Baker Mayfield No Longer A “Bridge Quarterback?”

November 14th, 2023

Surprising numbers.

Joe has been fairly convinced, maybe about 80 percent, that next spring the Bucs will draft a quarterback, likely in the first round.

Joe knows Team Glazer desperately wants a franchise quarterback. It’s why the team drafted both Josh Freeman and Mr. Entertainment, Jameis Winston. That desire, especially since Tom Brady retired, has not vanished.

Besides, with so many quality quarterbacks coming out for the 2024 draft, if you aren’t going to draft a quarterback, then when?

Recent NFL history says if you don’t have a stud quarterback, you are SOL, that’s all there is to it.

When the Bucs signed Baker Mayfield to succeed Tom Brady, Peter King of NBC Sports got Bucs fans all bent out of shape when he referred to Mayfield as a “bridge” quarterback meaning the next quarterback isn’t yet on the team’s roster but will be soon.

Yesterday, Albert Breer of SI.com, who succeeded King and his Monday NFL column on the site, also referred to Mayfield as a “bridge” quarterback. And Breer added that bridge may lead to Mayfield re-upping with the Bucs as the team’s starting quarterback.

Baker Mayfield’s performance last week against the Texans was overshadowed, justifiably, by Stroud, but he played really well in that game, and he was good again as the Bucs pulled to within a half-game of first in the mediocre (to say the least) NFC South. He’s made some money for himself this year, and would seem to be an ideal bridge quarterback for somebody (maybe even the team he’s playing for now) in 2024.

Joe thinks it is fair to suggest if someone walked up to just about any Bucs fan and asked, no questions asked, would you be good with Jags quarterback Trevor Lawrence, well, who wouldn’t?

Joe came across something on the JoeBucsFan Twitter feed yesterday that almost bugged Joe’s eyes. Consider the numbers Lawrence is putting up and the numbers that Mayfield has racked up this season.

Trevor Lawrence
Passing yards: 2,120
Passing TDs/INTs: 9/6

Baker Mayfield
Passing yards: 2,143
Passing TDs/INTs: 14/5

Dang! Mayfield is having a better season than Lawrence.

Mayfield is clearly on pace for his best season for passing yards in his career, and for his best for TD-INT ratio since he led the Browns to the playoffs in 2020.

Will Mayfield play strong enough in these last eight games of the regular season for Team Glazer to postpone plans to draft a quarterback?

Or does Mayfield earn the right to remain the Bucs’ starting quarterback while the first-round pick of a quarterback gets to slowly develop by starting his career on the sidelines like Aaron Rodgers and Pat Mahomes?

138 Responses to “Baker Mayfield No Longer A “Bridge Quarterback?””

  1. geno711 Says:

    i am really pleasantly surprised by Baker.

    Five quarterbacks were selected in 2021 — Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, Trey Lance, Justin Fields, and Mac Jones. Ouch.

    I am sure that there will be some fans at draft time saying there are 5 or 6 Qb’s valued high enough to select in the 1st round. Let the executives who are paid to do this decide if one is worthwhile.

  2. Defense Rules Says:

    ‘Joe has been fairly convinced, maybe about 80 percent, that next spring the Bucs will draft a quarterback, likely in the first round.’

    I put the number closer to 100% since Licht, Bowles & company don’t seem to view Kyle Trask as their QB of the future (personally I wish they’d traded him to a QB-needy team instead of doing him like they’re doing him).

    Baker’s performed adequately thus far, but that’s really about all. When your lead RB is 35-for-37 catching the ball out of the backfield in just 9 games with an Average Depth of Target (ADOT) of MINUS 0.5 yards it kinda tells you something.

    Baker’s completed 197 of 305 passes (64.6%). Disregard the ridiculously short stuff to White and that goes down to 162 of 268 passes for 60.4% to the rest of the team. When that ‘rest of the team’ includes WRs like Chris Godwin who’s catching at a 64.7% clip this year but was over 75% with Tom Brady these last 3 years, it kinda makes me think that something’s wrong.

  3. TDTB Says:

    The team has many needs that need to be addressed in early rounds. Wouldn’t mind draft KJ Jefferson in middle round to spend some time getting polished while someone else is QB1.

  4. Onetrickpony Says:

    Can he play defense, because we sure need help there. Can he play on the offensive line, we sure need help there. Can he play wide receiver and not drop balls we sure need help there. He can’t do these things, wave bye bye

  5. Onetrickpony Says:

    And don’t forget running back

  6. NE Fan Says:

    It depends if you want the Lombardi or not. Neither Baker or Lawrence is giving you that. This league is crazy, Denver is 4-5 and 2 of those wins are KC & now Buffalo. The Bill’s and Chargers are perfect examples of how coaching can prevent team growth. McDermott may not be as bad as Bowles but he is close. That team has wasted talent. FYI Lawrence is not throwing to Evan’s and Godwin, that does make a difference.

  7. Bojim Says:

    I’d have no problem with being our QB. If we had a running we probably would’ve won a few more games. But I would like to see what he does the rest of the year. A QB in the draft would be great but I’d like him to sit for a while behind Mayfield. Guess the Glazers have given up on Trask.

  8. NE Fan Says:

    You also may want to see who Jaguars played so far, pretty tough schedule.

  9. D-Rome Says:

    This is a good problem for the team to have. Baker is right in the middle (14-16th range) in a lot of key stats like TDs, yards, completion percentage, rating, etc. If you have a guy in the top 16 (which he is) he gives you a chance to win every week.

    Jay-Miss already has 3 INTs this year and he hasn’t started a game this year. Baker only has 5. Baker is closer to the bottom of the list with turnovers among QBs.

    I have my doubts the team brings Baker back but if they do I think they can win with him if he’s truly turned the corner in his career. This team’s offense would look radically different if we had an upgrade at center, guard, and running back through the draft. Can you imagine what Baker’s numbers would be with better blocking and a better run game?

  10. JK Says:

    Nobody cares about Trent Greens opinion. What does he know?
    These pages have the Throbbing Rod Muncher, wayyyyy better analyst 🤣

  11. It's Corn Says:

    Mayfield plays very cautiously too… it’s clearly been pounded into his head by Bowles and Canales not to turn the ball over.

    Even his misses on deep throws are typically because he is overthrowing the receiver. That can happen when you worry about throwing them too short and getting intercepted.

    So his other numbers COULD be much better at the expense of a few more interceptions probably.

    I say let him out of the cage and they’ll get more points, but that’s just me.

  12. Curse of Gruden Says:

    Per Raheem the Dream – “Stats are for losers.”

  13. Bucsministerfuller Says:

    Let’s not waste a first round pick on a QB. In 47 years Our Buccaneers have not been able to develop a QB, what makes you think it will be different this time? Let’s do what works in Tampa, develop a dominating defense and utilize a competent QB (let someone else spend the pick and the years developing a QB).
    That is the formula for Tampa. Sure we got lucky the last time and Tom Brady was the competent QB but don’t kid yourself that defense was dominant.
    Let’s learn from history this time, build that defense. Hold other teams to less than 20, score 21 and go home winners.

  14. Chris Says:

    The best way to re-sign Evans, Winfield, Wirfs and maybe White too is to have a QB on a 5 year rookie deal. Baker has been pretty good but let someone else overpay for him.

  15. Seattle Buc Says:

    Defense Rules Says: “personally I wish they’d traded him [Trask] to a QB-needy team instead of doing him like they’re doing him”

    True. I expect Trask will ask to be released or traded.

    It is truly bewildering that the Bucs drafted a second round quarterback and well into his third season that quarterback still has no game time with the starting offense, not even in preseason. If Trask is as bad as the FSU fan base claims, he should have been released long ago. But the Bucs have kept him, so he’s not as bad as the FSU fan base claims, and so he should have been given game time with the starting offense by now, even if it was only preseason … but he hasn’t.

    I guess it is true what I read the other day, that the Bucs have never signed a drafted quarterback to a second contract. SMH.

  16. realistic-optimistic Says:

    I would definitely sign him to another 1-2 year bridge deal. But in no way, shape, or form, would I pass on drafting a QB in round 1. That would be the most Bucs thing to do, and I hope it doesn’t happen.

    Has this franchise learned nothing from previous one-year wonders? I like Shaq, but after his 19.5 sack 2019 season he only posted 21 sacks in the next 3 seasons combined. He’s fine, but he’s overpaid. Don’t do the same with Mayfield.

    We NEED to draft a QB in round 1 this year. The crop is too rich. (I just hope Bowles is not the person tasked with coaching the new QB)

  17. Professional Pirate Says:

    If Baker continues this trajectory throughout the season the Bucs would be crazy not to extend him. Offense is getting better and another year under the same OC would do great things for him.

    Just like @Bucsministerfuller said, Have the Bucs ever drafted and developed a quarterback? I can think of Freemans 2010 season as being good but beyond that I can’t recall them ever developing a rookie, I’d vastly prefer a vet who is probably a top 5 bucs QB of all time and putting in the draft capital elsewhere.

  18. Buckeyebuckchuck Says:

    From what I’ve read over the years, most GMs draft the franchise QB when most of the other pieces are in place. Strong line, decent running game, solid defense. So it de

  19. Buckeyebuckchuck Says:

    depends on how they view the roster. Fat fingered the submit button.

  20. Lord Cornelius Says:

    He’s pacing for like 26 TD / 9 Int 4000+ yards, with the worst run game in the NFL by far on a team with a below average defense in his 1st year in the system. (we are 16th in points allowed and bottom 5 in yards, and bottom 2 in passing yards).

    If we had an elite defense or just top 10 defense which was the blueprint to 2023 success, this team would be 6-3 right now or 5-4 at worst.

    We would have all rejoiced if we ever got this type of play from Winston / Fitzmagic / McKown / Glennon / Freeman over the years.

    I don’t really care about the Rashaad White stats. Most offenses in the NFL have tons of short pass / screen game concepts feeding into their passing stats whether it’s the RB or a slot WR or whoever.

  21. Lord Cornelius Says:

    All that said he has a whole 1/2 season to finish, but with our schedule and the offense seemingly getting better in general I could see him out playing the 1st half easy.

    We’re in a weird spot as a franchise. I really feel like if this team had a dangerous run game and top 5-10 defense we’d be a legit contendor but maybe i’m crazy.

  22. realistic-optimistic Says:

    Let’s not waste a first round pick on a QB. In 47 years Our Buccaneers have not been able to develop a QB, what makes you think it will be different this time?

    What kind of nonsense is this? Many teams have never drafted a HoF QB. In your opinion, if it hasn’t worked yet, just stop trying. WTF?? Why even play the games then. Ridiculous take.

  23. DBS Says:

    Sorry. He was given game time That excuse is out the door now. Poor Trask never got to play with the starters. It’s now He. Needs more time with the starters.

  24. PSL Bob Says:

    I think the need to draft a QB with a high draft pick will all depend on where the Bucs finish up. If we win the Division and at least one playoff game, the draft focus will be on OL, RB, and DB. Get some players around Baker that can elevate overall team play. If we can’t even win the Division or if Mayfield flounders in the playoffs, it’s time to rebuild. Grab a QB in the first round, then fill other needs.

  25. NutterBuccer Says:

    Gotta see how the season ends. We can go amot of ways but as of right now wouldn’t mind keeping baker and drafting a rookie to learn behind him. Or quite frankly depends on the draft. Mayne we play really well down the stretch and we don’t draft one at all. We know what we have in Baker and quite frankly it’s better than alot of options out there. We are out of capp hell.next year we can add some pieces and he can get even better.

  26. Joshua porter Says:

    Yo Joe’s you guys website was mentioned on pft by florio this morning. Go bucs

  27. DFW Buc Says:

    Blàme it on being in the NFC South. Where the winner rarely makes it pass the first round of the playoffs.

  28. Buc4evr Says:

    Baker is a competent QB. The Bucs can certainly win with him with all the right pieces in place. I would think the Bucs would look at drafting some decent Oline players and do something about the pass rush and secondary before trying to draft a QB. This team still doesn’t know what Trask can do, so why draft another QB when this team has other huge problems. Because this team will not be able to keep all our FAs next year, they may need to be drafting players to help fill the those lost to Free Agency.

  29. D-Rome Says:

    We NEED to draft a QB in round 1 this year. The crop is too rich. (I just hope Bowles is not the person tasked with coaching the new QB)

    I think you bring up a really good point and why I think that, short of making the playoffs, Baker won’t be back. I feel like the only way Baker would be re-signed is if Bowles is not fired at the end of the year. That would mean the Bucs made the playoffs. If the Bucs don’t make it to the playoffs then I think Bowles would be gone and the Bucs wouldn’t saddle a new head coach with a QB he may not want.

  30. RustyRhinos Says:

    Is Baker a bridge QB for 15+ million a season? Naw…We need to have equal money spread across our “entire” team, not be hamstrung with a QB who makes 30-39% or more of our salary cap. That is just not sustainable long term.

    Did anyone else see the double Winston Specials in the Taints game? I am Very Glad we let Winston walk…

  31. Fansince76 Says:

    I’m good with Baker if he plays out the year like he has been.
    Draft a receiver in the first round, running back in second round.

  32. HC Grover Says:

    We win 6-8 games and he returns along with Bowlzo.

  33. Boss Says:

    baker will lead us to our comfy world of mediocrity.

  34. Breadwinnerbob Says:

    He can bridge as long as we take a qb to develop in rd 1 to wait till next yr to draft one is stupid

  35. Defense Rules Says:

    Lord C … The Bucs’ defense was ranked #6 in Points Allowed before the Houston game and #16 afterwards (surrendering 39 points in 1 game can wreak havoc). But after the Titans game, we’re back in the Top-10 now (ranked #8). Yes we’ve surrendered tons of yards, but that’s the concept this coaching staff seems to be pushing, for what reason I have no idea.

    It’s not the Bucs’ defense holding us back; ours is a Top-10 defense (against non-elite teams admittedly). And yes we could (and should) be 6-3 right now because the Falcons game & Texans game were both very winnable (actually we were winning until the last minute). Those losses are on coaching IMO.

    Still, we’re not talented enough … yet … to beat the big boys. Strange thing is that as I look around the NFL right now, nobody is really playing lights-out. If the suits wanted parity, they got it.

  36. BA’s Red Pen Says:

    Drake Maye or Michael Penix Jr please.

  37. Bring back the lawn chairs Says:

    Many people have it wrong here. It’s not a matter if the Bucs want mayfield; no, it’s a matter if mayfield wants the Bucs. You’re gonna take notice if and when it comes to that.
    But then again, there’s always a rerun of mr. Crableggs himself at a steep discount!

  38. Statistically Insignificant Reader Says:

    Hacks me the most is we pissed away our(2021) 2nd round pic (Trask). Nothing out of another high (QB) pic. Who is that on? Coach, Gm? Could have even traded the pic away and gotten better value.
    Odds are overwhelmingly high to swing and miss on a high draft pic QB.

  39. Hodad Says:

    Let’s not waste our 1st round pick on a QB? O.K. what position would you rather they waste their 1st round pick on? That’s just it, there’s busts at every position in the 1st round. Depending on how we finish the Bucs would be crazy to pass up a Nix, Williams, Penix. It’s not like we’re set at the position. Trask, one more year, Baker, to be determined. Bucs have a top ten pick you have to grab a QB.

  40. Buccos Says:

    I am looking forward to Mayfield reupping with the Bucs for 4 years $130 million dollars and earning his first Pro Bowl birth as the starting QB in Tampa for years to come after leading us to the playoffs and another division crown this year

  41. realistic-optimistic Says:

    @Hodad, even if it’s not a top-ten pick, I still think you make a play for a QB in round 1. This is not me advocating for tanking. The QB class is deep enough that you can likely get one anywhere in round 1.

  42. pewter941 Says:

    Seems pretty good for having no running game.

  43. orlbucfan Says:

    Well, always good to see the usual crap about firing Bowles even after a win on here. Bucs did have a HOF QB: Steve Young back in the for-real Dark Ages. He went out west, played for the 49ers, and the rest is NFL history. Mebbe Trask is still here cos he’s a quality QB and good insurance if BM gets hurt. Hey Grover, we win the last 6-8 games, you gonna start spelling Bowles’ name correctly?

  44. pmarcello Says:

    Baker'[s destiny is in his own hands and also that of the Bucs. You guys likke to bragg about all the talent this team has but you are all forgeting that thius team went out and bought a super bowl with Brady and Gronk and AB and now they are gone and the bill has come due. The simple fact is the Buc are short on talent in all areas across the board. What is a high rookie draft pick going to succeed if ME leaves and even if he stays his time is short. How is a rookie going to prosper behind that line. The TEs are slow. Simply put the team needs fresh blood to booster the D for the future as well a key Offensive reinforcements.
    It is only because of Baker with his mobility and elusiveness and his toughness and his hard attitude “MOXIE” that anything good is happening for this team. He is doing what real FRANCHISE’ QBs do. He is elevating and inspiring this team. You can see that his teramates already admire and repect him. He is LEADING. But you couch potato experts don’t or can’t see it. Yunz better hope that after Baker wraps up the division and any number of playoff games that some other team doesn’t sign from under you. Like the Rams or the Raiders.

  45. SufferingSince76 Says:

    Defense Rules is right. And there has been some really bad football played this year throughout the NFL.

  46. Red86 Says:

    250 yards and 2 tds on a team that has “horrible” running game isn’t good enough. It’s average. (14 points qb rb 0) Our defense need to be near flawless like Ray Lewis’ Trent Dilfer’s Ravens flawless for this to work.

    But, somehow me wishing for a TD a quarter is considered hating the team I root for since 1996. Demanding a higher performance is a great thing. Bright side I didn’t say tank at all this season.

  47. Gamechanger552004 Says:

    It seems like Tampa Bay buccaneers draft way to many QBs. Do you guys remember Josh Freeman (2009–2013), and how many seasons wasted on that. Next we had Jameis Winston (2015–2019). We have had no success with drafted QBs. Here name that true buccaneers fans should know ex Cowboys Brad Johnson who been with Tampa Bay since (2001–2004) who won us a superbowl in 2002. Next we got ex Patriots Tom Brady been with the Bucs since (2020-2022) won the Bucs yet another Super Bowl in 2020. This team history has had zero success with a drafted QBs. I think the answer is very simple. We need better pass rushers, and better RBs. Maybe Tampa should look into being back FBs. We all remember Mike Alstott, and the success we had with him.

  48. Bucnjim Says:

    I’m not sure about Mayfield’s future here but he’s a decent QB. If you include the TD’s that were straight dropped the ratio of touchdown’s and interceptions would be impressive. I’d like to see both keeping Mayfield and drafting a QB

  49. Capt2fish Says:

    Cap space gets better next year but nowhere near enough space to resign everyone….tough decisions have to be made. Baker is going to command >$30 M per year and he will get it from someone. My money is on the Rams or Pat’s. Haters on this site would be throwing themselves off a bridge if they kept Baker and drafted a replacement for a big name vet we didn’t resign. If I am GM. If I am GM, prioritize signing Baker and winfield and extending Wirfs on a long term deal. Focus on O Line,, DE and LB in the draft. Trade Trask for a washing machine…if there are any takers

  50. BUCS4LIFE Says:

    Well 26 years as a BUCS fan, I’m gonna say I’ve drank the Mayfield koolaid. I like the guy, he’s solid, great attitude and tuff as hell and he keeps balling out .

  51. D-Rome Says:

    Hacks me the most is we pissed away our(2021) 2nd round pic (Trask).

    I don’t think that’s a big deal and I thought it was the right move. The Bucs just won the Super Bowl and they had a strong enough roster to compete for another one that season. When you’re in a position of strength you can take draft risks and potentially draft your QB of the future when you have a Hall of Fame QB.

    What is unfortunate is that it’s clear he didn’t show the coaches enough during all the practices in 2021 and 2022 to automatically be named the starter for 2023.

  52. realistic-optimistic Says:

    @Capt2fish, are you saying the Bucs should not sign Evans, but should sign Mayfield? LOL

    Mayfield would be struggling mightily this season if not for Evans. smh

  53. Swanny Says:

    Bucs won the Super Bowl with Brad Johnson (aka “Check Down Charlie”). I think in some ways Johnson and Baker are similar. Johnson was more accurate; Baker is much more mobile. I’d like to see the Bucs continue with Baker.

  54. T. McGee Says:

    All these national guys just use stats and tip sheets from agents. Watch the game… Baker is NOT consistently accurate. He is not elite. Keep looking for a real franchise QB, Glazers!

  55. Seattle Buc Says:

    DBS Says: “Sorry. Trask was given game time.”

    When? A kneel-down is your definition of “game time”? DING DING DING! DBS IS OFFICIALLY THE DUMBEST FOOTBALL FAN ON THE INTERNET!

  56. Greg Says:

    For those people running around hating Trask because he was a Gator and those running around loving him because he was a Gator…please go get yourself checked in somewhere. You are clearly too stupid to be running around unattended without your crash helmet.

    The man sat on the bench while Arians and then Bowles ignored him. I don’t think anyone can say that the coaching staff spent any time at all developing him. The fact of the matter is that no one will likely ever know what he could have been. Licht clearly saw something in him along with the other scouts to draft him in the 2nd round. The coaching staff on the other hand ignored him in a criminally irresponsible fashion.

    Arians KNEW he was retiring. So, what did he care? He was never going to coach him. Bowles and Leftwich couldn’t develop gas after eating chili.

    It was a wasted pick because of that NOT because of anything inherently right or wrong with Kyle Trask.

  57. bucsfaninOregon Says:

    Glad to see that a few of you guys realize at last that Baker is not the problem. Is he better than Brady in the SB season? No, but who was? Baker will start next year. Book it!

  58. Seattle Buc Says:

    D-Rome Says: “What is unfortunate is that it’s clear Trask didn’t show the coaches enough during all the practices in 2021 and 2022 to automatically be named the starter for 2023.”

    He couldn’t show the coaches in 2021 and 2022 since – as made clear by both QB Coach Clyde Christensen and GM Jason Licht – Trask never practiced with the starters in 2021 and 2022. His first practices with the starters were in 2023, when Joe reported he “outplayed Mayfield in training camp”. That Bowles started Mayfield had nothing to do with what Trask showed – Bowles wanted a veteran.

  59. Duane in Sanford Says:

    Baker has exceeded his $4million salary. If he doesnt break the bank, you have to resign him. If he wants too much, you get a compensation pick and let him walk. He is the bridge quarterback, because even if they draft another guy, Baker is still good enough to take the snaps. I think his play can improve if you get him a bit more talent on the line and/or a running game. If this is the draft year for all of the good future quarterbacks like the experts say, you still gotta get one, but you feel good about having Baker take the snaps until they are ready.

  60. DBS Says:

    Seattle Buc ( SON OF TRASK) Your claim is he has NEVER been allowed to play with the starters. A kneel down is recorded as a rushing play by the NFL. So now he has. Don’t like the rules to bad.

  61. DBS Says:

    They were on the clock. So now he needs more time.

  62. realistic-optimistic Says:

    Absolutely @Greg. You don’t have to love or hate Trask to see what happened. Brady had no interest in a rookie backing him up. And Arians had no interest in developing a rookie. Honestly, Arians always chose vets over young QBs. He was definitely not going to develop anybody in his final seasons as a HC.

    And, well, who has Lefty or Bowles every developed at the QB position?

    How a team could invest a 2nd round pick in a player (any position), keep him on the roster for his entire contract, but never put him on the field is baffling to me. That’s just awful team management. And keep the obvious troll comments about Trask taking a knee to yourself. Everybody knows that’s BS.

  63. TB bolts Says:

    Keep putting that clown make up on Joe. Baker has only beat the worst teams in the league. Has a losing record in the worst division in the NFL WITH a top tier defense carrying most of the load. Dude has no touch on his deep ball. Has a decent 20 yard bullet like literally any other nfl QB.. and can scramble out of trouble. Thats what you get with midfield. I hope bucs sign him long term so that you can look like a clown for years to come. Goodbye playoffs

  64. Tbbucs3 Says:

    If Baker keeps playing with top 15 production you absolutely need to resign him for 2024…

    But since this is such a deep QB class I’d would still take a QB like Penix Jr or Jayden Daniels in the 1st or 2d.

    That leaves Trask out of the equation, 2 lost QB competitions later it’s time to make a decision about Trask future with the Bucs. For those saying we need to see Trask in games well not every QB is afforded that luxury, the NFL never saw Kellen Mond and Matt Corral in games but they decided in practice/pre season games that they would be pretty cruddy NFL quarterbacks.

  65. D Cone Says:

    Only numbers that count are 6-3 and 4-5. Maybe Mayfield will have better luck against the 49er’s than Laurence had last week. If not it will be 4-6 and 1 win in his last 5.

    Laurence is 42% career W/L was 52 % last year and currently 66% in 2023
    Mayfield is 45% career W/L was 33% last year and currently 44% and going to 40 in days.

    Both started on the worse team in Football and played on bad teams.

    At 45% career he should win ya 7 or 8 games. All he has to do is go .500 the rest of the way and he’ll finish a hair above the 7.65 projected wins based on his Career and not 9 hand picked games.

    Suppose 8 wins is a Success in the NFC South. When Dobbs gets the Vikings to the Seventh Seed teams will start looking at later round picks buried in Rosters and Trask will get his shot.

    Only 8 1st pick overallQB’s have won a Super Bowl and one (Bledsoe) got his from a 6th round pick. History says Bucs have a 12% chance w/ Mayfield and sit at +15000.

    He’ll get you an Average Season.

  66. Seattle Buc Says:

    DBS Says: “A kneel down is recorded as a rushing play by the NFL.”

    So he ran a play as a running back. OK.

    BWAHAHAHAHAHA!

  67. Bobby M. Says:

    Mayfield is a top 15 QB with top 10 ceiling. He’s playing welll for his first year in the system…especially if you consider the o-line has 4 guys in new positions, one being a rookie, along with no running game, $75 million in dead cap space and rookie OC. Give him 2-3 years in the same system and you’ll consistently compete in our division. I still think you draft a young QB because that’s what good organizations do but Mayfield is more than serviceable.

  68. Tony marks Says:

    It’s Corn Says:

    Mayfield plays very cautiously too… it’s clearly been pounded into his head by Bowles and Canales not to turn the ball over.

    ——-

    BEST ANALYSIS on the whole page of comments. Only its not just because of Bowles and Canales but because its a smart move for Baker.

    He is playing very cautious and he’d be an idiot not to. The haters were all up on his ints last year and h’es now put in a years worth of the NFl with the ints waay down ( adding when he left the panthers to this year so far). for all the talk of him having reached his ceiling he’s actually added a lot of fundamentals to his game. he is a much better in the pocket passer, his ints are down and he has gone from good to SPECTACULAR avoiding the rush.

    Bucs have promised him nothing with a one year contract ( and as another has pointed out – it leaves him owing us nothing so all this talk of whether the bucs shoudl keep him might not even be in thier hands.). They hired him secifically not to play hero ball and thats what he is doing. So yep – We are not seeing that much of Baker from the highights of his career. We may ony see that when he is more assured he has secured his future OR when Palmer gets better at route running.

    meanwhile on a one year contract he has evrry right to limit opening up and taking risks regularly. IF he evens sticks at 14th ranked Qb in the league despite the utter nonsense you read here – he ‘s starter next year with a longer contract oan NFL team . The 18 teams with starting Qbs below him aren’t all going to get tom bradys in this draft – its deep but not that deep.

  69. DBS Says:

    He played with the starters . That is all that matters. Laugh all you want. You can’t say Poor Trask NEVER HAS any more..

  70. NYbucsfan Says:

    One thing I think it’s overlooked is how poor our competition has been and what he’s looked like when we play a solid opponent. Let’s see how he does this week against the 49ers. I’m going to go out on a limb it’s Trevor Lawrence probably wishes he had Mike Evans too.

  71. Tony marks Says:

    D Cone Says:
    November 14th, 2023 at 10:36 am

    Laurence is 42% career W/L was 52 % last year and currently 66% in 2023
    Mayfield is 45% career W/L was 33% last year and currently 44% and going to 40 in days.

    Both started on the worse team in Football and played on bad teams.

    —-

    and then your whole anlaysis fell apart because the glaring difference between the two is that Lawrence has had the continuity of being in one place and having a team consolidated around him.

    this is what is almost always left out of such comparisons. Its exceedingly rare to have a qb that you just drop on a team and is an instant turn around. Most of the top ten QBs throughout the years have had the team consolidate around them over a seaon and most two or more.

    Brady and favre are the rare exceptions and theres not much more after that who can lift a team immediately without that consolidation. Plus if t favors teams because instead of one and done championships you generally are in contention for years with the consolidation situation

    Baker before being injured in cleveland was showing the same pattern of consolidation and winning. Your analysis is a bust because it missess key ingredients necessary for a logical comparison.

  72. realistic-optimistic Says:

    Lawrence played under Urban Meyer his first season. I’d argue Lawrence had it worse.

  73. Tony marks Says:

    NYbucsfan Says:
    November 14th, 2023 at 11:07 am
    One thing I think it’s overlooked is how poor our competition has been and what he’s looked like when we play a solid opponent

    —-

    That ignores that Qb is not the only position affected by “solid opponents”. Our oline also suffers when playing better competition – do I expect Bosa to allow baker to do 360 spin and ducks to avoid sacks?

    Nope.

  74. Oz Len Says:

    Seattle Buc Says:

    Joe reported he “outplayed Mayfield in training camp”. I would like to see that quote for context. I think Joe said: “Joe reported he “outplayed Mayfield in training camp today”.

  75. Lord Cornelius Says:

    @Defense you’re right whatever i was looking at had the wrong numbers/rankings for points allowed.

    STill it’s so weird to be so bad in yards given up / bottom 10 in time of posession. We have to be performing at like historic levels for the red zone defense

  76. RichieRich Says:

    You can say whatever you want….. But Based on Bowles and Caneles obvious affection throw in the GM for Mayfield …..if 2 out those 3 are back then so will Mayfield!

  77. RichieRich Says:

    Lawrence played under Urban Meyer his first season. I’d argue Lawrence had it worse.

    Tony marks Says: lol playing for an historically bad 1 and 31 franchise who fired the OC then the HC and still broke Peyton Manning’s rookie TD record winning 8 games was pretty remarkable.

  78. Seattle Buc Says:

    Oz Len Says: “Joe reported he outplayed Mayfield in training camp today.'”

    Nope. Not “today”. The article, which is in the JBF archives, is dated August 13, 2023, which was AFTER THE BUCS TRAINING CAMP HAD CLOSED and AFTER THE BUCS HAD PLAYED THEIR FIRST PRESEASON GAME. There’s your “context”. And, in that post-training-camp article, Joe wrote:

    “For Trask to get the QB1 gig, Joe believes, he had to out-practice/play Mayfield by a lot. He outplayed Mayfield a little in training camp.”

    There it is. Trask “outplayed” Mayfield in training camp. Plain English.

  79. Seattle Buc Says:

    @Oz Len

    By the way, in another article after training camp had closed, dated August 15, 2023, Joe again discussed Trask outplaying Mayfield:

    “Trask was out-practicing Mayfield. Not by a lot, but a little.”

    What more do you Bakettes need?

  80. CAbucsfan Says:

    JJ Macarthy sure would be a great pick and possibly get him in top of the 2nd round.
    Let him sit a year under Baker for a year.

  81. Tony marks Says:

    Seattle Buc Says:
    November 14th, 2023 at 11:34 am

    “For Trask to get the QB1 gig, Joe believes, he had to out-practice/play Mayfield by a lot. He outplayed Mayfield a little in training camp.”

    —-

    Dude you have already been caught and DEBUNKED in this lie and you still pushing it?

    YOur enitre argument is that Kyle showed himself the better Qb and won the competition. So you run to that quote and deliberately cut off the next line which reads

    “But Friday night Mayfield was clearly the best QB.”

    In other words thats the Joe saying Kyle lost the competition by the time the first preseason game was played.The competition ALWAYS inlcuded the preseason game which is why Kyle and Baker alternated games.

    SO go ahaed and keep trying to lie that the joes back you on the idea Kyle proved himself the better QB. YOur own source when you don’t cut off the last line shows they supported no such claim.

  82. Tbbucs3 Says:

    Seattle Buc

    You seem to overvalue the importance of Trask “outplaying” Mayfield on in a random 2 HR practice in street clothes on August 15th.

    It was clear to anyone who follow the “fake” competition that Mayfield ran away with it once the preseason games started.

    Amazing how these lunatics are still screaming “fake competition” when Mayfield is statistically the 12th best QB in the NFL. Fake!

  83. Tony marks Says:

    Oz Len Says:
    November 14th, 2023 at 11:18 am
    Seattle Buc Says:

    Joe reported he “outplayed Mayfield in training camp”. I would like to see that quote for context.
    —————

    Sb tried the same nonesene with me So I looked it up and the context i s anythng but what he claims . He tries to bring this up to support his conspiracy theory that trask won the QB competotion and even the joe’s admitted it but the context he purposefully leaves off is the next line

    “But Friday night Mayfield was clearly the best QB.”

    So in context what the joe was saying was it might have appeared looking at the trainign camp Kyle was holding his own but by the time the preseason games started to be played it was obvious who the better Qb was – Baker

    hardly supports his conspiracy theory and the joes agreeing with his central premise that Kyle won the competition. The competition was always to have inluded the preseason games – and the Joe here is stating after the first game the lead was clearly Baker showing as the better QB

  84. Conner50 Says:

    DBS showing how low his football IQ is on full display

  85. JD Still Says:

    Mayfield as a “Bridge” ,or even as a starter? LOL! Bridge to nowhere is more like it! In case you haven’t noticed , while playing in the NFC-South , the weakest Conference in Professional football , Mayfield has led us to a measly 178 points scored , 68 of those points have come from PAT’s and field goals, and one TD was a defensive score, the only teams that have scored fewer points are the last place Panthers,( NFC-South), the last place Giants,(NFC-East), and the last place Cardinals (NFC-West), and while we have allowed every offensive player on the team an opportunity to play in actual games to see if they could do better, (with one notable exception , amazingly, Kyle Trask, who actually outplayed Mayfield in the pre-season) , and while singing the praises of Mayfield , most of the other articles here have been ragging on our defense and the perceived shortcomings of some defensive players , while the only teams in entire NFC that have allowed fewer points to be scored on them than the Bucs are the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys! Something here is more screwed up than a soup sandwich!

  86. optimisticbucsfan Says:

    Baker will want big money

    HELL NO!!!!!

    We aren’t winning anything with that midget.

  87. Seattle Buc Says:

    Tbbucs3 Says: “It was clear to anyone who follow the ‘fake’ competition that Mayfield ran away with it ONCE THE PRESEASON STARTED.”

    Thanks for confirming that Trask outplayed Mayfield in training camp, just as Joe reported.

    As for preseason, Trask outplayed Mayfield too. Trask actually played, throwing 69 passes. Mayfield made a cameo appearance in only two games, threw a couple passes (15 total in two games), and as soon as he threw a dink and dunk TD Bowles pulled him to protect Bowles’ decision made at signing to start Mayfield. More, Trask threw and completed deeper balls than Mayfield, giving Trask much more yards-per-attempt and more yards-per-completion than Mayfield. And, Trask’s sole pick in 69 passes gave him an INT% of 1.4%, way less than Mayfield’s career INT% of 2.7%.

  88. Kevin Says:

    Since trevor does not want to be in jax , there might be a good chance the bucs could sign him.

  89. Let ‘em bake Says:

    Wonder what talks, if any are going on between Bucs and bakers agent. He was on the cusp of a nice extension in Cleveland before he got hurt… my sense is that he’d like to sign sooner; rather than later, and not risk locked up $ . The geno smith deal works, does not hamstring Bucs, and he and his wife have started a foundation in Tampa for kids… probably would like to sink roots and start a family with some certainty.

  90. UKBuccaneer Says:

    Trask didn’t outplay Mayfield in preseason or training camp. There were days where Trask looked better. There were days he looked worse (all reported on JBF).

    Mayfield regardless is playing at a level that is above benching. He’s doing a solid job. Why throw in someone who’s basically never taken a real NFL snap? What do we expect the outcome to be of putting trask out there while we’re half a game off top-spot in the division?

  91. JD Still Says:

    UK Buccaneer: what is the advantage of letting Trask play? Simple, we will then know what we have, one way or the other, instead of looking like idiots and laughing stocks for the next ten years when Kyle moves on to another team and becomes an all pro , leading that team to championships and SuperBowls for the next decade ! (Embarrassingly We’ve done it before!).

  92. Oz Len Says:

    From what little I’ve read of JoeBucFan, my first season here, if Joe thought Trask was the better option he would be writing about that. He doesn’t seem to have any problem speaking his mind. To those who mentioned me in their post, thank you for your civil discourse. To those who hate Mayfield, you have to admit he makes a game exciting, sometimes good, sometimes bad. Two games in a row, Bills, Texans, down to the final minute or play. That’s must-see TV.

  93. Seattle Buc Says:

    UKBuccaneer Says: “Trask didn’t outplay Mayfield in training camp.”

    You weren’t there so don’t know diddly.

    Joe, though, he was there, so he knows. And, after training camp had been closed, Joe wrote that “TRASK OUTPLAYED MAYFIELD A LITTLE IN TRAINING CAMP” (August 13) and, again, that “TRASK WAS OUT-PRACTICING MAYFIELD. NOT BY A LOT, BUT A LITTLE” (August 15).

    What about that plain English do you not understand?

  94. Erik Hesson - Fine Artist and Founder of UniqueModernArt.com Says:

    Seattle Buc,

    For about a one week stretch in training camp, Trask was outperforming Mayfield. But that’s the only stretch where this has been the case. At least publicly…

    And I’m all for re-signing Mayfield and drafting Interior O-line/RB in the 1st couple rounds of the next draft.

    I think Mayfield is showing consistency and the ability to put the team on his back when needed, and I think he could possibly be our Franchise QB, Buc Fans. And we have a good solid backup too.

    We’ll see how it plays out.

  95. Tbbucs3 Says:

    Seattle, Baker had 2 TDs in preseason with only 15 pass attempts Trask had only 2 with 69 attempts against mostly UPS drivers. That’s far from impressive.

    At this point, Trask is closer to being sent to waviers or traded for a 7th round pick than he his to being Bucs starting quarterback.

  96. JD Still Says:

    UK Buccaneer : To save you the trouble of looking it up, it was Steve Young who played for Tampa for two years,( and yes, he even got to play) , but in the wisdom of the powers that were, managed to escape the quarterback dying grounds in Tampa when the Media and the Powers that were set their eyes on another couldn’t miss victim , and Steve was traded to San Francisco where he played in seven conference championship games , two Super Bowls and was inducted into the Pro Football HOF. As Steve discovered , You can’t fix stupid.

  97. D-Rome Says:

    UK Buccaneer: what is the advantage of letting Trask play? Simple, we will then know what we have

    Who’s “we”? You mean the fans? If so, it doesn’t really matter because the Bucs organization from the Glazers all the way down to the scouts *know* what they have.

  98. DBS Says:

    Here it comes 3,2,1.

  99. Lawson Says:

    No mention in comments about Mayfield’s leadership qualities. His teammates respect him and the way he plays and supports them. Many people made up their minds about him and refuse to accept they were wrong. If you cite stats, they make excuses for his success, suggesting he has nothing to do with the impressive accomplishments. It’s hard to admit you’re wrong. The fact is that Mayfield is a top QB dealing with a new system, an offensive coordinator who up to this point has been overly conservative, a non-existent running game, a defense that has left him with consistently poor field position, a sub-par offensive line, and a fan base that expects perfection. If you ask the Browns if they made the right decision on Mayfield they would say “no” if they’re being honest.

  100. Seattle Buc Says:

    @Erik Hesson – Fine Artist and Founder of UniqueModernArt.com

    It was on August 13, 2023 – AFTER training camp had been completed and was over and done with – that Joe wrote “TRASK OUTPLAYED MAYFIELD A LITTLE IN TRAINING CAMP”. Joe didn’t say Trask outplayed Mayfield “for one week of training camp”; he said Trask did so “IN TRAINING CAMP.” That means all of it, Skippy.

    PS. Stick to art, because you apparently can’t read.

  101. Seattle Buc Says:

    @Tbbucs3

    What year did you drop out of FSU and how many Jameis jerseys do you have? Asking for a friend.

  102. David Says:

    These 2024 draft talks are too premature. There is no assurance in drafting a franchise qb. Trask is the only qb from 2021 draft who hasn’t played a regular season game. The rest of his class were busted qb. Let’s stop all these none sense a give Trask a chance to shine.

    Here are Trask’s classmate qb’s from 2021 draft:

    Trevor Lawrence (1st, Jaguars). Trash so far Zach Wilson (2nd, Jets). Trash so far
    Trey Lance (3rd, 49ers). Trash so far
    Justin Fields (11th, Bears). Trash so far
    Mac Jones (15th, Patriots). Trash so far
    Kyle Trask (64th, Buccaneers). Has not played yet
    Kellen Mond (66th, Vikings). Trash
    Davis Mills (67th, Texans). Trash

    2023 qb draft class:

    Bryce Young (No. 1). Trash so far
    C.J. Stroud (No. 2). Good so far
    Anthony Richardson (No. 4). Trash so far
    Will Levis (No. 33). Trash so far
    Hendon Hooker (No. 68). Trash so far.

    Let the Trask era begins if we lose to 49’ers 4-6 with seven games left. We will still win the division with either Bake or Trask with seven winnable games left. There is no reason to waste any more valuable times on Baker after 49’rs game. Let’s see what we have in Trask.

  103. DBS Says:

    Not bad. Insults. 2 names. FSU reference. . At least you didn’t say it was because Baker had the starters and Trask didn’t.
    People are

  104. DBS Says:

    People are catching on to who you are. Just by what you do to them.

  105. Pickgrin Says:

    100% the Bucs should draft a QB with a high pick in 2024. It doesn’t even have to be in the 1st rd.

    A dozen or more QBs (perhaps as many as 15) coming out this next year will or would normally have grades of rounds 1>3.

    Thats a lot of players to choose from beyond the 4 or 5 that will surely go at the top of Rd 1 and be out of practical reach for the Buccaneers.

    Only 6 out of 18 QBs (counting Stroud) drafted in the top of the 1st rd (1>15) the last 5 years can be considered a true “franchise QB”. So its a crapshoot on QBs no matter where you select them.

    Bucs need to spin that QB roulette wheel next year and hope the little ball (finally) falls in the right slot for us.

    If Mayfield would sign a 2 year $25M (total) contract to return with the Bucs next year – then do it. But Mayfield will want (and likely deserve) more than that – so the Bucs should roll with Trask and the highly drafted rookie in 2024 to help get right with the cap.

    Bucs are still in major cap hell for the next 2 years so not having to pay for a QB in 2024 would help with that situation immensely.

  106. JD Still Says:

    D-Rome: LOL! So , You are saying the entire Bucs Organization is clairvoyant and they still led us to where we are today ? 3rd Place in the weakest Division in Professional football? With a starting quarterback on his fourth team ,that after six years , in his seventh now , still has an overall losing record and still leads the league in turnovers and they don’t want to even look at the quarterback who threw for over five hundred yards in the preseason with a better completion percentage and a lower interception percentage , ( while somehow still saying Mayfield was better because he threw for a little over a hundred yards , playing with better receivers, better offensive line and throwing little dinks and dunks only 15 times so his completion percentage would be higher ), but in their clairvoyance, they still say ,all evidence to the contrary,Mayfield is their guy? I think they should have their Chrystal Ball of Clairvoyance checked, I don’t think it’s working right.

  107. WyomingJoe Says:

    I followed Mayfield during his years with the Browns. Before Baker played just minutes before halftime in game 3 of the 2018 season, he inherited a team that had been 1-34 and hadn’t been in a playoff game for 20+ years! He also had 4 head coaches and 3 different offensive coordinators in 4 years. So he had NO stability and NO system continuity. And guess what? He had an outstanding rookie season and two years later brought the Browns to the playoffs. And he beat the Steelers in their home field. He is a Top 10 QB who has never been given the chance to blossom. So I say, go ahead and do the Tampa Thing and don’t sign him next year. I know, I know, according to the NFL Suits there are 7-10 QBs who could be drafted in the first round. What a joke! And MAYBE one MIGHT be a franchise guy. And also, the JOE’s and Ira as well are offering their “opinions,” and we all have an opinions don’t we? Draft a Center in the first round, and a guard or RB in round 2. And you’ll go deep into the playoffs.

  108. WyomingJoe Says:

    Dear Joe’s… could you please tell me why my comments were “moderated”, i.e., erased? Honestly, I’m really curious.

  109. Joe Says:

    Dear Joe’s… could you please tell me why my comments were “moderated”, i.e., erased? Honestly, I’m really curious.

    You know as much as Joe does. Remember, Joe doesn’t write software code for WordPress. There are all sorts of harmless, innocent reasons why your comments ended up in the moderation queue. Joe has detailed some of the most common reasons many, many times over the years.

  110. chark Says:

    And if I may add wyomingjoe, baker was pressed “hard” by an unrealistic owner and the browns telling the world that their expectations were the superbowl. Haslem is a dumb loose cannon and put unrealistic pressure on the team and baker with his macho talk. Baker pressed his whole careeer there and had some games where he pressed too hard ,and turnovers occured. Played his last season in cleveland with a completely torn rotator cuff because the idiot haslem was hell intent on dumping him for deshaun watson signing early into that season. Baker has been more the answer then the problem his whole career. The only argument one could make against baker was his carolina season, but how did that go for anyone with the carolina panthers qbs under rhule.

  111. Rod Munch Says:

    LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!

  112. Kim hendersonkim Says:

    Please give Kyle Trask a chance how many people agree the NFL does not like any gators quarterback

  113. realistic-optimistic Says:

    The NFL didn’t like Ohio State QBs either … until Stroud came along. Quit blaming the player for the school’s track record.

  114. UKBuccaneer Says:

    Seattle Buc Says:

    You weren’t there so don’t know diddly.

    Joe, though, he was there, so he knows. And, after training camp had been closed, Joe wrote that “TRASK OUTPLAYED MAYFIELD A LITTLE IN TRAINING CAMP” (August 13) and, again, that “TRASK WAS OUT-PRACTICING MAYFIELD. NOT BY A LOT, BUT A LITTLE” (August 15).

    What about that plain English do you not understand?

    ———————————————-

    According to Joe(s), Did Trask outplay Mayfield throughout training camp, or in flashes?

    I’m asking because I know the answer, btw.

  115. UKBuccaneer Says:

    Seattle Buc Says:

    It was on August 13, 2023 – AFTER training camp had been completed and was over and done with – that Joe wrote “TRASK OUTPLAYED MAYFIELD A LITTLE IN TRAINING CAMP”. Joe didn’t say Trask outplayed Mayfield “for one week of training camp”; he said Trask did so “IN TRAINING CAMP.” That means all of it, Skippy.

    ——————————————

    August 13th, you say?

    Look what I found on Aug 13th from Joe:

    “So it sure looks like we fans got a taste of the Baker Mayfield era in Tampa Bay.

    Mayfield completed eight of nine passes for 63 yards and a beautiful touchdown pass to Trey Palmer in the back of the end zone.

    Trask, while getting jostled, mocked and robbed by the Pittsburgh pass rush led by future airport baggage handlers and short-order cooks, did not fare as well, despite playing with the same front line and weapons as Mayfield. He was 6 of 10 for 99 yards and a pick with three sacks”

  116. David Says:

    Baker fans, I feel so bad for you that you have to spend so much energy to dig up some of the Joe’s articles to prove a point.
    All you need to know, the baker is a old trash who supposedly competed against a rookie with no experience. It should have never been that close even with scam competition.
    Show all the stats you want. At the end of the day, we have a losing record on the toilet bowl of nfl .

  117. Seattle Buc Says:

    UKBuccaneer Says: “Did Trask outplay Mayfield throughout training camp, or in flashes?”

    How many times do I have to post what Joe wrote – AFTER training camp was completed – saying Trask outplayed Mayfield “in training camp”?

    August 13 2023: “For Trask to get the QB1 gig, Joe believes, he had to out-practice/play Mayfield by a lot. He outplayed Mayfield a little in training camp.”

    August 15 2023: “Trask was out-practicing Mayfield. Not by a lot, but a little.”

    The plain meaning of Joe’s words is that in training camp, Trask was better. Anyone with rudimentary reading skills understands that.

    You obviously are so pithed off that Joe wrote that about Trask (twice) that you’re trying to put words in Joe’s mouth, such as “in flashes”, words he never used. You’re one sad puppy.

  118. D1 Says:

    This week, the Bucs’ joint practice reflected what their first preseason game told them: Mayfield is readier. His 132.9 passer rating dwarfed Trask’s 53.8 in a 27-17 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, with Mayfield’s 1:0 touchdown-to-interception ratio also besting Trask’s 0:1.

    Kyle’s always been that kind of slow, steady, developer — in high school, in college — and I think that falls in line with exactly that,” Christensen added. “I think he would put a high value and premium on that, that he’s not the guy who comes in and just becomes the flash immediately. He has a methodical development to

    NFL network

  119. Shane Callahan Says:

    Mayfield is as great as any QB in the right situation and way better than many in a bad situation. If you’ve been watching, you know. If you’ve not been watching, then you really shouldn’t be talking.

  120. Tony Marks Says:

    Seattle Buc Says:
    The plain meaning of Joe’s words is that in training camp, Trask was better. Anyone with rudimentary reading skills understands that.

    ——–

    LOl…..anyone with rudimentary reading and google skills can see that EVERY TIME you quote a joe you leave out what follows because it blows up your point Heres the fuller quote

    ===

    “Trask was out-practicing Mayfield. Not by a lot, but a little. Not enough to be knighted the Bucs starter if the two were competing based solely on their play.

    Then Mayfield goes out and plays well against the Steelers. Trask? He struggled more than he made plays. Then on Sunday, the first Bucs practice since Friday’s game, Mayfield was strong. Trask wasn’t as strong.”

    ===

    The entire article was how Baker was then outpacing Kyley boy.

    So your own source – ALL THE ARTICLES you bring up are referencing that by the preseason Baker was showing to be the better QB and the preseason was always – ALWAYS designated as part of the QB competition.

    You’ve been running around in multiple blog post comments claiming the Joe’s back your conspiracy theory – which is that t Kyle won the QB competition but if we use YOUR OWN JOE Article sources

    Kyle lost – he was not the better QB. So THANKS SB!! You’ve pointed to the sources and indicated they are reliable and they say Baker won out once the preseason came around

    case closed. Better Qb, who put on the after burners when the games were about to count, won. SO much so the team went through a FOUR GAME losing streak and still wouldn’t go to the losing QB on the pine.

    Kyle has the whole off season to improve and try again. There no rush for him to be in now unless the winner of the Qb competition is injured. live with it.

  121. Time to Fire Coaches Says:

    SeatleBuc has that Gator Green alllll over his lips.
    Trask is NOT a better option than BM, if you had any actual football knowledge it would be obvious.

    The issues on the team are,
    Run blocking
    Penalties
    Run blocking
    Pass rush
    Being outcoached
    Dropped 1st down passes in your hands
    Run blocking
    Too much cover 3, heck I miss the cover 2 days

  122. Ed McSherry Says:

    Baker’s obviously been playing all year with the same interior O-line as a passer, as Rachaad has as a rusher.

    Ya, they’ve (the interior O-line) been a -lot-
    better at protecting Baker than run-blocking (who isn’t), but the truth-told maybe is that they’re not giving Baker much time to make a play, either: he’s always “busy” in the pocket for a reason.

    Brady has a career average of “getting the ball away” @ 2.3 seconds. Baker can’t be compared to the GOAT, but then there are all the other Super Bowl winners who aren’t the GOAT, either.

    Given that challenge: to make plays under constant pressure, Baker”s been a top-13/top-15 quarterback all season, regardless.

    Baker does a good job and, imo, he’s capable of even better.

  123. R. Strader Says:

    @ Ed McSherry is spot on!

    @”Defense rules” analyzes with a bit of legalism, and his analyses are flawed.

    Baker has completed 37 of 39 passes to
    White because the line can’t block for him.
    And because management hasn’t provided White with a halfway decent larger back to complement him.

    Actually. it’s very creative of Baker to flick passes to White, who has the best hands on the team, other than Evans and Godwin.
    He’s doing a great job of using the tools he’s been given, or more accurately cleverly compensating for what managdment has
    NOT given him

    Baker’s been a magician.

  124. Paul Says:

    When does P. Mahomes become a free agent?

    Every QB the Bucs draft is a bust, a thug, or both (Jay,Miss).

    Better stick with what we know, free agents. Both our superbowls are with guys we picked up in free agency.

    While we’re at it FIRE Todd Bowles. He sucked with the Jets, amd he STILL SUCKS. I’m all for diversity, but damn, can’t we hire a COMPETENT black coach.

  125. tbc 1 Says:

    Baker is playing his first year here and with a new coordinator give him a break-lets also remember the o-line has not been the best. Bradys SB season in the first 12 games he was 7-5 we may not be that far off. We have a first round QB right now and a QB with a chip on his shoulders that wants to win…sound like some one who just retired

  126. Mark hardt Says:

    It really depends on what his final stats and team record are. If he is MVP and wins the super bowl the Bucs won,t be able to afford him. They could franchise him of course. 28 is now young for a QB if you factor in Brady,s longevity. Baker seems to be learning from Tom with the check downs and quicker release. Brady never had Mayfield,s arm strength and running ability.

  127. Seattle Buc Says:

    @D1

    LOL. What a loser you are. Quoting out-of-context then QB Coach Clyde Christensen from May 2022, before 2022 training camp even started, when Brady was here and had veteran Gabbert as his backup. This is what Christensen said then, confirming there was no quarterback competition because they were going with Gabbert as #2 (because Brady had just won a Super Bowl with Gabbert and wasn’t going to tolerate a change to a zero-experience backup):

    “I don’t see Kyle competing with Blaine Gabbert for the backup job this year [2022]. He could do it, just all the odds are stacked against you. You can’t rep everybody, it’s hard to get Gabbert enough reps. So we’ll prepare Gabbert as the No. 2.”

    Now, try responding to Joe’s multiple comments IN 2023 that Trask outplayed Mayfield IN THE 2023 TRAINING CAMP.

    Waiting …

  128. Seattle Buc Says:

    Baki Marki Says: “By the PRESEASON [which was AFTER TRAINING CAMP] Baker was showing to be the better QB.”

    Thanks for confirming Trask was better in training camp, just as Joe has said multiple times.

    As for the preseason, if Mayfield was better, then why did Bowles have to delay his announcement of the quarterback starter after Trask’s great performance against a stout Jets defense in the second preseason game? Because, after the Steelers AND Jets preseason games, Trask was looking better than Mayfield in preseason too (Mayfield had thrown only 9 measly passes in the Steelers preseason game and 0 in the Jets preseason game).

    Clearly, Baki got the starting job not because of what he did in training camp OR preseason, but because it was promised to him. 100%

  129. Seattle Buc Says:

    Tony Marks a/k/a Baker’s Agent Says: “By the PRESEASON [which was AFTER TRAINING CAMP] Baker was showing to be the better QB.”

    Thanks for confirming Trask was better in training camp, just as Joe has said multiple times.

    As for the preseason, if Mayfield was better, then why did Bowles have to delay his announcement of the quarterback starter after Trask’s great performance against a stout Jets defense in the second preseason game? Because, after the Steelers AND Jets preseason games, Trask was looking better than Mayfield in preseason too – Mayfield had thrown only 9 measly passes in the Steelers preseason game and 0 in the Jets preseason game.

    Clearly, Mayfield got the starting job not because of what he did in training camp OR preseason, but because it was promised to him.

  130. Seattle Buc Says:

    I just had a revelation.

    FACT: Trask outplayed Mayfield in training camp as per Joe who was there.

    FACT: Mayfield was anointed the starter after throwing only 9 measly passes in the Steelers preseason game and 0 passes in the Jets game (he didn’t even play), a game in which Trask looked great.

    FACT: No way that happens in a true quarterback competition.

    CONCLUSION: There was no quarterback competition. Mayfield was promised and gifted the job.

  131. BAKERSBucs Says:

    Hay David says wtf have u ever said anything positive I’m sure glad I’m not married to u I sure feel bad for u r wife I can’t imagine the nasty things u say to her she is in my prays good luck lady & I am not a religious person

  132. BAKERSBucs Says:

    Baker was promised they went after mayfield not the other way around if they wanted Trask as a starter they wud have taken a Dobbs as a backup or something like that scenario .another of this commentary on this site sounds childish or maybe like hater drunks the followwing day with hangovers there r many commonsense posts here but way to many of the same bs Trask this Trask that that shud not even b a topic on this site grandma is slow but she is old what is u r excuses its ridiculous commentary grow up ! It’s time

  133. BAKERSBucs Says:

    Gifted the job is that like on his Xmas list wtf is the matter with u tards u r so ghetto

  134. BAKERSBucs Says:

    Seattle bucs says man oh man u r like a little kid screaming & kicking cause u didn’t get u r way grow up write u r commentary in Seattle we all known that pl. Is 1 F.U.PL. to live.this is not a kiddie site maybe go do some counseling for drug attics in Seattle we know u have many in u r neighborhoods there.

  135. Student of the Game Says:

    JD, you do not take into consideration the San Francisco team surrounding Young. Surround Mayfield with that team and you would get equal results. Football is a team sport. 11 guys. I don’t care who you put in as TB QB1 against San Francisco, they will not have any more chance at success than Mayfield, and sorry Trask homers, he would get killed. Why do you want to see your idol crushed. I would love to see Mayfield behind Dallas’ line. Baker’s success at Cleveland happened when they brought in a better line and had a run game with Chubbs.

  136. Ex-Browns02 Says:

    Student: Well put.

    Looking forward to SF in the late window. TB defense and offense trending up. Canales’ game plan continuing to evolve — getting more adaptive to the available strengths of the offense.

    The team that walks out with the “W” Sunday is going to be the team that wants it more.

    Go Bucs!!

  137. Student of the Game Says:

    BakersBuc, you have to give it to Seattle…he stays on topic in his delusional rant about Trask.

    Seattle, it doesn’t matter what Joe thinks about a practice. I don’t even know what his creds are. I do know, he is not a TB coach who’s job depends on winning football games, unless he is a low level coach ghost writing. He doesn’t have a vote in who starts. His opinion is no more valuable than mine or even yours. He’s a writer, a talking head. You are just going to continue to appear silly when TB makes the playoffs. First round would be winnable if TB can be at full strength roster depending on the draw and no turnovers. After that, on any given Sunday….none of which is possible with Trask. Sorry, but it’s the truth. Try to cope.

  138. Seattle Buc Says:

    Student of the Game Says: “none of which is possible with Trask”

    Given the fact that he has not played in a game with the starters, you know this how?

    That’s what I thought.