Enough Already… Baker and the Bucs Both Need to Shut Up and Play
Let me be clear right up front, I bleed red and pewter. I want Baker Mayfield to succeed. I want this organization to thrive. But right now, both sides of this contract standoff are doing the one thing that can quietly poison a locker room before a single regular season snap is taken. And somebody needs to say it.
BOTH SIDES NEED TO STOP TALKING.
Baker Mayfield’s frustration is understandable. He came to Tampa Bay on a prove-it deal, feels like he proved it, and now feels like the organization isn’t valuing him at the top of the market. Those feelings are valid. But Baker you already told the world “it’s all ball from here.” So make it all ball. Stop bringing it up in press conferences. Stop leaving the door open. Either pick up the phone and negotiate, or close that chapter completely and let football do the talking. Every time this subject resurfaces in front of a microphone, it plants a seed, and seeds have a way of growing into something much bigger inside a locker room whether you intend it or not.
And the organization? Don’t come out making statements about being “very concerned” about his comments or trying to publicly refute everything he says. If you’ve made the decision to let him play this season out and revisit the contract in the offseason, then own that decision and live with it quietly. Every time the front office publicly responds, it adds another log to a fire that didn’t need more fuel. You’re not helping. You’re escalating.
Here’s the part that might sting a little, but it needs to be said.
Neither party has earned the right to be this loud.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the Baker Mayfield era are basically a .500 football team. Yes, there have been flashes of brilliance. Yes, Baker has had individual moments that were genuinely exciting. But the scoreboard doesn’t lie. Two playoff appearances in a bad division. One playoff victory. An 8-9 season last year. This isn’t the standard of a franchise and a quarterback who have built something undeniable together.
Baker Mayfield was a journeyman. A guy who bounced from Cleveland to Carolina to Los Angeles to Tampa Bay before finally finding a home here. That’s a great story, genuinely one of the best comeback narratives in the NFL over the last decade. But journeymen who find a home don’t get to call the shots on their own terms until they’ve won something. Go win two or three playoff games. Go make a Super Bowl run. THEN negotiate from a position of strength that the field has validated.
And this organization? Let’s be real. They were rudderless after Tom Brady retired. Lost. Searching. The post-Brady hangover was real, and without Brady’s genius propping things up, the cracks in the foundation showed fast. The Buccaneers didn’t build a dynasty, they rented one. And they’ve been figuring out their identity ever since.
So here’s the bottom line, from a fan who has watched every snap and will watch every snap this season:
Both Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers front office have something to prove. To each other. To this city. To this fanbase. And the only place that proof matters is between the lines on a football field on Sunday afternoons.
Stop talking. Start winning. The rest will take care of itself.
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.500 would be nice
we weren't even that last year
for most of last year, we were one of the worst teams in the league
Especially on defense and special teams..500 would be nice
we weren't even that last year
for most of last year, we were one of the worst teams in the league
QB played as well as the one who won the Super Bowl.
Baker had one day, Licht had the next day to give the owners script.
On to Cincinnati.
If you’ve made the decision to let him play this season out and revisit the contract in the offseason, then own that decision and live with it quietly.
What if they didn't?
I agree wth you about talking but I think the point the team was maybe conveying was that they did not make that choice. And maybe Mayfield did.
Amazing how much of the frustration could have been avoided by doing the right things in the first place rather than taking care of the friend bowles. Success of the franchise or what the fans feel be damned. Mike got out and is probably experiencing a top flight organization for the first time and feeling or wishing he had done this long ago. The credibility of the franchise that once gained from Brady is gone. Will take someone serious about winning again to get it back.
The only one who can actually take the keys is baker. Does he want the keys though based off how they've been. Problem for him is his days are numbered. Unlucky for him he's had to change coordinators every year seems like and is a make or break year for him. Which could help the bucs have a successful season if the rest of team plays well too. Easily the most uncertain thing about this team because as others said they were one of the worst teams in the league last year. Everyone knew it too..
Yes, agree. Talking is over.If you’ve made the decision to let him play this season out and revisit the contract in the offseason, then own that decision and live with it quietly.
What if they didn't?
I agree wth you about talking but I think the point the team was maybe conveying was that they did not make that choice. And maybe Mayfield did.
Any team that has had all off season to initiate the extension- then bungles and sitters it, then submits an subpar offer, at least twice, can’t then blame the failure on the player.
Fault: Owners.
*dithers, not sitters.
….and WHAT is up with this board? These adds are killing the functionality. While typing the cursor hangs, an entire line prints. Then the entire process stops and you can’t even get the “add reply“ button to work!?
It takes several minutes to add a line.
Anyone else having these issues?
*dithers, not sitters.
….and WHAT is up with this board? These adds are killing the functionality. While typing the cursor hangs, an entire line prints. Then the entire process stops and you can’t even get the “add reply“ button to work!?
It takes several minutes to add a line.
Anyone else having these issues?
Yes. The ads clutter the server
Frustrating right? I don't even try to fix most posts lol
That’s where I am now, im apologizing now for any incoherent posts or posts with misspellings. I can’t proof read and edit under these conditions!Frustrating right? I don't even try to fix most posts lol
.500 would be nice
we weren't even that last year
for most of last year, we were one of the worst teams in the league
Agreed.
This still looks like the same 8-9 team to me.
Only way that changes is if Bain and Scott rookies ball out and Mayfield has some magic on the field.
.500 would be nice
The motto of the Bowles supporters.
Celebrating mediocrity.
God bless the small portion of this fan base that actually wants to see greatness, and refuses to settle and celebrate .500 ball clubs.
Only way that changes is if Bain and Scott rookies ball out
Totally fair point and I agree.
Also, not a good plan for success. Rookies are rarely true season changers.
