“He’s Down There Somewhere”

January 16th, 2024

Infectious football personality.

Baker Mayfield was pumped last night. And that’s exactly what Bucs coach Todd Bowles wanted.

Bowles had been enamored with Mayfield since the Heisman Trophy winner came into the draft and Bowles was coaching the Jets.

When the Bucs needed a quarterback last offseason and Mayfield was available, Bowles wanted him for reasons other than his stats or his experience, Bowles noted today in his day-after presser.

Bowles believed Mayfield’s aggressive, hard-nosed, tough personality would rub off on other players, he said. The Bucs believed that would be a positive for the team. And Bowles said that has happened.

“It’s great seeing Baker be Baker,” Bowles said. “It looks like he is having fun like he was in college. He looks relaxed, very intense and learning the gameplan and mastering everything.

“He’s going out there and playing free and carefree. It’s really helping him and it is really helping us.”

Bowles said his biggest goal for Mayfield when he came to the Bucs was “just drive the car.” In other words, Mayfield didn’t have to lift a storied franchise onto his shoulders. He didn’t have to build an offense. He just needed to put in gear and get it on the highway.

You can see a part of Mayfield’s youthful energy in the NFL Films video below where he and Chris Godwin played some backyard football last night.

Mayfield saw the blitz and the pressure was about to come and NFL Films picked up Mayfield telling Godwin, “Be ready Chris!”

Sure enough, the blitz came, Mayfield had to unload the pass early down the middle and Godwin came back for the ball and scored.

Mayfield then yelled, “He’s down there somewhere!”

100 Responses to ““He’s Down There Somewhere””

  1. TheBucsAnthem Says:

    Oh Boy

    I hope these Bucs don’t read all these newspapers clippings of how great they are….

    …..stayed focused…..cause the Lions šŸ¦ are not the crappy Eagles

  2. TomBucsFan Says:

    Go Bucs

  3. D-Rome Says:

    He’s just a different guy compared to other QBs the Bucs have had in the past. He seems to have a great personality. After the game as he was running down the tunnel he gave a celebratory slap on the behind to some guy in a suit. I don’t know if that was Jason Licht or someone else. It was very funny.

    I *think* I understand why the Browns moved on from Baker, but their ROI with Watson has been terrible. Flacco was better in 5 games than Watson this season. Thanks cLEAVEland

  4. Dave Pear Says:

    Davood and the Trask mob can digest that and put their face in it.

    Then Oralyucfan can say ā€œRah Rah,ā€ wave her Pom poms, and have no idea why.

  5. Dave Pear Says:

    PS – awesome video Joe. How can people not get behind this guy?

  6. SlyPirate Says:

    Ride the high on your day off.
    Then, rewatch the Detroit game.
    Then, go to work.

  7. Tye Says:

    The ‘stuck with Bowels’ campaign would be so much more tolerable if the Bucs can at least play competitively against the Lion come Sunday….

    The Lions are not the broken team the eagles were…
    The Bucs will be tested to see if they are a good team or just recipients of other teams misfortune!

  8. adam from ny Says:

    kidd baker……cookin’ in the pot !

  9. NE Fan Says:

    Let’s see how enamored he is next week. The whole NFL community is talking about how much the Eagles team dislikes their coach’s and Hurts and what a tank last night’s game was.

  10. Brian King Says:

    It boggles my mind that people on here canā€™t enjoy the moment without finding ā€œa cloud for every silver liningā€. If we win a SB this year, some of you would start complaining about next yearā€™s concernsā€¦

  11. adam from ny Says:

    NE Fan:

    you’re like a man without a country for quite a while now…but still floating on our lily pad

  12. NaplesBucsFan Says:

    You so called fans need to shut itā€¦of course the Lions are a different team than the Eagles and it will be a more challenging gameā€¦but hello, NO ONE, including this here Buc fan, thought the game would go the way it did last night!!! Even the ones who picked the Bucs picked it as a close game.
    If we can get the team with the fight and passion we saw last night, then we have a legitimate shot at winning another playoff game playing for the right to go back to the SB! Is it likely, probably not, but Iā€™d love to see my team prove me wrong AGAIN!!

  13. Citrus County Says:

    I can’t believe that this site as a whole and that includes the Joes doesn’t object to the things Dave Pear has said to a certain lady poster and regular here. Blasphemy and lewdness is inappropriate. Say something Joe.

  14. BakerFan Says:

    Yeah, Baker does not know how to read coverages….. he just called the shot like Babe Ruth did…. Be ready Chris…. TOUCHDOWN

  15. m milligan Says:

    OMG, give it a rest NE, You’re so FOS and we’ve heard all this before. Proves u don’t know sht.
    Will need to duplicate the D effort on Goff, nothing to lose, blitz the sht out of him, Lions D line may be able to get pressure a little better than eagles.
    Bottom line, they’re rolling and feel like they can play with anyone.
    GO BUCS
    So we win and packers win, are we back home for the Championship?
    I thinks so

  16. NaplesBucsFan Says:

    Letā€™s face it, the Rams were a couple plays short of coming away with a win in Detroit after they held the mighty lions to just 3 pts in the 2nd half. Hell, had the refs did their job and called the jersey hold o Nacua before they punted it away, we could have had a home game this week. So donā€™t act like the Lions are an unstoppable team without weaknesses.
    I was wrong about our Bucs last night and I look forward to them proving me wrong again Sunday at 3:00

  17. Whyarewelikethis Says:

    NEfan youā€™re such a loser bro I swear lol

  18. NaplesBucsFan Says:

    M Milliganā€¦HELL YES WE ARE BACK HOME, if the Bucs and Packers winā€¦Iā€™m a huge Packers fan again this weekend.
    I thoroughly enjoyed watching the Pack kick the Cowgirl butts last weekendšŸ˜

  19. Not Says:

    @NEFan,
    the whole community is not talking about Philly tanking.
    Give me a break, nutter with conspiracy theory, you think the majority of these players who have pride and big egos are going to purposely look bad ?
    What a dumb azz !!!
    Jason Kelce quit ? Right,
    any player with a contract year , quitter ? right .
    Brown, Smith, Swift, you think any of them are going to lay down for a playoff game.
    You need to stop gi-zzing on pics of belicheat.

  20. m milligan Says:

    Pack will remember that same kind of arse kicking we just delivered.
    HELL YEAH, GO BUCS
    THEN WE’LL GO AND KICK MAHOMES ASS

  21. realistic-optimistic Says:

    That pass was ill-advised. It was the most Winston-like prayer he’s thrown all season. Very lucky. But it worked.

    Baker and this defense need to keep showing up. DET won’t be rolling over like PHI did. If the Bucs show up with the same effort next week it’ll be a dogfight.

  22. maccafan Says:

    NE fan – Win or lose, Bowles will be enamored with Mayfield. Baker saved Bowles job by helping Bucs win the division and WC playoff game. I am pretty sure that is above expectations of what 90% of people thought the Bucs would achieve this year after Brady retired. If Bucs had a 4-13 type season, Bowles IMO would have been fired.Ā 

  23. Bucfan1988 Says:

    Did anyone see Bowles press conference today w Bucs media??

    Funny situation came up with a new female reporter that I didnā€™t recognizeā€¦..

    She was asking Todd if he was worried about the players being able to get acclimated to the extreme cold in Detroit for the upcoming game this weekendā€¦

    Bowles response: You do know we are playing in a dome right, LMAO????

    Absolutely hilarious šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚

  24. m milligan Says:

    Guys, don’t even acknowledge or respond to these idiots. You know who they are. Put it out of your head and comment on true fan’s posts and perspective.
    These fers are bad news and bad for the team.

  25. m milligan Says:

    Guys, don’t even acknowledge or respond to these idiots. You know who they are. Put it out of your head and comment on true fan’s posts and perspective.
    These fers are bad news and bad for the team.

    Respectfully

  26. Gipper Says:

    realistic-optimistic Says:
    January 16th, 2024 at 5:22 pm
    That pass was ill-advised. It was the most Winston-like prayer heā€™s thrown all season. Very lucky. But it worked.
    ———
    C’mon man, it was 3rd and 7 late in 4Q. Game was out of reach. Guys just having some fun.

  27. m milligan Says:

    Cover 0, that what a pro does, guess he’s seen it a time or 2, wonder how Trask would have done there.

  28. Beeej Says:

    Baker had concluded that pass to Godwin was going to be single coverage, a risk he would take with Evans or Godwin

  29. stpetebucfan Says:

    “The whole NFL community is talking about how much the Eagles team dislikes their coachā€™s and Hurts and what a tank last nightā€™s game was.”

    Waaaaa Waaaa NE you’re posting like a real loser now!

    There’s a Zen saying that goes, “You see where you place your attention”. As a losing NE Fan you wish to avoid placing your attention on the FACT that Belichik is a LOSING coach with two different franchises for a DECADE when he didn’t have Brady!!! See how that works. You can place your attention on BB’s horrible record without Brady like me…or you can place it on the six SB’s Brady brought him. But I’m not going on any Patriot blogs to dump on their parade or add to their misery of the past Brady free years with the fat dumpster HC.

    You can look at the Buc’s positives or their negatives just like you can ANY other team in the NFL. You wish to focus on the negatives. Many of us here then become focused on what a disturbed individual…OK apologies that was too strong…unhappy person to feel a need to embarrass themselves by pooping in other kids sandboxes. WTF motivates you N.E. I get Rod’s motivation, David is out there somewhere…but you have a brain yet for some reason have squandered it. I’m honestly curious.

    Someone earlier criticized those of us for engaging trolls. I agree when it comes to David and some others but you are different. This is NOT about football opinions for you anymore.

    Review the Zen saying and ask yourself what makes you so desperate to pizzz in our Wheaties. Perhaps just old fashioned envy? Perhaps you feel we didn’t appreciate your boy St. Tommy enough for that second SB?

    It has NOTHING to do with football opinions because your’s clash with virtually every coach, pundit, or knowledgeable person following the game. And I KNOW that in your heart and your obvious intellect you KNOW as well. Confession is good for the soul.

    Nobody denies that the Eagles are in shambles! You bring up AJ Brown. That’s like bringng up AB. AJ is as bad…he’s shoved people in Seattle and like a typical arrogant WR prima donna he engaged in a very public sideline fight with his QB for lack of touches!!!! A real asset eh? This is why I beotch about character. Great talent is super unless a malignant personality is combined.
    The Eagles did NOT THROW the game. They self destructed because of some arrogant egos.

    Contrast the Bucs. When their two “player problems” this season…DW45 and CG14 how did that work out? Bowles handled both situations deftly…Sirianni did not!!!

  30. Citrus County Says:

    NO. Our society has become numb and tolerant of bad behavior. We can’t just ignore bad people and hope they go away. They must be called out for indecency and disrespect. The good people must stand up. Strong people should not be pushed around by weak people.

  31. m milligan Says:

    pizzz in our Wheaties LMAO

  32. NE Fan Says:

    Stp@ am I suppose to read that? This is a blog not your monolog. Geez, lighten up Francis.

  33. heyjude Says:

    “He’s down there somewhere.”

    Love it! That made me laugh so hard. So happy to see the team having fun again. Go Bucs!

  34. UKBuccaneer Says:

    Thatā€™s my QB!

  35. Jeffs grandpa Says:

    She just canā€™t let go and sheā€™s taking it out on baker since her sweetheart Brady/belichick are gone her pats go back to being the bottom of the barrel

  36. optimisticbucsfan Says:

    Some team is going to offer Baker $40 mill a yr

    Heā€™s not taking a huge discount for generational money.

    He was here a yr and not a draft pick of the Bucs.

    He owes us NOTHING!

    Wake the F up people. SMDH

    Ridiculous. Freaking pay the man!

  37. BakerFan Says:

    optimisticbucsfan Says:
    January 16th, 2024 at 6:04 pm
    Some team is going to offer Baker $40 mill a yr

    Heā€™s not taking a huge discount for generational money.
    ……………………………………………………………………………..
    Optimistic, I agree. This could be his one and only chance to cash in. People say give Bucs a reduce rate….. HE DID, this year. He bet on himself and he won. If Tampa does not pay him someone else will. If he plays well on Sunday then I agree with the $40Mil range.

    Don’t hate the player this is the Game that the NFL and the collective bargaining agreement has came up with.

  38. Bring back the lawn chairs Says:

    5 years 200 for mayfield. Sounds about rite. Spo-trac has him getting 17 a year. But that ainā€™t rite. I donā€™t see a problem here. Lock up a 28 year old for 5 years in his primeā€¦ no brainer. I understand there are many uneducated toothless inbreds on this site that canā€™t count that high, but licht will get it.

  39. #99 the big fella Says:

    NE fan , You are pathetic. You couldnā€™t compliment baker on his performance. You instead have to bring your usual bs negativity. Please go away you are getting very stale.

  40. m milligan Says:

    With u guys, Buc’s will throw Evans in on deal, hopefully others, these 30 something D guys are a hard sell, 2-3 yrs max
    I’d go 4 yrs on BM, 2-3 on evans, Kick white to the curb. I don’t know, play the team card, he’d be down with that. Got to have a trigger man, and he’s as sharp as anyone in the league when it comes to smarts, (video).
    Man, these lethal wide recievers coming out in droves, Harrison Jr 1rst pic, Picking them easier than picking trigger man.

  41. m milligan Says:

    Looks like we may have 2-3 pretty good junior speed burner WO’s on roster and kicking as last night. Evan’s, glorified tight end, got wheels, smart, keep him on
    Godwin to and call it good. Get O and D line guys………………………………….

  42. orlbucfan Says:

    Thank you for the supportive shoutout, Citrus County. I also agree with stpete regarding the yahoos on here. My main blog is a political one, so I have a tough writing hide. šŸ™‚ What more can I say about BM? What a feisty, fiery, fearless team player he is. You can see the happy, excited respect he gets from his boys after Godzillaā€™s score. Amazing. I love it as a genuine Bucs fan. I remember the Dark Ages of Bucdom. I would not wear a bag over my head nor stop being a fan. I gotta say, how sweet it is, and Go Bucs!

  43. MadMax Says:

    3 years 100 mill

  44. Bring back the lawn chairs Says:

    @madmax. 3 years 100, or 5 years 200 is basically the same thing with inflation kicking in as it is these days. But weā€™re on the same planet. The big selling point in Florida is the weather, the water, and no freegin state taxes, no municipal taxes too. Itā€™s an easy sell that puts states like New York way behind the 8- ball because they have to offer so much more contractually to equal the same take home money.

  45. Captain Dan Lawrence Says:

    Some of you tards will find a reason to complain about Baker even if he wins the Superbowl! Go BUCS!

  46. Since76 Says:

    Mayfield needs to put a string of good games together to get that 40mil yr. The longest string of good games he put together were 2. They were good ones and I don’t need to name the teams because everyone knows the 2. This is 1 game after 2 very bad games. Can we let him prove he can be consistent before they pay him like he’s consistent. Before the haters say anything negative why not make a case where he’s put consistency out there. In saying that that was a great game by the entire team. If Baker played like that even 50% of the time I’de already be all in. Let’s let him show us he can be consistent. Not occasional. He played a great game.

  47. BelleGladeBuc Says:

    Sign Baker for a TB12 like contract in 5 years for $180-200 million.

    Licht can figure out the details.

    No state income taxes and the ability to resign ME13, Winfield and Wirfs.

    TB12 realized that football is the ultimate team game, and good teams have good players and good players cost money.

  48. Buckeyebuckchuck Says:

    Sometimes i think people forget these are a lot of young guys and they sort of enjoy having fun while they work. Yeah they want to win but they aren’t friggin robots

  49. m milligan Says:

    Thx 76, we recognize u.
    Otton starting to show thx to Canales getting head out of arse.
    Evan would still take otton in 100
    Request race from whole team and lets c what w got. FUN

  50. BakerFan Says:

    Chance that Cleveland would let Nick Chubb go because of salary cap issues. He and Baker are best friends. Maybe he would take a salary friendly deal to reunite with Baker.

    Little off subject, but resigning Baker will bring good players to the team that know about Baker and his leadership skills.

  51. Rod Munch Says:

    realistic-optimistic Says:
    January 16th, 2024 at 5:22 pm
    That pass was ill-advised. It was the most Winston-like prayer heā€™s thrown all season. Very lucky. But it worked.

    ——-

    When you have ALL-PRO wide receivers, this is literally, exactly, what you should do when it’s one-on-one, in particular against the 31st rank pass defense.

    If someone is one on one, trust your WR to make a play, just put it up and let your guy catch it, or knock it down.

    That was a fantastic trait of Winston, and he mainly did that with Evans, and I literally only ever remember it ending badly once, and that was vs the Cards in Patrick Peterson made an amazing catch as Evans fought him for the ball. I’ll take that aggressiveness any day of the week over a QB who holds the ball forever or dumps everything off for 1 yard on 3rd and 12.

  52. Marine Buc Says:

    The Bucs need to use the “transition tag” on Baker in 2024.

    $31M for one more “prove it” season…

    Franchise and transition tenders are calculated by adding the respective tag numbers, divided by the sum of the salary caps, from the previous five seasons, and finally multipled by the current season’s salary cap. Franchise tag figures are based upon the top five salaries at each respective position, while transition tag figures are based on the top ten.

  53. m milligan Says:

    Guys, signing out, got Dick Munch and and Marine, yes Marine 50+ post on BM not being able to throw 10 yds, Munch, DR 4-13, BM out by 5th game. Thanks for your support but no thanks, in fact, FO, looks like BM got n ur Arse last night
    LMAO

  54. Jack Clark Says:

    NE Fan Says:
    January 16th, 2024 at 5:02 pm
    Letā€™s see how enamored he is next week. The whole NFL community is talking about how much the Eagles team dislikes their coachā€™s and Hurts and what a tank last nightā€™s game was.

    ^^^
    NE Boy, I understand why you’re so angry and bitter now. It’s because you were never a real Patriots fan and now you feel like you’ve lost everything. You were always on the Patriot bandwagon and now that Brady and Belichick are gone you have nothing left to hold on to anymore šŸ˜‚. You even fled the Patriots community like a refugee to insert yourself in our Bucs community where you are not welcome. It’s truly pathetic and I feel sorry for you. I hope you find a football community that accepts you and move on from here to a better life.

  55. optimisticbucsfan Says:

    @marine – No way. I get why you think we should but the guy went out and proved his worth.

    Too many people are stuck on Evans retiring as a Buc.

    Only casual fans care about that crap.

    Business first and Evans is EASILY the odd man out.

    No way am I giving a 31 WR $20-25 mill a yr for 3/4 yrs.

    Hell naw. Pay Baker.

  56. realistic-optimistic Says:

    @Rod, compared to what the Bucs were getting from prior QBs, Winston was a revelation. He was always pushing the ball downfield. Before him, our QBs rarely threw 20 yard completions. Winston did it regularly. I didn’t like his prayer throws, but he sure knew how to give Mike a chance on jump balls. However, he had so many turnovers, both INTs and fumbles. He killed this team with his giveaways.

  57. BelleGladeBuc Says:

    Mike Evans was targeted the most by Baker for 136 times, he made 79 receptions for 1255 yards and 13 TDā€™s.

    If you allow ME13 to go in free agency who replaces that level of production on our team for the Bucs?

    ME13 = Michael Irvin

    Godwin = Alvin Harper

    Irvin was successful with Harper and without him.

    ME13 was successful before Godwin. Godwin has never been without ME13.

  58. David Says:

    Dave Pear Says:
    January 16th, 2024 at 4:55 pm
    Davood and the Trask mob can digest that and put their face in it.

    Then Oralyucfan can say ā€œRah Rah,ā€ wave her Pom poms, and have no idea why.

    Bucs fans,
    Now you can examine yourself why I call Baker fans “trash”.
    Also here we go again, he beats on a busted trash playoff team and his trash fans screaming to resign him now for 4 yr. $150 -$200M

    I go on record now and predict that Baker is due and will play like the trash he is. I hope not though. Why ? Bucs will get blown out if does. I will support him if he starts beating a good team more than once in regular season let alone in playoffs.

  59. optimisticbucsfan Says:

    You can’t sign Evans, Wirfs, Winfield and Baker

    The money isn’t there.

    Let’s put emotions aside…tell me honestly…

    Rank them in order of impoirtance.

  60. optimisticbucsfan Says:

    Someone is going to pay Mike a lot of money

    It won’t be us

  61. 74 Bucs Fan Says:

    BakerFan Says:
    January 16th, 2024 at 7:31 pm
    Chance that Cleveland would let Nick Chubb go because of salary cap issues. He and Baker are best friends. Maybe he would take a salary friendly deal to reunite with Baker.

    ā€”ā€”ā€”ā€”ā€”ā€”ā€”ā€”ā€”ā€”ā€”ā€”ā€”ā€”ā€”-

    Whoa – now that would be sweet!

  62. 74 Bucs Fan Says:

    Hey David – oh never mind.

  63. Defense Rules Says:

    optimisticbucsfan … ‘You canā€™t sign Evans, Wirfs, Winfield and Baker. The money isnā€™t there.’

    I agree, but don’t limit it to those 4. Add in LVD & McLaughlin as a minimum. Pretty sure we’re not gonna re-sign Devin White, so do we really want to not re-sign LVD also & do away with ALL our ILB experience? And Chase is the best kicker we’ve probably ever had. No way Licht & Bowles will let him get away.

    Spotrac Market Values as of right now:

    o Mike Evans – $23.8 mil
    o Tristan Wirfs – $25.6 mil
    o Antoine Winfield – $18.5 mil
    o Baker Mayfield – $27.1 mil
    o Lavonte David – $4.5 mil (this year’s salary)
    o Chase McLaughlin – $5.0 mil (top kickers make between $4 – $6 mil per year now).

    That totals to $104.5 mil for just those 6 players. Bucs currently have 34 players under contract, and using Spotrac’s projected 2024 salary CAP (adjusted for the Bucs) we have $48.7 left to sign 19 players (plus others to the Practice Squad, etc). Not hard to do the math … we’re at least $1 short.

  64. Jmarkbuc Says:

    MarineBuc

    Can you tag a free agent?

  65. Conner50 Says:

    @optimisticbucsfan
    Mike Evans is a hall of fame wr that produces no matter whoā€™s throwing the ball to him. Baker would have never put up the numbers he did without Evans, if you think any wr in the draft or free agency for cheaper than Mike will produce like him youā€™re crazy. Baker still imo isnā€™t worth 30 plus million a year, he will probably get it but heā€™s not worth it unless he goes on to the Super Bowl. I like baker and Iā€™m glad heā€™s playing at a high level currently but worth 30 plus? No. The market is screwed up and the nfl allowed it so he will probably get it, I mean look at Dak he got it and heā€™s way overrated. Sign Evans if you sign baker.

  66. m milligan Says:

    I like Evans, 2-3 yr contract, all got to take pay cut for team Bucs, Wirfs not gonna a get a long term contract. to many guys out there, lineman are like wide outs, DBs hardest position to draft
    We’re good on TE’s to.

  67. m milligan Says:

    How’d u like to cover evans, can take u deep, even though bad game Sunday, cut it over the middle, catches it top side and take punishment or just spread that 6’5″ frame out and get it for the first. Got to say, Godwin plays alot like evans,
    Gone to just backing into DBs to get the yards after catch, Smart

  68. optimisticbucsfan Says:

    Fans too emotional.

    Evans and White are goners.

    You only have X to spend. Godwin can’t be traded or released because of his reworked deals. Wirfs is a top 3 OL in the NFL. LOL. Winfield? Top 3 at his position. WRs are closer to RBs to replace than those 2 positions.

    E$vans will be playing for another team next yr.

    The sooner you get it through your casual fan heads the easier it will be…lol.

    This is a QB league. Period. Baker is getting paid FIRST.

    Baker>wirfs>winfield>evans

    Y’all take your midol. Geez.

  69. m milligan Says:

    I like Palmer and Moore, apoligize think I called Moore / Hart all season LMAO,
    Isn’t he the guy that came from Seattle also

  70. beeej Says:

    Dak has a SIXTY MILLION cap hit next year. I think we can pay Baker $25-$30

  71. Marky Mark Says:

    The first Lions game could have been different if that pass had not been tipped. Evans had the whole field open in front of him.

  72. lanshark Says:

    Buc’s need to draft Jordan Travis from FSU in the late rounds, just to give the Traskite’s heartburn.

    As for Baker, he’s learned that money isn’t everything… having fun playing ball counts for a lot with him. He will have a GREAT career as a sportscaster once he’s done, and he’s got plenty of opportunities for cashing out with endorsements, etc. I don’t see him trying to break the bank – he’ll want to be paid fairly, but on this scale, he’s more like Tom Brady – leave some cash on the table for his teammates. We’ll see.

    For Baker, it’s more about respect than money.

  73. m milligan Says:

    Marky, remember that play, walk in TD for sure, after about 50 yds LOL
    Had them burned
    They play like last night, they;ll be in the game

  74. optimisticbucsfan Says:

    Baker lost a ton of money to his dad/brother who ripped him off.

    If anyone is thinking he’s going to go cheap…you’re a total moron.

    Sorry, but you have no clue what you are talking about.

    SMDH. You people think he’s going to take a fake hometown discount are flat out morons. Embarrassing.

  75. Trask Cult Leader Says:

    Start Trask!

  76. Dave Pear Says:

    Davdud must live a hard life, parents being brother and sister and all, being kept locked in the basement and held as a secret from the world. No wonder he hates a guy who has scrapped up from the ashes and is the darling of his team, more popular as ā€œa dudeā€ than Brady was. Donā€™t worry, Davdud, thereā€™s probably another secret family member locked in your same basement. Maybe you can go meet her and actually have a friend to share something in common with.

    Your inbred nature explains everything about your incoherence. Itā€™s ok. Drink some mouthwash .

  77. Gotti-Dog-05-20-84 Says:

    I keep seeing people include Wirfs when talking about players to resign this off season……my understanding is that he’s signed thru the 2024 season for a little over $18m on his fifth year option. While they may very well choose to extend him if it will lower his cap hit, it’s not necessary until after next season.

  78. BillyBucco Says:

    NE Fan making lame azz excuses for why Tampa won is EPIC.
    NOBODY on this site likes you, and your takes are ignorant.
    Your team sucks, yet you made early comparisons to the Bucs who have now won a playoff game. Your coach is gone, your lover is gone.
    Blue balls hurt donā€™t they?

  79. heyjude Says:

    beeej Says: “Dak has a SIXTY MILLION cap hit next year. I think we can pay Baker $25-$30.”

    Absolutely agree. Pay him, or else another team will.

  80. Tony marks Says:

    Bring back the lawn chairs Says:
    January 16th, 2024 at 6:18 pm
    5 years 200 for mayfield. Sounds about rite. Spo-trac has him getting 17 a year. But that ainā€™t rite. I donā€™t see a problem here. Lock up a 28 year old for 5 years in his primeā€¦ no brainer.

    ———–

    You Know I am a Baker fan but

    Thats a lot of Money

    As a Bucs fan I’d rather franchise tag him or drop the cash with some realistic and generous incentives

    PLus 40 mill with a state that has income tax is already down into the 30s in real pay with florida which has none and you also have to factor in endorsement money income tax as wel.

  81. Defense Rules Says:

    optimisticbucsfan … ‘This is a QB league. Period. Baker is getting paid FIRST. Baker>wirfs>winfield>evans.’

    Wow, never saw that coming Optimistic. None of us know right now what the Bucs are thinking along those lines (they probably don’t even know), but I’d go Wirfs>Winfield>Evans>Mayfield.

    Rationale is simple. Bucs don’t have (nor will have) the money to pay all 4. Wirfs is a beast, and he’s rapidly becoming the leader of the OLine. Winfield is a beast, and he’s rapidly becoming the leader of the defense. Evans is a beast (even though he 30), and without him our offense would take a huge step backwards (and Mayfield NEEDS him big-time).

    We’ll make Baker an offer to be sure, but others have a LOT more salary CAP $$$ available than we do (Falcons are his most likely next home IMO). Baker will go where the money is. I for one don’t blame him one bit.

  82. realistic-optimistic Says:

    <blockquote m milligan says:

    Wirfs not gonna a get a long term contract. to many guys out there, lineman are like wide outs
    Say you don’t really understand football without saying it. smh

  83. realistic-optimistic Says:

    Guys like Wirfs don’t grow on trees. He isn’t going anywhere. Licht will franchise tag him twice if he has to.

  84. D Cone Says:

    Timing is everything. Having a prove it year that allows a QB to finish in the top ten when a hand full of Premier QB’s are on the bench injured worked well.

    When defenses don’t break up the timing of pass routes that works well too.

    Two Super Bowl QB’s ranked the QB’s in the divisional round and Mayfield was ranked 8th.
    Love and Shroud were ranked just above him. For that matter there are QB’s like Ridder @ ATL that when you factor out the rookie mistakes played just as well as Mayfield in stretches.

    As there are rookies and first year starters performing well teams are not going to want to throw big money Mayfield’s way and certainly not long term.
    With Garoppolo having a modest $ left on his deal with the Raiders he will have a greater demand being proven and having been to a Super Bowl.

    Doubt Mayfield will go to ATL because if Belechick goes to the Falcons he may bring Jimmy G in to start and Groom Ridder.

    In any case there is a good chance Tampa will drop back to the 3rd best in the South even with the Boy wonder next season.

    Hopefully the offense can stay on time this weekend and look respectable.

    Things happen in 3’s. Cowboys and Phillys Defense didn’t show up and maybe the Lions lay down for the Bucs. Having a Coach with 10x’s the Moxie I doubt it. If injuries threaten the team that SOB will strap up at halftime.

  85. Conner50 Says:

    Saying Wirfs is replaceable shows how much you lack football knowledge. Dude is the best tackle in the game imo, top 3 in everyone elseā€™s category so yea you donā€™t let that guy go anywhere.

  86. BakerFan Says:

    Wirfs is not a free agent until 2025 so urgency to sign him to a long term can be kicked down to 2026 if need be. They can franchise tag him aftr 2025, if need be.

    Just wondering why everyone keeps throwing him into the mix to do this year?

  87. CJBucsFan Says:

    NE Fan. Go somewhere and comment on your teams crap. No room here. Fake ass. Terrible, negative, unhappy person.

  88. orlbucfan Says:

    Whaaat? Has the season ended already? Last I looked, Bucs are going to Motown to battle the Lions. Can we calm down all the off-season talk for now?

  89. Marine Buc Says:

    @ Jmark

    Well we franchise tagged Godwin twice when he was a free agent so I believe so…

  90. Scoobe Says:

    Seems to be a trend here. Everytime the bucks beat a team they are not supposed to, it’s always that the other team sucks. Remember Green Bay sucks? Their defense sux after Bakers perfect passer rating. They are still in the playoffs too. Hmm.

  91. Marine Buc Says:

    @ DR

    Don’t forget the Bucs have about $50M-$55M they can pull from restructuring contracts.

    – Dean
    – Davis
    – Vea
    – Nelson
    – Godwin

    Also – Wirfs is NOT a free agent. He is scheduled to make @ $18.2M and he can be restructured as well – although – I would like to see them give him a five year extension.

    Yes – the cap will be tight in 2024 – HOWEVER – it is possible for the Bucs to get it done as long as they continue kicking that cap can…

    Plus – there will be a few more mil available after we cut Gage, Jenson and possibly Shaq B.

    So the Bucs could have the resources available to re-sign most of our FAs – however they will need to kick the dead cap can further down the road…

  92. BAKERSBucs says Says:

    Realistic-optimstic says what r u talking bout
    A

  93. BAKERSBucs says Says:

    Did u not listen to hot mic before the throw that was pre planned he came back a bit to get but he was the only 1 able to catch that pass with a hurried throw from rush in baker face. baker knew it was coming don’t u people pay attention I never understand when media says veteran qb when he is only 28 omg that makes me feel like 1 foot in the grave at 60

  94. BAKERSBucs says Says:

    Kick the dead cap money down the road hum! does that sound like anyone we know (our gov)

  95. BAKERSBucs says Says:

    Rcone says r u from the movie planet the cone heads cause u r a real bone head

  96. BAKERSBucs says Says:

    D cone says my last post was for u I got u r post name confused with a real bone head U

  97. BAKERSBucs says Says:

    Conner 50 says baker iss not worth 30mill it’s cause Evans made his stats better let’s remember how many sure td’s Mike Evans dropped on baker this year including eagles playoff those drops were as bad as any I’ve seen this was a bit of a problem this season bakers ‘ wudx have better way better with just having only half the drops were completed

  98. optimisticbucsfan Says:

    @marine – The team has to get out from under this dead cap crap eventually. Otherwise, you’ll handicap the team for YEARS AND YEARS. Always behind the 8 ball. For what? They aren’t gonna win any SBs anytime soon. Just band-aid after band-aid. No thanks. Baker EARNED a shot and a big contract. Evans EARNED the right to be a free agent. Someone, not us, will pay him what he wants. I value a QB over a WR any day of the week.

  99. Beeej Says:

    We saved a LOT of money by moving Wirfs to LT–LT’s (decent ones anyway) inVARIABLY make at least $10-$15 million anyway, and we were already gonna have to pay Wirfs $20 million to play RT. Now, we got a cheap player at RT for the next few years

  100. BelleGladeBuc Says:

    Wirfs will command a Laremy Tunsil like LT contract north of $25 million.