“This Was A Personal Signing”
March 6th, 2024
Adam Schefter talking to Baker Mayfield at the Bucs-Jets scrimmage last summer.
When Adam Schefter talks Bucs, Joe pays extra attention for one simple reason and it has nothing to do with Schefter’s status as an ultimate NFL insider.
Schefter has strong relationships with the Bucs’ front office. He’s from the same hometown as Bucs assistant general manager Mike Greenberg. Heck, Schefter had Greenberg as a guest on his podcast. How many other non-GM active front office people have ever been a guest? Joe would guess the answer is zero.
On ESPN TV this week, Schefter talked about Mike Evans re-signing with the Bucs on Monday, a week before he could have explored the free agent market during the legal tampering period.
Schefter said getting a deal done early was a priority for Evans and Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht, who made Evans the first pick of his regime.
“This was a personal signing and Mike Evans could have gone to free agency and could have tested the market and could have drawn interest from any number of teams including the Kansas City Chiefs,” Schefter said. “But the truth of the matter was he didn’t want to leave Tampa and the Buccaneers did not want him to leave Tampa.”
Schefter explained how a long meeting on Sunday night got the deal done. He also added, much to the delight of Joe, that Evans signing is very important to the Bucs retaining Baker Mayfield.
March 6th, 2024 at 11:56 am
Bait and switch with the Baker photo and Evans content. Not nice.
March 6th, 2024 at 11:56 am
I have to admit i am starting to get worried about the Baker signing. I thought he would get the franchise tag. The Buc’s better have him signed prior to Monday or all bets are off and he could land anywhere which would suck.
March 6th, 2024 at 12:00 pm
Everyone has covered why we wouldn’t franchise Baker multiple times.
March 6th, 2024 at 12:00 pm
Bake is not going anywhere. Wake up! He needs the Bucs as much as they need him for continued success. Just a question of time before he signs. Pass Rush. Pass Rush. Pass Rush.
March 6th, 2024 at 12:01 pm
The franchise for Baker would have adversely impacted our cap. The goal is to get him on a multi-year deal to spread that much larger number out.
March 6th, 2024 at 12:02 pm
“But the truth of the matter was he didn’t want to leave…” “Schefter explained how a long meeting on Sunday night got the deal done.”
These quotes sound like Mike resigning isn’t an indication Baker is, too.
March 6th, 2024 at 12:02 pm
No worries if Baker signs else where, all these keyboard GM’s have it all figured out.
March 6th, 2024 at 12:04 pm
Okay, final offer: Baker gets 3.5 million and a whole bunch of scratch off tickets
March 6th, 2024 at 12:05 pm
The Evans deal gives us some flexibility in free agency beyond signing our own guys. We might snag a quality pass rusher and/or guard/center. I’d love to get Barkley but he’s likely too expensive for what Licht prefers to spend on RB.
March 6th, 2024 at 12:06 pm
Baker doesn’t want to learn another new system and team, he will be signing soon!
March 6th, 2024 at 12:07 pm
I agree The Truth to be Told. I am still waiting to hear about an article I read this morning on pewter plank that the Bucs and Mayfield had came to an agreement and it would be announced today
March 6th, 2024 at 12:08 pm
The Bucs don’t overspend on free agents and there are teams out there willing to pay more than Tampa Bay is. The Bucs are not paying more for Baker than they are for Mike. That would be an insult to Mike who has played 10 great seasons for mayfield to earn more after one so-so season.
March 6th, 2024 at 12:09 pm
I was pleasantly surprised to hear about Mike’s cap hit for this season coming up which will only be in the five mill range. Almost seems to signal a desire to dip our toes into free agency after we get our own signed.
March 6th, 2024 at 12:10 pm
I think they’ll sign Baker.
I also think he’s going to regress.
March 6th, 2024 at 12:11 pm
Baker signing somewhere else would be ignorant. Not saying it couldn’t happen, but you would dope dude would have learned by now what is and isn’t a good situation.
March 6th, 2024 at 12:11 pm
ATL, it’s almost a certainty that Baker will be signed for more than Mike, come on now. Also, impossible to insult a player on the team that’s not a quarterback by the quarterback making more money. That doesn’t even make sense.
March 6th, 2024 at 12:16 pm
LOL okay I criticize sometimes but its obvious the Joes have this blogging thing on lock. In a story mostly about Evans its a Baker picture. Way to know your audience and stir the pot.
March 6th, 2024 at 12:17 pm
I want Mayfield as our quarterback but if he signs on another team I’ll still be a Buc fan, unlike BakerFan who will be swallowing Mayfield’s love Juice on another team. 🤣
March 6th, 2024 at 12:18 pm
Time is ticking.. still no Baker… maybe the negotiations are going well??
March 6th, 2024 at 12:19 pm
Thank you, Mike Evans.
March 6th, 2024 at 12:19 pm
Go Bucs
March 6th, 2024 at 12:19 pm
40 million per year demands probably have Jason Litch laughing and laughing
March 6th, 2024 at 12:25 pm
Click bait photo. Well played
March 6th, 2024 at 12:40 pm
Steven007 Says:
March 6th, 2024 at 12:11 pm
ATL, it’s almost a certainty that Baker will be signed for more than Mike, come on now. Also, impossible to insult a player on the team that’s not a quarterback by the quarterback making more money. That doesn’t even make sense.
Yep beyond dumb but trust me keep reading a certain group in here and it won’t be the dumbest for long.
March 6th, 2024 at 12:43 pm
Proudbucsfan Says:
March 6th, 2024 at 12:17 pm
I want Mayfield as our quarterback but if he signs on another team I’ll still be a Buc fan, unlike BakerFan who will be swallowing Mayfield’s love Juice on another team.
…….
Funny, that thought has never came into my head, but apparently it has for you.
Let’s be honest, I like Baker Mayfield. SO WHAT. If he plays for the Bucs I want them to do well, if not I hardly could care what happens with Tampa. As a sports town Tampa would be rated very low, which is all right, better atmosphere for players to live in. So it is a nice niche market, I vacation every year near by and enjoy it.
Baker Mayfield like other players may be good guys, but could care less about what I say or you say. Could care less if I or you personally have success or don’t. I have it in the right perspective knowing my life has nothing to do with with his success and his success has very little to do with mine except on a Sunday afternoon for entertainment purposes.
I think he plays to win and shows good leadership skills by example. Has been given the raw deal for going to Cleveland. So call me a Fan, a Fan Boi or whatever else you like. It does not matter to me. A few on here are good football fans, they know other players and other teams. A lot on here know nothing about other players and other teams and make the batsh!t crazy comments I have ever came across on sports. I will watch for your comments and see what category you fall in, but based on this one I know which one you most likely fall in.
March 6th, 2024 at 12:52 pm
Few wanted my boy Baker. He got better every year as a Brown………. till he got hurt. NOW…….. few DON’T want my boy Baker. My Browns are stuck with Watts-his-name.
Maybe 2 things will happen. The Browns will get Flacco back for “one-last-gasp”. AND……… The Bucs will get Chubb !!!!! Chubb will be ready. YOU’LL SEE !!
Danny Baker Brown Esq 1st.
March 6th, 2024 at 1:16 pm
Baker and Evans communicate a lot. Evans wasn’t going to sign without Baker coming back. It’s just a matter of when Baker’s deal gets done. Licht is also working on LVD and Chase so there might be some zero sum math being done to get everyone signed eventually. That also may include Wirfs’ extension.
Do you guys think a happy Wirfs would be good for Baker? Just like the better half, if Wirfs is happy then Baker’s happy.
March 6th, 2024 at 1:18 pm
BakerFan,
Glad you expounded on your definition of Tampa being ranked “very low” as a sports town. Unlike a lot of places, we have a laid back vibe and so many more options for our free time. And really, check out the Jags and Phins. It’s kind of a Florida thing.
Let’s be honest, I absolutely love the Bucs but if you ask me would I rather spend hundreds on a Bucs home game or a few days in Key Largo diving a reef, the choice is pretty easy.
And to get back on topic (and repeating what I have said before) we need Baker back because pick 26 is Kenny Pickett territory. No thank you
March 6th, 2024 at 1:20 pm
JimBobBuc Says:
March 6th, 2024 at 1:16 pm
Do you guys think a happy Wirfs would be good for Baker? Just like the better half, if Wirfs is happy then Baker’s happy.
……
Wasn’t the Wirfs family and Mayfield family going to the Caribbean on a vacation together. I thought I read that was happening.
March 6th, 2024 at 1:28 pm
Drunk Bucs Fan Says:
March 6th, 2024 at 1:18 pm
….I absolutely love the Bucs but if you ask me would I rather spend hundreds on a Bucs home game or a few days in Key Largo diving a reef, the choice is pretty easy.
…..
Agree totally on quality of life, our vacation Spots for the past decade, Key Largo, Duck Key, Key West, Sarasota. I have to fight my wife about moving to FL, just too expensive.
Sports Towns are meat grinders on athletes… Philly, NY, BOS, CHI all should have a sur charge for players to get more money to play there.
March 6th, 2024 at 2:08 pm
BakerFan Says:
. I have to fight my wife about moving to FL, just too expensive.
You are lucky she does not blow you up on that point because no – not all of Florida is expensive.
March 6th, 2024 at 2:34 pm
BakerFan Says:
his success has very little to do with mine except on a Sunday afternoon for entertainment purposes.
Theres’ a completely dumb bell narrative in sports about how great it is to be the fan of one team your whole life, fill your house with its memorabilia, “Live and breath bucs” and even being buried in the team colors. To me its always been utterly pathetic.
I love Denzel Washington movies but if After experiencing all of life and my children and family, love and meaning I even cared at death to be dressed like Denzel’s character in Training Day I would think I missed the meaning of life and had a pathetic one.
Sports is entertainment nothing else. Watch and cheer for whoever you wish , as many as you wish for whatever reason you wish.
March 6th, 2024 at 2:43 pm
I am beginning to think BakerFan accidentally got a sports comment thread talking about real life.
Quick, someone talk about Kyle Trask’s training camp last year!
March 6th, 2024 at 4:02 pm
Sort of funny. Last year old Baker was yesterday’s stinky socks or a Liver and Onions supper, now he’s the Key. Free. Agent. My take, he’s Phil Simms with a better arm. Undervalued by the NFL, give him a little help and you might just get a Ring
March 6th, 2024 at 4:21 pm
Tony Marks, agree. Back in the day used to tune the antenna with fuzzy reception just to watch Dick Butkus. Didn’t care much for the Cowboys but i sre did root for Captain America Roger Staubach.Redskins not so much but John Riggins made me tune in. And i always watched the Thanksgiving Day game because the Lions had Barry Sanders
March 6th, 2024 at 5:12 pm
If he wants to play hardball, let Atlanta pay him 160 for 4.
Roll with Trask, Wolford & JJ if he falls to 26 or Pratt later in the draft. Or sign a vet like Brissett.
I’m not a Traskateer or a Baker lover, so don’t anyone try to put me into your delusional mold.
Trask, if I had to GUESS, is a Brad Johnson type QB.
Brad was physically tougher that Kyle is, but my GUESS is that Kyle gets up to speed quicker in his career than Brad did.
Kyle is heady, more mobile than most think and would protect the ball.
Can the Bucs win a SB with a game manager Trask at QB (if that’s his ceiling)?
Answer: They won with Brad.
Brad won with an epic, elite defense, but Kyle would presumably have a better offense than Brad had under Gruden
^^mtnbucman^^
Since ’76
March 6th, 2024 at 6:18 pm
The real entertainment is JoeBucsFan blogs.
Yes — I’m an import as my name expresses. No — I don’t have the history you have as a TB fan.
But — do any of you wonder why I came to you last March singing praises about Baker? Here’s the reason: I had the opportunity to watch him from day one in the NFL. After bringing a very sad team back from decades of disrespect, that same team crapped on him after he tried to play through multiple injuries. To me, and a lot of other Browns fans, this was unacceptable. And to me — after 54 years of devotion — it was a done deal!
I told you last March-April, that you would see the player that BM is. And didn’t he show you?
I’m now an entrenched Bucs Fan (although sophmore). We’re going to see the Bucs bring him back and a run for the SB this season!
Mark me on that!
March 6th, 2024 at 10:27 pm
The Browns went 11-6 this past season in a tough division after discarding Mayfield.
March 7th, 2024 at 12:52 am
What is the deal with all of these people thinking that Baker would get the franchise tag!? There is literally, not ONE single reason for that to EVER happen. It was NEVER even a discussion. NOTHING about it made ANY sense, whatsoever. It’s like, these people are either not capable of using their HEAD, orrrr they are just very ‘shallow’ and either canNOT comprehend the specifics/intricate details (&/or) just don’t even know what they are to begin with, & are only ‘spewing’ nonsense off the top of their head for the heckuvit… While, ‘thinking’ that they know what the heck they’re talking about, or ‘trying’ to act-like it, & then being EXPOSED every single time.