“Special Bond” Between O-Line And Baker Mayfield
August 3rd, 2023
Bonding Baker..
The Buccaneers live in the “team hotel” near the stadium during training camp, and the setup is helping Baker Mayfield.
Mayfield has his own room but he’s suite-mate of Tristan Wirfs, Luke Goedeke and Robert Hainsey. Wirfs told Joe that the quartet has “a fellowship” every night where the hang together and “watch a movie or shoot the sh*t.”
Mayfield told WDAE radio today that he adores offensive line, not just because they protect him.
“They’re the biggest guys but they’re so sensitive and easy to mess with. So I’m always in there messing with a couple of them,” Mayfield said. “You gotta have fun while you’re doing it. Because the trust factor, when it comes to timing and getting the ball out from the quarterback and O-line has got to be a really special bond, so that’s something that we do have.”
Joe wonders if Kyle Trask is rooming with offensive linemen Cody Mauch, Ryan Jensen and Matt Feiler. Joe highly doubts that, but it certainly would seem fair in the fight for the starting QB gig.
To be fair, Wirfs and Hainsey are best buddies and Wirfs has been seen fishing with Goedeke multiple times in the offseason. Each is 24 years old and it’s possible they requested to room together with Mayfield, who became fast friends with Wirfs upon signing with Tampa in March.
August 3rd, 2023 at 3:18 pm
Does seem unfair to Trask.
August 3rd, 2023 at 3:19 pm
They taking long showers together? Bound to improve the Bucs DEI score.
August 3rd, 2023 at 3:22 pm
The OL is the most important position on the field after the QB. They’re also the most under appreciated position in the NFL. They’re the engine of the team, and that’s why they’re my favorite position group. They played a MAJOR role in our SB. Yes, all the talk was about Brady and the defense, but we don’t win that SB without our OL. Mahomes played without two of his starting OL and we made him look like a mere mortal.
Our OL was below average last year in every aspect of the game. The run blocking and pass blocking was awful! We had one of the worse rushing attacks in NFL history. You can’t blame that all on the blocks. They had few holes created by the OL. Yes, Gronk was a loss, but the biggest loss was Ali Marpet. His loss also affected Donovan’s play. We trotted out two guys who never played a snap in the NFL to protect the interior of Brady. It was a losing proposition from the start.
August 3rd, 2023 at 3:27 pm
Joe’s title makes it sound like the O-line has a special bond with Mayfield but it’s Mayfield – not the O-line – saying there is a special bond. That’s Mayfield regurgitating talking points his agent gives him.
August 3rd, 2023 at 3:29 pm
Mayfield’s been playing like his record says he plays so Joe is going back to square one: m o x i e talk.
August 3rd, 2023 at 3:29 pm
I think we have officially entered the Bargaining phase of denial.
August 3rd, 2023 at 3:34 pm
Who your roommates are basically means nothing as to who wins the qb race IMO. How you play the game, protect the ball, score points means everything! Wirfs isn’t going to let Shaq by him so that Shaq can sack KT!!!! That goes for the other linemen too!!
August 3rd, 2023 at 3:35 pm
Mayfield is all talk.
August 3rd, 2023 at 3:54 pm
The way he’s throwing picks, he be relegated to the kickers soon enough
August 3rd, 2023 at 4:01 pm
How much longer before we see a frustrated and benched Baker Mayfield head butting his O-line buddies as they come off to the sidelines?
To quote the great Yogi Berra – “It would be like deja vu all over again”…
August 3rd, 2023 at 4:29 pm
Coach Canales to Tristan Wirfs:
“Pick my starting quarterback based on how well your shoot the sh*t with him at night.”
August 3rd, 2023 at 4:32 pm
Once again Baker Haters … you just don’t get it, do you? Besides being a wonderful QB and humanitarian, Baker could solve the Climate Change issue within minutes if he so desired. He also could broker a peace settlement between Ukraine and Russia during a halftime break. The O-line instinctively realizes this and, thus, gravitates towards him. Besides, he probably buys all the pizza, wings and beer they could ever desire. So, please stop the jealously you all feel and your sins will be forgiven…
August 3rd, 2023 at 4:39 pm
Seems unfair to Trask.. are you kidding me these are grown ass men he can step out and do these same things and if he’s not that’s on him
August 3rd, 2023 at 4:46 pm
Too bad the OL isn’t helping Baker with the INTs he is throwing.
August 3rd, 2023 at 5:34 pm
Scotty, I know deep down inside that you don’t really mean that. The sideline pass today from Bake to Evans was really nice wasn’t it? Relax, whatever happens, happens because we as fans are helpless to control destiny. Go Bucs.
August 3rd, 2023 at 6:45 pm
O-linemen always love the backup QB like a little brother.
August 3rd, 2023 at 6:49 pm
Does the media ever talk to Trask, or is he too busy actually working at getting better rather than sitting on radio row?
August 3rd, 2023 at 7:12 pm
I don’t actually think it is a good idea for the QB to room with any of the offense. He should be with the other QBs. Here’s why:
When it comes time for him to hold them accountable, he will have no pull with them.
We saw how being overly friendly can hurt authority with Raheem Morris.
Mayfield is sabotaging himself by doing this.
Sure…they’ll do their jobs…but the moment they screw up and he gets in their faces? It’s all over.
August 3rd, 2023 at 7:25 pm
Mike S Says:
August 3rd, 2023 at 3:19 pm
They taking long showers together?
That’s a Northwestern University thing.
August 3rd, 2023 at 7:51 pm
Talk about propaganda. What a misleading headline! Joe, do you moonlight for the DOJ?
August 3rd, 2023 at 7:52 pm
Moderation…AKA, gutless.
August 3rd, 2023 at 9:29 pm
Hey Joe – I can confirm that Jensen and Trask were in Citrus county a couple weeks ago out to dinner and a fishing trip. Sounds like a decent bond to me.
August 3rd, 2023 at 9:33 pm
No clue. If Joe gets a chance to ask Trask he will. Joe did see on Instagram Trask was out fishing in the Gulf with Luke Goedeke, Cade Otton and Tristian Wirfs couple of weeks before training camp.
August 3rd, 2023 at 11:30 pm
Queue up Queen’s “My Best Friend” and start the soft lit buddy video montage. This cleary overshadows tips and picks.❤
August 3rd, 2023 at 11:31 pm
The title is great. That’s why there are quote marks around “special bond”. Just quoting Mayfield.
August 4th, 2023 at 1:26 am
Sounds like Baker has a little sugar in him – or maybe looking to get some.
Baker “Power Bottom” Mayfield. Just call him PB for short.
Forget Northwestern, what the heck is going on in Oklahoma?
August 4th, 2023 at 4:15 am
More of Mayfields moxie Joe?
Come on man.
Go Bucs!
August 4th, 2023 at 6:54 am
@Joe… Really!!!