The NFL world all saw what Bucs starting quarterback Baker Mayfield said about Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski and how the coach treated him when Mayfield exited the Cleveland Browns via trade when Stefanski was the coach. Baker Mayfield wasn’t having it when articles came out saying that Stefanski had nothing at the quarterback position in Cleveland.

Mayfield finished his statement with “Can’t wait to see you twice a year, coach.”

On Tuesday Stefanski had his introductory press conference as thew new head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. Of course, he was asked about his opinion on what Mayfield’s comments. Here’s what he had to say.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Nathan Ray Seebeck

Kevin Stefanski Makes First Comments About Baker Mayfield

“Baker’s somebody that I have a ton of respect for as a player and a person,” Kevin Stefanski said. “I love rivalries in sports and obviously the Buccaneers (and) Falcons have a great rivalry. It’s something that I’m excited about, but I would not get into the specifics of those types of things other than to say I have a ton of respect for Baker as a player, as a person. That’s a great team with a great player.”

Judging by Stefanski’s response, he wants to avoid the situation at all costs. He doesn’t want to address what happened, but the reality of it is that its going to get brought up again the first time that the Bucs and Falcons face each other next season. And then depending on the outcome of the game and what their postgame reactions are to each other, it’ll probably be mentioned for another go around.

Bucs New OC Zac Robinson Is Excited To Coach Baker Mayfield 

Did Mayfield get wind of what Stefanski had to say? Maybe not because he was preoccupied Tuesday afternoon with the press conference of new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson as he was introduced by the Bucs. Mayfield was in attendance for that presser and he and Robinson have a history already working together when Mayfield joined the Rams a couple of seasons. They reunite with the Bucs as they each attempt to have a bounce back year. Atlanta and Tampa Bay both finished 8-9 last year.

Bucs OC Zac Robinson – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“I’m fired up to work with ‘Bake’ and the rest of the guys,” Robinson said. “Baker was the No. 1 pick in the draft for a reason. In terms of the arm, there’s not a part of the field that he can’t attack. You start there and then you get to the instincts and the feel for the game.

“His ability to throw on the run – he’s probably the best in the league at throwing on the run. He’s great in the keeper game, great in the boot[leg] game. [I am] looking to evolve that part and making sure that we’re playing to Baker’s strengths and the rest of the guys’ strengths.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

Robinson continued.

“I know Baker so well, and I know the experience that he’s had. Obviously, Baker’s experience with the system, the amount that he can handle from a capacity standpoint is huge and all those things will kind of take care of themselves. At the end of the day, coaching the quarterbacks like you coach quarterbacks, obviously you can put more on certain people’s plate when they’ve played and seen so much football like Baker which we’re looking forward to.”