Chris Baker: “He’s Our One Guy That’s Kind Of An Asshole”
August 2nd, 2017
Joe went 1-on-1 today for a friendly chat with new Bucs big-money defensive tackle Chris Baker, who made his practice debut in pads. Here’s the on-the-record portion. Enjoy!
JoeBucsFan.com: How was it to get out there, first time in pads with new teammates?
Defensive tackle Chris Baker: It felt good, you know, this team is very special here. We’re really deep on both side of the ball at every position. That’s something I haven’t been around for a long time. Plus, it’s a great group of guys here.
Joe: Did you line up across from J.R. Sweezy?
Baker: We’ve been banging around every since OTAs. He’s doing a good job. He’s really stout there at guard. We’re having fun competing.
Joe: Did you play against Sweezy when he was on the Seahawks. Do you remember going against him? What’s the scouting report on him? His offensive line mates say he’s so mean. What do you think?
Baker: He’s the guy that you love to have as a teammate but hate to go against. He’s very aggressive. Every offensive line needs that one asshole. He’s our one guy that’s kind of an asshole.
Joe: Fans here you say, ‘I haven’t been around a team this deep in a while.’ And they get that. But what about the mentality of this team now?
Baker: There’s really a lot competition, and that makes things very healthy here. But at the same time, all the guys have come together and want to win. Both sides of the ball competing each and every day. It’s fun to see.
Joe: Yesterday you missed practice and Joe was told it was “precautionary.” What’s going on? How are you?
Baker: I’m just, nine years in, man. You got to take your off days when they give them to you and just continue try to get better and healthy.
Joe: Hard Knocks, should we expect to see you? Have they been around you or gone back to your home?
Baker: They haven’t gone to my house, but I’m definitely in front of the camera. Hopefully, I get some good stuff on HBO and become very famous and get my own TV show.
Joe: How can you describe the Hard Knocks experience?
Baker: You can have a lot of fun with Hard Knocks; you’re just alert that more cameras are around. A lot of the guys love it. A lot of the guys have a lot of fun with it. At the end of the day, we’re here for work. Hard Knocks just wants to see how we work, so we’re showing them.
August 2nd, 2017 at 12:12 pm
Over/Under: 5.5 missed practices for Baker this camp?
August 2nd, 2017 at 12:19 pm
Hawaiian Buc
who cares how many practices he misses if he shows up on Sundays… GMC does not miss practices but does not show up on Sundays and is easily worn down… Give me a game day winner over the smiling ice cream man every day and twice on sundays.
August 2nd, 2017 at 12:21 pm
Should have known maxi pad would have spun this to his sick obsession with McCoy. Why don’t you just ask him out on a date already? I don’t think he rolls that way, but you’ve got so much aggression built up in you, you might as well give it a shot.
August 2nd, 2017 at 12:22 pm
And yeah, GMC doesn’t show up on Sundays. Too bad nobody else feels that way except a guy named maxi pad.
August 2nd, 2017 at 12:32 pm
lol actually agree with Tmax other than the McCoy jab.
I really don’t care about his practice habits. We didn’t sign him for that.
August 2nd, 2017 at 12:33 pm
Everyone needs an a$$hole…..otherwise, how would we get rid of $hit.
August 2nd, 2017 at 12:35 pm
I don’t really care either, if he performs. The only thing is if he doesn’t perform, everyone will reference to the fact that he doesn’t like to practice. He’s kind of setting himself and the organization up for the classic “he got his contract and stopped working” bit.
August 2nd, 2017 at 12:39 pm
Thinks the one guy EVERY offensive coordinator states they have to game plan around (#93) “doesn’t show up on sundays.” Also, doesn’t think running backs being “bulky” aka having some beef on their bones so they don’t go down after an initial hit and can actually shrug off some would be tacklers is a good thing….What’s your favorite movie max, Trolls?
August 2nd, 2017 at 12:47 pm
Miss practice all you want just show up on game day and eat your keep!!
August 2nd, 2017 at 12:47 pm
*earn
August 2nd, 2017 at 12:58 pm
Hey, it’s Trollmax/Cancermax – leader of the loser posters culture once again wishing he could quit GMC (and failing once again). If hijacking were an online crime you’d be in jail for life for hijacking threads. The other reasonable posters have, as usual, put you in your place with tin foil covered dunce cap firmly in place. As for Baker, I also don’t care if he takes the occasional break as long as he shows up on Sunday’s.
August 2nd, 2017 at 1:05 pm
When was the last time maxi pad made a post that didn’t mention GMC? The article could be about Jameis helping the kids, but he will still bring up his love interest. What a spineless, clueless, worthless, pathetic little troll. Why don’t you contribute something meaningful, and go seek some help for your hatred towards another man. You can love him or hate him, but just stop repeating yourself. You have become the running joke around JBF. Let that sink in – we all make fun of you. Nobody takes you serious, and no one cares about your fake opinion.
August 2nd, 2017 at 1:09 pm
Hawaiian
Lol. Way to rip maxi pad, pun intended. Theyre getting on you cause your prediction came off in a negative way. Guess even maxi doesnt wana be a downer every hour. N these guys “d9nt care” how much practice time he misses as long as he shows up in games. News flash…practice is the reason for showing up in games. He wont get too many days off, he needs the practice. Go bucs
August 2nd, 2017 at 1:41 pm
I get this feelin Baker, with 9 yrs of NFL experience has learned how to perserve and stretch his body. He’s one of those who will be there ready to play on game day. Thats all I care about. And TampabayBucFan, I’m feelin you. I’m glad I got one!!
August 2nd, 2017 at 2:14 pm
“He’s the guy that you love to have as a teammate but hate to go against. He’s very aggressive. Every offensive line needs that one asshole. He’s our one guy that’s kind of an asshole”
Wow – that is a GREAT quote – LOL
Swaggy will be Tampa Bay media’s go-to interviewee if he keeps popping off with gems like that.
But then there’s:
“Hopefully, I get some good stuff on HBO and become very famous and get my own TV show.” Ruh Row – sounds like somebody might not be as focused on the upcoming season as the rest of the family…
Nice work Joe!
August 2nd, 2017 at 2:17 pm
He’s a funny guy, Pickrin, I’m sure it was tongue in cheek. Let’s not over analyze. The guy is gonna be a difference maker.
August 2nd, 2017 at 2:36 pm
Sweezy is a azzhole on the field!!!!! Awesome I love azzholes in football. Looking forward to him after hearing that.
And tmax can be our one azzhole in the crowd. Only difference is that everybody hates a azzhole in the crowd.
August 2nd, 2017 at 2:36 pm
Hawaiian Buc Says:
August 2nd, 2017 at 12:21 pm
Should have known maxi pad would have spun this to his sick obsession with McCoy. Why don’t you just ask him out on a date already? I don’t think he rolls that way, but you’ve got so much aggression built up in you, you might as well give it a shot.
Risky business, unless you’ve worked out in advance who’s pitching and who’s catching.
August 2nd, 2017 at 2:44 pm
It’s the little things that make me like this guy. Like the fact he stayed after practice with the disabled kids as just hung out. That speaks volumes about his kindness. He should be a solid player in a what promises to be, at the very least, a competent DT rotation. Season is shaping up nicely.
August 2nd, 2017 at 4:40 pm
Lol, all this crying over missed practices. As long as he shows up on game day u Sallys will forget all about how many practices he missed. He has the reputation for missing practice from Washington and he still put up numbers. I don’t see a problem
August 2nd, 2017 at 6:20 pm
@Mike Evans,
Nobody is crying over him missing practice. Don’t create something that isn’t there. Personally, I find it a bit funny that he doesn’t like to practice. I’ve played basketball with guys that will literally find reasons to miss practice, including faking injuries. I’ve witnessed some of his work ethic first hand, but as long as he plays on Sundays nobody cares. But if he doesn’t ………………
August 2nd, 2017 at 6:47 pm
Love Baker, but I hope Stevie T steals his job.
August 2nd, 2017 at 8:13 pm
Hawaiian
But it does seem like it matters. This is now 2 days in a row that joe has written about the same thing, and the 2nd day in a row that people are on here boo-hoo-ing about it.
August 2nd, 2017 at 8:58 pm
@Mike Evans,
Not one person is boo-hoo-ing about it. It is a storyline. When people from his former organization tell JBF that the guy doesn’t like to practice and then he comes to Tampa and doesn’t practice, it’s a story. I mean, what do you expect Joe to write about? I assume you read this site for something other than training camp highlights right? This is an opinion based site. This is a story. It’s extra interesting because we have a team full of guys that are notorious for practicing hard (Jameis, Doug, Kwon, GMC, Ayers, etc.). It is very interesting to wonder how those teammates feel about it. I can picture Jameis rolling his eyes at Baker missing a bunch of practices, but like all of us we’ll let it slide as long as he performs. But if he doesn’t, he’s set himself up to be ridiculed.