2025 - OK...now the expectations are sky high.
expectations are the death of objectivity Mayfield may not consistently be 2024 but he's also not 8 games of 2025, no matter how much he failed relative to your internal expectations
*11 games. he was mid to ass for 11 games.
but he was hurt in week 2...but playing good for the first 6 weeks....oh my....the injury excuse...good lord! what do we do?
and im sorry if starting 6-2 and finishing with a losing record and thinking that's unacceptable is having too high expectations
LOL, you've been doing your best impression of Biggs for weeks. Right down to the insane strawman arguments.
Keep waiting for you to start talking about "street clothes" or maybe start a weekly in-season thread about Mayfield being "QB2" . . even though he's starting (and you know it)!
Come back to the light . . .. and stay in the light!!
:-)
starting 6-2 and finishing with a losing record and thinking that's unacceptable is having too high expectations
I think most had those same expectations after starting 6-2. Zero wrong with that part. The "wrong" part (posted very much tongue in cheek, so zero offense) is the offseason argument that Biggs loves and that reminds most of JC stats!
Mayfield does not view guaranteed money as a commitment because it can be front loaded with roster bonuses so that is why contract length matters to him more.
Guaranteed money is guaranteed money. Front loaded or back loaded doesn't matter, it's guaranteed money.
Licht's failure to understand Mayfield's position is the big take away from this.
Mayfield and Vea have every right to roast Licht for being socially unaware so Licht might be worse than Bowles in that regard. Both Bowles and Licht need to read the room aka show some social intelligence as their team captains are saying they are disrespected by the Bucs FO and the Bucs are coming off a mid season collapse from last year.
Giving players everything they want in a contract just so they don't feel disrespected isn't a smart way to go about running an NFL organization.
Licht's failure to understand Mayfield's position is the big take away from this.
interesting because the reporting I referenced this morning suggest another big potential takeaway: Mayfield being an emotional bitch! LOL
FWIW . . . and please take grain of salt first .. an arbitrary deadline (even swaddled in Mayfield's "all about ball" rant) is often a giveaway about which side is being unreasonable, overly emotional or, in this case, maybe trying to misleadingly sway public opinion. And if you follow closely you should see that Mayfield has danced around his own deadline . . "they can talk to my agent" and/or "my agent will not bother me until its realistic" both of which are consistent with the deadline being fake and/or for public consumption.
Mayfield has a point as he is not playing on another 3 year deal, 2 year extension or 2 year deal. The Bucs need to figure out if they want to keep Mayfield with a 4 year deal and it is clear they do not.
I would not be surprised if Mayfield takes the Mike Evans route, tries his best to ball out in his last year, and leave in FA next off season.
Bucs would have fully committed to Baker if he wasn't brutally bad for most of last year and in consecutive weeks. He regressed big time and it raised doubt in their mind, hence the "bridge QB" offer of 2 years.
Baker balls out, they will work out a deal with him. it's that simple.
Him being a little bitch yesterday doesn't change that. they franchise tag him to prevent the Vikings or Steelers from being an option and then they work out a longer term deal so they dont have the franchise tag $70M hit.
2025 - OK...now the expectations are sky high.
expectations are the death of objectivity Mayfield may not consistently be 2024 but he's also not 8 games of 2025, no matter how much he failed relative to your internal expectations
*11 games. he was mid to ass for 11 games.
but he was hurt in week 2...but playing good for the first 6 weeks....oh my....the injury excuse...good lord! what do we do?
and im sorry if starting 6-2 and finishing with a losing record and thinking that's unacceptable is having too high expectations
LOL, you've been doing your best impression of Biggs for weeks. Right down to the insane strawman arguments.
Keep waiting for you to start talking about "street clothes" or maybe start a weekly in-season thread about Mayfield being "QB2" . . even though he's starting (and you know it)!
Come back to the light . . .. and stay in the light!!
:-)
starting 6-2 and finishing with a losing record and thinking that's unacceptable is having too high expectations
I think most had those same expectations after starting 6-2. Zero wrong with that part. The "wrong" part (posted very much tongue in cheek, so zero offense) is the offseason argument that Biggs loves and that reminds most of JC stats!
it's very simple Olaf
if Baker gets back to being the QB we "know" he is, i want to re-sign him
but if he's the QB he was for majority of last year, i think the Bucs are better off without him. Go sign some other shit bridge QB, build-up the team, so it's ready for the next Drake Maye, Bo Nix, etc.
And all we have right now....is his most recent tape which was not very good. And you all rationalize with injuries, offensive line, Todd Bowles, etc. Whatever...and all could be the answer...but right now...thats what you call "a theory"
i'd like to see that theory proven this year.
so my bad for not wanting the Bucs to commit to an inconsistent guy (per Donkey Hunter in this very thread) who just had really bad football. Again, hope it's a blimp....but let's prove it...with the luxury of another year under his contract.
they franchise tag him to prevent the Vikings or Steelers from being an option and then they work out a longer term deal so they dont have the franchise tag $70M hit.
The franchise tag isn’t $70M
Mayfield does not view guaranteed money as a commitment because it can be front loaded with roster bonuses so that is why contract length matters to him more
Guaranteed money is guaranteed money.
Where it actually sits is more in relation to the cap hits.
they franchise tag him to prevent the Vikings or Steelers from being an option and then they work out a longer term deal so they dont have the franchise tag $70M hit.
The franchise tag isn’t $70M
thought it was like 47M tag hit with like 22M of dead cap space.
And all we have right now....is his most recent tape which was not very good
That's not true you have his entire body which includes the first part of the season. Here's Mayfield on that part:
"“There’s definitely lessons in like when to lower your shoulder, when to do certain things,” Mayfield said. “But sometimes your team needs a spark and unfortunately last year, you know, it’s both sides of the sword. You say, ‘Don’t get yourself injured.’ But if I don’t do some of those plays, we probably started out 1-4. So you can say it one way, but it’s still got to be me but I got to take better care of my body. You know, I’m getting older. I’m trying to get wiser.”
this is the kind if stuff that gets negotiating parties sideways,
Schefter
"Baker is not happy with the team; they (the Bucs) are not happy with the way he spoke about the organization,” Schefter said. “That’s not great.”
Mayfield does not view guaranteed money as a commitment because it can be front loaded with roster bonuses so that is why contract length matters to him more.
Guaranteed money is guaranteed money. Front loaded or back loaded doesn't matter, it's guaranteed money.
Licht's failure to understand Mayfield's position is the big take away from this.
Mayfield and Vea have every right to roast Licht for being socially unaware so Licht might be worse than Bowles in that regard. Both Bowles and Licht need to read the room aka show some social intelligence as their team captains are saying they are disrespected by the Bucs FO and the Bucs are coming off a mid season collapse from last year.
Giving players everything they want in a contract just so they don't feel disrespected isn't a smart way to go about running an NFL organization.
It does not matter if a players mind is made up. Mayfield is being vocal about it and Evans made up his mind as well when he hit FAs. If nothing changes with the Bucs stance Mayfield walks in FA IMVHO.
Bucs offered more money and Evans still left. Mayfield could be obtaining more guaranteed money from the Bucs but ends up taking less guaranteed money for a longer deal with another team. Bottom line Licht screwed up badly.
Strike 1 with Evans
Strike 2 with Vea
Strike 3 with Mayfield.
Licht has had a bad off season outside of the NFL draft. Licht better hope the 2026 draft class is a home run to save him and Bowles.
It does not matter if a players mind is made up.
That doesn't work real well in a negotiation.
Bucs offered more money and Evans still left.
Evan's situation and Baker's situation are very, very different.
Mayfield could be obtaining more guaranteed money from the Bucs but ends up taking less guaranteed money for a longer deal with another team.
The longer deal with less guaranteed money would mean he could be cut any time after that guaranteed money is paid out. The contract length wouldn't matter much. It's why Vea is asking to be traded right now.
Baker is looking for more than two years and guaranteed money for those additional years. At 31, I would say Licht is smart to hold off on that. If Baker would take a 5 year extension for $280M with only $100M guaranteed, I'm sure the organization would be fine with that. It would basically be two year deal with team options. But Baker wouldn't take that deal because he wants guaranteed money & guaranteed length. He knows this is probably his last big opportunity to cash in.