eye,” Licht said of Mayfield. “And I think a little bit maybe has to do [with] that he’s a father now. Once again, this is not saying he wasn’t mature, but he just seems to be a little bit more; he’s got a little bit more to prove, which I’d love to see. I love when people say things about him and doubt him – it just, it energizes this entire team.”
Mayfield should be driven. He’s 29 years old, possesses a massive new contract off a Pro Bowl season and most of America thinks the Bucs will finish with a losing record.
Mayfield has said with authority that stability and full trust from the Bucs organization is the kind of thing he hasn’t had on other teams and it will lead to greater things from him. Joe believes that Mayfield believes that, so it’s critically important.
Whatever fresher sparkle Licht sees in Mayfield, Joe will say that’s the reason.
Finally, Mayfield has the keys to the car, a full tank of gas and complete faith of his passengers.
Ira Kaufman Dissects Jason Licht Chatter & Roster Building, Talks Locker Room Chats, And More
August 28th, 2024 at 7:49 pm
I feel baker-ized !!
August 28th, 2024 at 8:27 pm
“I love when people say things about him and doubt him – it just, it energizes this entire team.”
Well he should check this comment thread in a few hours – lol 🤣.
An article with Bakers name in the title is a siren song the Traskophiles and Brady worshippers can’t resist. Whos going to be 1st? 🤔😂
August 28th, 2024 at 8:29 pm
Let’s Go!! Stoked for this season. Hope the team achieves the highs that they are capable of, think Baker is set for a great year! Go Bucs!
August 28th, 2024 at 8:37 pm
I would like to see baker thrive this year. He’s got the weapons. Prob the best he’s ever played with. He’s got protection. Deff better than last year with the upgrades on the online but time will tell with that. He’s got a OC that has a lot of experience. Dave canales was ok but he was inexperienced and with the new OC hopefully we will have a better run game. He’s deff set up for success. Defense is also improved. Let’s gooo
August 28th, 2024 at 9:01 pm
Mayfield and Pratt are going to click !
Same type of playing style which once Pratt gets the offense down and familiar with his WR’s it will be a easy transition if Mayfield gets dinged. I caught a YouTube interview with Pratt and he is articulate and oozes leadership
August 28th, 2024 at 9:05 pm
Joe … ‘Finally, Mayfield has the keys to the car, a full tank of gas and complete faith of his passengers.’
Love your bottom lines Joe. Do kinda wish you’d said ‘… and complete faith in his pit crew’ instead of ‘passengers’ but hey, close enough. (I have trouble picturing Wirfs, Bredeson, Barton, Mauch & Goedeke as almost a ton of Baker’s ‘passengers’ but what the heck, we’ll go with it).
August 28th, 2024 at 9:21 pm
I feel good about this team and the upcoming season let’s go baby go bucs!!
August 28th, 2024 at 9:32 pm
When Daddy Canales was in the car to make sure the hands were 10 and 2 the ride was uneventful.
Unattended a reckless kid will wrap the thing around a tree.
Uh Oh. Better get MAACO
August 28th, 2024 at 9:43 pm
“Joe believes that Mayfield believes that, so it’s critically important.”
Amen! Tug McGraw had it exactly right when he quoted different philosophers throughout the ages…”Ya gotta believe”.
The little train never made it to the top of the hill saying, “I think I can’t, I think I can’t”.
Norman Vincent Peale did not write “The Power of Negative Thinking”.
I could go on forever about the importance of this. What the mind conceives the body achieves. Mostly though I’ve seen the outcome of beliefs and attitudes in my own life and that of close acquaintances. Negative thinking is a disease to be avoided at all costs.
August 28th, 2024 at 10:13 pm
Right on, stpetebucsfan!
Go Bucs!!!
August 28th, 2024 at 11:27 pm
I havent really gone into a season feeling this confident.in a.good while.& I think thos will be a big.year for the BUCS . The players are taking g in all this negativity from the talking heads & it’s giving them the right.kind of chip on.their Shoulder. It’s us against the world, I like the attitude of this TEAM & also BUCNATION , after all the Bucs hung a.serious are whopping on tjr great Midwest monster before in.the.Big.1. GO get em ZBUCS. Mayfield is the.absolute perfect leader for thisTEAM!!
August 28th, 2024 at 11:29 pm
I havent really gone into a season feeling this confident.in a.good while.& I think this will be a big.year for the BUCS . The players are taking in all this negativity from the talking heads & it’s giving them the right.kind of chip on.their Shoulder. It’s us against the world, I like the attitude of this TEAM & also BUCNATION , after all the Bucs hung a.serious arse whopping on the great Midwest monster before in.the.Big.1. GO get em BUCS. Mayfield is the.absolute perfect leader for thisTEAM!!
August 28th, 2024 at 11:51 pm
Gotta love it when posters tell Joes what they should have meant to write, and critique the style that the Joes write it in. It must help JBF greatly.
Jiminy Crickets would be most pleased.
August 28th, 2024 at 11:58 pm
@SPBF:
Ted Lasso: Believe!
August 29th, 2024 at 12:08 am
PFT just ranked Buccaneers 9th in Preseason Power Ratings and as most overlooked team! Impressive!
August 29th, 2024 at 12:16 am
LFGB
August 29th, 2024 at 12:39 am
Let’s see. Improved Offensive line and with that a better running game. Knocking on the NFC Championship game last year and Baker a lot more settled in. If we get a legit pass rush-this team has a shot to Yes go to the Super Bowl. Go Bucs!!
August 29th, 2024 at 2:12 am
Watched some of Jayden Daniels preseason.
Dual threat. Many QB runs. Quick release. Washington has receivers.
I don’t know about day 1 but he’s a legit talent.
August 29th, 2024 at 2:24 am
Todd’s been good in the first game. 2-0 in openers as Bucs coach.
Both Dallas and Minnesota are better than WFT with Dan’s Quinn.
If he loses this one it’s time for Jason to get with the Glazers about the list of head coaching candidates to succeed the Todd.
August 29th, 2024 at 4:44 am
Looking forward to watching what Baker can do this season. He will get even better. I read where he and his wife absolutely love it here. They have a new baby and also are involved with community, their foundation. Evans and his wife have a family foundation too. Baker and Evans remained on the Bucs for less money and love being here while benefiting our community. That definitely puts a gleam in our eyes too. Go Bucs!
August 29th, 2024 at 5:23 am
I have been a Buccaneers fan since 1982. I have felt good about the Bucs a handful of times. This year feels like it could be special. Baring injuries, like most fans feel about there teams. The Bucs have most is not all the pieces in place to make a deep run and possibly dare we say the ( superbowl). I love Baker and the way he plays, his wife and him having a child changes your perspective on things. You get hyper focused on you job and you family at least it was that way for a lot of people myself included that I know. Let’s stay focused on ( Team Positive ) to quote fan favorite ROD MUNCH. It’s a new year LFGB
August 29th, 2024 at 7:11 am
5 minutes into the game-day thread, “this team SUCKS!”
August 29th, 2024 at 7:35 am
He needs to make a decent year out of it. Next year should put him in the top tier.
August 29th, 2024 at 8:04 am
Get on the field, Trask. Make good decisions. Keep grinding daily on the new playbook. Keep fighting for every blade of grass and commanding respect. Keep uplifting teammates.
You know this line works for both of our QB’s…
August 29th, 2024 at 9:14 am
Having to awesome qbs on the roster isn’t a bad situation to be in, for them or the organization!!
August 29th, 2024 at 9:15 am
I love the picture and the caption, very cute.
August 29th, 2024 at 7:05 pm
Here is a promise to the Baker Hate Brigade. Baker will throw an interception in 2024, have a pass batted down, and get sacked. At the end of the season we will tote it all up and Baker will be Top 6 NFL QB, based not on goofy QBR rating scheme, but based on production–TD’s vs INT’s. Bucs again will be atop of NFC South and Bucs win at least one playoff game. Not sure until we get a legitimate pass rush if Bucs are Super Bowl material? Probably not. It will be a fun season and that is really all the NFL is, just entertainment.
August 30th, 2024 at 12:11 am
Great article; go Bucs!!!!!!