Bucs’ Offensive Line Has Baker Mayfield’s Back On And Off The Field
January 4th, 2025
Bucs O-linemen speak out supporting their quarterback.
Joe remembers former Bucs great Warren Sapp saying this and it’s so true.
Sapp, partially joking (?) and explaining the typical dynamics of an NFL locker room, said of offensive linemen, “They’re like cattle. They herd together.”
And he’s right.
In the locker room, no matter the team or the year, rarely do offensive linemen mingle with others. They stick together like a pack. Maybe tight ends might be embraced but other than that, they have their own little corner of the locker room.
Bucs offensive linemen are a little different. Quarterback Baker Mayfield is one of them. He’s part of their fraternity.
It’s common for Mayfield to hang outside of One Buc Palace with Tristan Wirfs, Robert Hainsey and others.
So last week when it was announced that Mayfield, who is on the cusp of joining a rare quarterback club of mostly Hall of Famers, guess who had Mayfield’s back, sticking up for their quarterback thinking he got hosed in not being named as a Pro Bowler?
Bucs offensive linemen, that’s who.
While Mayfield was named an alternate, the guys protecting Mayfield’s back on the field had his back off the field.
“Incredible!” Bucs right tackle Luke Goedeke said of Baker getting the short end of the stick. “He definitely deserves to make the Pro Bowl as a starter.
“He’s done it all for us. He plays every game like it is his last. He checks all the boxes. Yeah, I believe he was snubbed.”
Right guard Cody Mauch agreed.
“Yeah, I’d say,” Mauch said when asked if Mayfield got dissed.
“I don’t know if there are many quarterbacks better than Baker this year. Baker has been just a stud. “I don’t know what goes into [selecting Pro Bowlers]. I think Baker is one of [the best].”
Left tackle Tristan Wirfs, who was named a Pro Bowl starter, said overlooking his good friend angers the entire offensive line.
“Baker doesn’t get the credit he deserves,” Wirfs said. “And it chaps our ass.”
Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen swore Mayfield doesn’t give two flips over the Pro Bowl.
“He knows his worth,” Coen said. “He knows what he’s done and put out on that field this year production-wise.”
Goedeke put Mayfield’s Pro Bowl status in proper perspective.
“The Pro Bowl is not the end all, be all,” Goedeke said.
Mayfield knows what meaningful football honors are: postseason wins. And frankly, that begins tomorrow with a win-and-in game against the slimy Saints.
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January 4th, 2025 at 3:22 pm
These Bucs linemen need to be careful, we wouldn’t want them to be slammed with the derogatory Baker Boies handle. The crew that spent the last 2 years criticizing all things Mayfield is very silent lately. They were told in advance what to expect from Baker. They refused to believe it and now won’t acknowledge it. That bunch isn’t even happy for the team. They would much prefer that the team and Mayfield fail so they can continue the charade that they are football wise men.
January 4th, 2025 at 3:23 pm
At the beginning of the season, the media said Baker would regress after his ‘best’ season last year. They said Bake would play more like his Cleveland days… Just goes to show that the media doesn’t understand how the OL, play calling, RB’s, and WR’s contribute to a QB’s play. Idiots.
Unfortunately for Baker, even a defense’s play can impact a QB’s rankings. If the defense had played better this year, the Bucs would have a much better record. The media thinks a team’s record is overly connected to a QB’s play. To an extent, yes, but a good defense creates wins and Baker hasn’t had that kind of support for many games.
I like Baker having a chip on this shoulder, keep him pissed off and hungry!
January 4th, 2025 at 3:39 pm
I think if you asked ANY of our players if Baker is underrated they’d say yes.
Makes you wonder where this team would be, record wise, if we’d only listened to Munch, davidbigboy, ballsack75 ,and company when they told us how meh Baker was 🤣
Must suck pretty bad to not be able to fully embrace our successes because it means admitting you were wrong to do so. Sorry
January 4th, 2025 at 3:41 pm
Thanks to Graham Barton and the entire Oline.
January 4th, 2025 at 3:41 pm
Bucben61 Says:
March 7th, 2024 at 7:50 pm
Love him or hate him Baker is worth a few $$$…if the bucs are low balling him I’m sure there will be other teams interested…I hope they can come to an long term agreement…I think with a healthy Baker the bucs are a relevant playoff team yearly…improve the trenches and God damn get a run game and the sky’s the limit
Yep ..I said that back in March
January 4th, 2025 at 3:44 pm
Baker was great In Cleveland except for the 2021 season when he was injured in the second game and tried to play with an injury all season. The Browns management and ownership is petty and impressed with themselves.
Baker was punished for telling the truth about the beating he got from TJ Watt in Baker’s last game as a Brown. Browns had a third string OT go up against TJ. Coaching staff provided 3rd string OT no help from backs or tight end. Mayfield was sacked 7 or 8 times by Watt and said he didn’t blame the OT who “had no help.” The petty Browns coach and GM decided that was it for Baker. They swung a deal for a sexual predator QB. Incidentally, the worst deal in the history of professional sports. Baker getting the last laugh and he really deserves it.
January 4th, 2025 at 3:54 pm
Totally agree Gipper…worst coaching staff in the NFL in Cleveland….how in the hell that clown still has a job is a mystery. I’ve been a Baker fan long before he started an NFL game and knew once he landed in Tampa great things were ahead for him the team and us …. the fans.
January 4th, 2025 at 3:59 pm
All good….if anything, another chip on his shoulder, eh if he allows it. I dont think he cares…. winning these next games are more important.
January 4th, 2025 at 4:00 pm
he doesnt get to play flag football with micky mouse
January 4th, 2025 at 4:06 pm
I truly believe that Baker knows whats really important = wins, playoffs, superbowls BUT I also wouldn’t be surprised if, given the chance, Baker would like to make a point to his detractors.
January 4th, 2025 at 4:08 pm
The Buc’s are very fortunate to have BM6 on this team. I enjoy what he brings on Sundays!
January 4th, 2025 at 4:17 pm
Hoping the big uglies take it out on the Saints, Lions, Vikings, etc.
January 4th, 2025 at 4:18 pm
I thought he was good in Cleveland too. But I’m glad he steered the ship after The GOAT retired. Looks to b a good new Captain to sail with.
Go Bucs. The Dr. is watching.
January 4th, 2025 at 4:19 pm
Even that last year at Cleveland was only his fourth in the league. What QB (outside of Mahomes ) peaks in his fourth year?
That aside, Cleveland lost all those pics and they had a horrible draft this year, it’ll be years before they ever get better
January 4th, 2025 at 5:20 pm
GoneGator
“Must suck pretty bad to not be able to fully embrace our successes because it means admitting you were wrong to do so. Sorry”
AMEN BROTHER
Perhaps I’m guilty from the opposite side of the spectrum. I confess at this point I want the Bucs to win the SB as much to stick Bowles up the rectums of some of our posters as to cheer the Bucs win. I know shame on me!
January 4th, 2025 at 7:55 pm
Watching the end of the Ravens/Browns game, and when they were talking about the Cleveland QB situation, someone was saying the D. Watson trade was the worst in history, and they said something to the effect of How long has Cleveland been looking for a franchise QB? Dan Orlovsky said “they had one, he’s just playing for Tampa now”.
Lmfao! Cleveland and Carolina, what a couple of shltshow organizations.
January 4th, 2025 at 9:39 pm
@stpetebucsfan
Tried twice to reply but Joe must not have liked it – lol.
January 5th, 2025 at 12:37 am
Gone Gator please just because I don’t believe you people’s hype until I saw him play better doesn’t make me no less a Buc fan. His whole history has been up and down and has been a mediocre qb at best. It’s the reason why he flamed out at Carolina and wasn’t able to beat Matthew Stafford with the Rams. He then came here and barely beat out Trask who had never started an NFL game. Last year almost every game was just like his history up and down. Statistically he had a good year but not good enough for me to crown him our franchise qb. This year he’s having a great year and was hosed out the Pro Bowl. Finally after 7 seasons in the league he put together 2 back to back good seasons. He has finally proven to be our franchise qb but not because you people say so.
January 5th, 2025 at 12:49 am
Gulper all you ever do is whine and cry but I’m never silent I just don’t sing his praise constantly because there’s plenty of you who do it for him. I don’t do that for any player for for real for real but I am a Bucs fan but most of you all ain’t.
January 5th, 2025 at 8:44 am
All the injuries and OC changes have not stopped the Offense from jelling which it’s doing. Major props and kudos to Licht, Bowles, Baker and the entire Offense for not falling apart, but sticking together. Liam Coen got to coach an offense with plenty of character and heart. This is a real team, folks. No divas nor other BS that is plaguing plenty of teams right now. Go Bucs and 10-7!!
January 5th, 2025 at 8:58 am
Wasn’t able to beat Stafford at the Rams?
Kiddo, he was never in competition with Stafford at the Rams. Stafford was injured – the whole reason why they claimed Baker, to give the organization a jump start at the end of the year after a shocking season (a million injuries and nothing went right) following their Super Bowl win. It was *never* even a consideration that they would move off their franchise QB – they’re not Cleveland.
January 5th, 2025 at 9:10 am
DavidBigBucsFan99 Says:
January 5th, 2025 at 12:49 am
Gulper all you ever do is whine and cry but I’m never silent I just don’t sing his praise constantly because there’s plenty of you who do it for him. I don’t do that for any player for for real for real but I am a Bucs fan but most of you all ain’t.
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Leave it alone, DBBF99. You are getting more incoherent with each post. You and Munch can star in a reprise of the movie Dumb and Dumber.
January 5th, 2025 at 9:51 am
DavidBBF
Don’t take it so personally. People just disagree with your posts as they disagree wth many of mine.
“It’s the reason why he flamed out at Carolina and wasn’t able to beat Matthew Stafford with the Rams. He then came here and barely beat out Trask who had never started an NFL game.”
No, Carolina was the reason he flamed out in Carolina…they SUCK what’s their excuse this year. By your standards they wasted a first round pic eh? IMO that verdict is still out just as it was on Mayfield.
“Barely beat out Trask”? Says who. What are your sources. Are any of them well placed at OBP like Joe’s? Just askin.
I don’t know you David but here’s what I get from your posts. I’m a skeptic you are a cynic. A skeptic questions a cynic doesn’t need to because he already believes everything sucks. Sadly my son is far too cynical because cynicism is literally bad for your health, there is evidence that a cynical worldview may also have a negative effect on our health, making us more likely to suffer from depression, heart disease and burnout.
Good luck. Understand however if you come to a blog full of Buc fans and some haters (minority) you are going to get blasted for insulting Buc players and stretching wildly to back up those insults, never really producing facts.