what they did was offer him a contract they would have been shocked that he'd accept
you must be cousin to Mayfield's agent
what they did was offer him a contract they would have been shocked that he'd accept
you must be cousin to Mayfield's agent
if i was, i would have advised a counter offer....
I think you could be confusing Mayfield's first comments about a first offer with the state of play since, but either way even Mayfield has left the door open. He might be "all about ball," but that is why players have agents.
what they did was offer him a contract they would have been shocked that he'd accept
you must be cousin to Mayfield's agent
if i was, i would have advised a counter offer....
I think you could be confusing Mayfield's first comments about a first offer with the state of play since, but either way even Mayfield has left the door open. He might be "all about ball," but that is why players have agents.
what am i confusing?
Baker had an arbitrary deadline. Bucs made their first offer, which clearly is always not the best offer. Bakers camp decided to not even counter.
Bucs weren't going to negotiate amongst themselves
Given Baker played like shit to end the year, his camp played right into the Bucs hand of...."yeah prove it this year cuz"
Bucs likely uneasy as to what Baker are they getting. the 2023 guy? the 2024 guy? or the 2025 guy? All three were pretty different.
Looks like 2026 for the tie breaker
EDIT: So Bucs essentially get their wish of letting 2026 season play out before deciding what commitment they want to make to Baker. Is it a 2 year bridge QB contract currently on table? Does Baker play himself out of that contract...or do they throw a 4-5 year deal at him as he wins a playoff game with 35+ TDs
what am i confusing?
Baker had an arbitrary deadline. Bucs made their first offer, which clearly is always not the best offer. Bakers camp decided to not even counter.
Bucs weren't going to negotiate amongst themselves
I think your are conflating two things as if they are one, but thats not really the way it played out. I say that because you say "offer" (singular) that "Bakers camp decided to not even counter." but that is in June. According to the reporting, they've been negotiating and right in line with Licht's typical MO (Wirfs negotiations finalized DURING camp).Its just that Mayfield pulled the plug with his own arbitrary deadline.
Anyway, here it is
June 5 - Mayfield says the sides are talking but "not anywhere close" and didnt even counter (the point you keep referencing)
June 12 - Licht responds with this:
"Our thoughts on Baker haven't changed," Licht said at The Combine. "Baker's been with us three years. We've seen the competitor he is, he's got a lot of arm talent, he's a leader, all these things. Our plans with Baker haven't changed. At some point – I don't have a timetable – I'm sure we'll be having those discussions."
Presumably they were "having those discussions" just like Licht said because roughly two months later, in late July, Mayfield then comes out with the "disrespected" part, but if you look closely he notes the Bucs were off in "duration" and "guarantees" and MORE IMPORTANTLY HE NOTES THE NEGOTIATIONS HIMSELF
This is how NFL.com reported it:
"The quarterback spoke candidly Thursday on his and the team's failure to agree to an extension before the start of camp, explaining none of the club's offers came close to enticing him to sign before his deadline of that start of training camp."
Offers, plural. None of the OFFERS (plural) were enticing him to SIGN. NFL.com reported it that way because those were the words Mayfield used:
"I wanted a deal done and set the deadline and told them it was gonna be all ball after that," Mayfield explained. "I did mean that, and I don't know if they thought I was just gonna take some of the offers they gave."
PLURAL . . . offers
So, they were negotiating
Maybe I am misreading your posts, but I took your posts to suggest the Bucs made an offer in June and then nothing. Thats not the case
Camp is end of July and Mayfield even says that the Bucs can talk to his agent. Again, his closest friend, Wirfs, does his extension in camp, I think
Its August 6th when Licht comes out with the "we made a strong offer".
"We do not expect every player or every agent to be on the same plane and agree with offers and things like that,” Licht said. “But we felt on our end it was a strong offer that represented a franchise quarterback. We do feel that he is a franchise quarterback.
“These things over time tend to work out. We’ll get to it when that time comes.
Bucs weren't going to negotiate amongst themselves
if you believe that (I do) then they were negotiating because Mayfield says they gave him offers (plural).
This is why I said all public stuff with a grain of salt
I dont know that you've ever accepted the reality that Mayfield may be the unreasonable one? Maybe? He iss the one with the fake deadline, something he raised even having Wirfs as a template before him. So, ione way of reading the situation is that Mayfield is actually the problem.
So, ione way of reading the situation is that Mayfield is actually the problem.
If he isn’t willing to sign the contract, than he is betting on himself. If he has the season he thinks he can (55-10, 5200 yds), he will be the highest paid QB in the league and he will stay in Tampa.
It’s clear that Pittsburgh and the Rams have already found their next QBs.
So, ione way of reading the situation is that Mayfield is actually the problem.
If he isn’t willing to sign the contract, than he is betting on himself. If he has the season he thinks he can (55-10, 5200 yds), he will be the highest paid QB in the league and he will stay in Tampa.
It’s clear that Pittsburgh and the Rams have already found their next QBs.
quite frankly, i would have been disappointed if our QB accepted a bridge QB 2 year deal. I much prefer that he is betting on himself and is confident he will shove that offer up their ass! Let Baker bake and earn that 4-5 year deal! Let's see it on the field in 2026!
Let Baker bake and earn that 4-5 year deal! Let's see it on the field in 2026!
This. And this is why we should all be stoked this is happening. When is the last time you had the QB, top 3 in the league in TDs thrown over the past three seasons, playing for a contract???
Add to that, that it’s Baker Mayfield, the man with a permanent chip on his shoulder, and you have the makings of something legendary for our team.
It’s going to be amazing.
Let Baker bake and earn that 4-5 year deal! Let's see it on the field in 2026!
This. And this is why we should all be stoked this is happening. When is the last time you had the QB, top 3 in the league in TDs thrown over the past three seasons, playing for a contract???
Add to that, that it’s Baker Mayfield, the man with a permanent chip on his shoulder, and you have the makings of something legendary for our team.
It’s going to be amazing.
i am not sure why one would want a premature contract extension, particularly after seeing Bowles and McCollum last year. I suppose we are "due"
I think some may be worried Baker will leave us. But honestly, the only way he leaves us is if we want him to go
Bucs weren't going to negotiate amongst themselves
if you believe that (I do) then they were negotiating because Mayfield says they gave him offers (plural).
This is why I said all public stuff with a grain of salt
I dont know that you've ever accepted the reality that Mayfield may be the unreasonable one? Maybe? He iss the one with the fake deadline, something he raised even having Wirfs as a template before him. So, ione way of reading the situation is that Mayfield is actually the problem.
i dont think it's unreasonable that Baker rejected that 2 year offer
unreasonable would be not countering
But honestly, the only way he leaves us is if we want him to go
And, again, that’s not true.
we franchise tag him
it will be tough with the dead money, but we certainly have that option and eliminate other teams like Vikings, Steelers, etc.
now...if the Bucs only plan to give him a 2 year deal, then at a certain point, what are we even doing....commit to him or not....and they have the next 17 games to decide on that
we franchise tag him
Great.
So now, we’re roughly $12M-$15M over the cap.
And, YOU are also banging the drum to re-sign Vea.
Then, factor in 2027 FA and draft class.
Now what?
Now What?we franchise tag him
Great.
So now, we’re roughly $12M-$15M over the cap.
And, YOU are also banging the drum to re-sign Vea.
Then, factor in 2027 FA and draft class.
Now what?
The Bucs sign Baker to a $52 million plus contract that puts the Bucs $40 million plus over the cap. Then you sign some other players to hefty contracts. Pretty soon you are talking about some serious over the cap money.
