Baker has not been awful... Cmon guys that's just ridiculous. He's def in a slump and needs to show out but again, he's clearly hurt... His game is predicated on forcing the defense to spy his legs and scrambling ability. He has lost what makes him really good via injury....and the zip on his ball is off due to the shoulder injury as well.
Combine that with Grizz being a rookie play caller, the interior line getting DOMINATED, Wirfs missing 5-6 games, no Evans/Godwin/McMillan, a TE that gifted the other team two picks, no Bucky, and the general dismay of the Bucs.
I think his overall numbers as solid... But the slump is real.
3500 yards, 25 TDs, 10 picks (1 to a hail Mary to 2 because of Otton).
I know it's "what have you done for me lately" league and he's been below average since the bye but watch these fucking plays from Grizz.
Everything is on the razors edge for error.
He's not been awful as some have said. Certainly hasn't been good. Also hasn't received much help from those around him. Miami game that huge drop on third down from Evans was a killer, and add in the awful penalty on Otton after a big gain. This has been a total failure from everyone involved. Players & coaches.
Baker has not been awful... Cmon guys that's just ridiculous. He's def in a slump and needs to show out but again, he's clearly hurt... His game is predicated on forcing the defense to spy his legs and scrambling ability. He has lost what makes him really good via injury....and the zip on his ball is off due to the shoulder injury as well.
Combine that with Grizz being a rookie play caller, the interior line getting DOMINATED, Wirfs missing 5-6 games, no Evans/Godwin/McMillan, a TE that gifted the other team two picks, no Bucky, and the general dismay of the Bucs.
I think his overall numbers as solid... But the slump is real.
3500 yards, 25 TDs, 10 picks (1 to a hail Mary to 2 because of Otton).
I know it's "what have you done for me lately" league and he's been below average since the bye but watch these fucking plays from Grizz.
Everything is on the razors edge for error.
i mean say what you will of blocked field goals, Bowles being incompetent in not going for 4th and shorts, and atrocious defense; the main reason they lost the Dolphins game was Baker Mayfield.
he threw a game ending INT in Carolina
he threw a terrible INT in Atlanta that a completion there likely puts the game away
there is nobody that has sucked worse than Baker Mayfield in this unimageable losing streak to teams battling for top 10 picks.
you know me, one of the biggest baker bros out there but i certainly aint extending him this off-season. Treat him like Dallas treated Prescott years ago; earn it bud. Get back to being a top 10 QB and you are looking at your 5 year, 250M deal. Otherwise, he repeats this year in 2026 and i am not sure we want him as starter
i am not sure we want him as starter
He has definitely been part of the late season struggles, a big part even, but he was also a big part of the early season wins.
I wonder if we will all learn after the season that he was more injure than he has indicated?
i am not sure we want him as starter
He has definitely been part of the late season struggles, a big part even, but he was also a big part of the early season wins.
I wonder if we will all learn after the season that he was more injure than he has indicated?
i mean, i am sure they will sugarcoat it that way. Whenever a player disappoints, that always seems to be the case, "yeah but was dealing with x,y,z injury"
I'm all for Baker being the starter in 2026, just suggesting, let's not blow our load here and extend him to a 5 year deal if this is the true Baker. 2024? Hell yeah, we can win a superbowl with that guy. 2025? I mean, you are looking at .500 at best records.
they will sugarcoat it that way.
Well, or it will be true. lmao.
By the eye test he seems off. The deep INT against the Dolphins is way under thrown, like he cant get it there. The thing the Bucs offense is missing since the bye is the explosive play. He's only recently run a little bit.
Who knows though? But I agree, fortunate for the Bucs they have not extended him yet.
they will sugarcoat it that way.
Well, or it will be true. lmao.
By the eye test he seems off. The deep INT against the Dolphins is way under thrown, like he cant get it there. The thing the Bucs offense is missing since the bye is the explosive play. He's only recently run a little bit.
Who knows though? But I agree, fortunate for the Bucs they have not extended him yet.
that's the thing though. They extended Bowles for no reason at all. I can not think of one reason you dont let 2025 season play out with him under contract in 2026 anyway. The time to decide that was clearly January 2026 whether to extend or fire and boy, was that decision an easy one given this collaspe.
same thing with Zyon. Dude started for 1 year and you extend him prematurely. Like yeah let him bet on himself this year and heck maybe you risk the amount going on APY but shit, looks like a bad contract now. Particularly interesting with the drafting of Parrish and Morrison.
so i have no doubt that the Bucs will extend him this offseason like the clowns they are rather than let him bet on himself. If he plays like he did this year, you are not at risk of anyone trying to nab him next offseason. if he plays like he did in 2024, then great...we realize the issue was injuries, bad play calling, whatever....but to me, i need to see 2026 before we go giving this guy an extension.
2023 and 2025 very similar and not earth shattering to demand 50M+ per year contracts. 2024 - a different story. Unfortunately for us and Baker, it would appear 2025 is more typical of his norm.
that's the thing though. They extended Bowles for no reason at all. I can not think of one reason you dont let 2025 season play out with him under contract in 2026 anyway. The time to decide that was clearly January 2026 whether to extend or fire and boy, was that decision an easy one given this collaspe.
I have never agreed with this because the money is so inconsequential and because there are reasons. I think youe just looking at it with a bit of hindsight and also from a "why spend the $" perspective. The ethos of the team management though is CONTINUITY and again, its peanuts for all the goodwill bought at the time.
Anyway a few reasons:
Coaches get extended sometimes just to make sure they can hire, so there is one reason. PR reported a few days ago that Monken turned down the OC job that Canales took and that Canales was basically the only person who would take the job.
You could also see the owners giving both an extension as a vote of confidence. There is a second reason. At that point, Licht was crediting Bowles for winning "with what he had to work with." The owners might have agreed.
Hell, they could've done it just because they were wrong. in June of 2025 the Bucs owners might see Bowles as Licht seemed to see Bowles AT THAT TIME, which is doing a great job manufacturing wins through a rebuild.
THERE are three plausible reasons. probably more. Didnt he make a couple coaching changes? Even ego would be one. "We made the right choice in not keeping Coen and we are sure about that!" LMAO.
Again, the money is peanuts so compared to the CONTINUITY symbolism so its an easy step. If they fire Bowles at the end of this season they would have him under contract 26-27 and maybe 28 (reportedly an option?). Bowles likely retires for some negotiated resolution up front, but even if he didnt what's his salary? $5-6 million per year? Against what, $500 million per season in operating income? PEANUTS. Not like committing to a player long term.
They gave the exact kind of extension to Gruden . . and then fired him at the end of the next season. THAT BRINGS US TO A FOURTH REASON: MARKETING
This was the Bucs press release after the Gruiden/Allen extensions. You could just change the names to Bowles and Licht lol:
"Contract extensions for General Manager Bruce Allen (left) and Head Coach Jon Gruden will keep the team's leadership in place through 2011
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, fresh off their second division championship in the last three years but hungry for another Super Bowl victory, are headed in the right direction.
And they have the right men in place to lead them back to the top.
Maintaining that leadership is obviously important to the franchise. That was emphasized on Tuesday when the Buccaneers announced that both General Manager Bruce Allen and Head Coach Jon Gruden have signed three-year contract extensions with the team. The new deals carry through the 2011 season."
who did Todd hire after his extension? it happened in the summer right?
who did Todd hire after his extension? it happened in the summer right?
Yeah, but leghumpers are gonna leghump.
who did Todd hire after his extension? it happened in the summer right?
I think in June so not sure if he hired anyone immediately after. But, if they actually had the Monken experience its not a stretch to see the owners saying lets make sure to take that problem off the table. I doubt the owners though this season would go as it has but still thinking down the road. Reportedly, Bowles was asked to make coaching changes last offseason.
who did Todd hire after his extension? it happened in the summer right?
I think in June so not sure if he hired anyone immediately after. But, if they actually had the Monken experience its not a stretch to see the owners saying lets make sure to take that problem off the table. I doubt the owners though this season would go as it has but still thinking down the road. Reportedly, Bowles was asked to make coaching changes last offseason.
but the point being is that Toddy Poo made his coaching changes already for 2025 season. Hence, the extension in January 2026 would still allow him to right his wrongs on his 3 coordinator choices for 2025 season.
other than incompetence, the extension made no sense; and this is coming from me which if the Bucs went 11-6, lost in first round of playoffs, i likely would have extended Bowles this off-season anyway. Im fair man.
but suggesting to extend him after an 8-9 season, worst of Bradys career, followed up by a 9-8 season but a playoff win, only to have a 10-7 season with a disappoint playoff exit; 2 of the last 3 years including significant losing streaks in season; all while playing in the worst division in football; yeah just didnt quite get what they were thinking.
and again im fair. I wasn't suggesting to fire Bowles even though we knew he wasn't the answer last year but seeing the success the team had on offense and that the defense getting worse every year, Licht, Glazers and Co. didn't really assess things properly when making that decision.
Weird to be hoping for the most embarrassing outcome where we win but Atlanta wins so it don't even matter lol maybe it will make the glazers say wow we really missed the boat here and do the right thing and fire Bowles and crew.
there is nobody that has sucked worse than Baker Mayfield in this unimageable losing streak to teams battling for top 10 picks.
Not even remotely close to true.
But, go on…
other than incompetence, the extension made no sense;
Well I gave three or four reasons. You're only responding to the hiring one. And of course applying hindsight.
not sure what extending for incompetence means
