Peter King Toasts Baker Mayfield
January 8th, 2024
Re-sign him, Jason Licht.
That’s the directive for the Bucs’ personnel shot-caller from no less an authority than dishwasher etiquette-instructing, redshirt-quarterback-annoyed, anti-public-pot-smoking, cognac-splurging, clock-shopping, Olympics-flag-football-frowning, Concrete Mixer-spilling, Mother Jones-reading, airport-pianist-listening, Twitter-revolting, Purdue-basketball-confused, combine-fatigued, Bavarian-pretzel-chomping, teeth-brushing, haircut-fascinated, Circa-bewildered, elf-rattled, green-lawns-frowning, soggy-socks-wearing, Daylight-Savings-Time-scared, crossword-puzzle-puzzled, Elon-Musk-peeved, Barstool-Sports-triggered, almond-milk-sipping, hot-dog-eating-contest-protesting, mock-draft-scowling, L.L.-Bean-wearing, tennis fans’ advocate, Second Amendment abolitionist, Mike-Florio-arguing, parrot-insensitive, chewing-with-his-mouth-open, soup-gulping, California-train-romancing, anti-football proliferation, outhouse-admiring, airline-napping, steerage-flying, Yogi Berra-worshiping, urinal-picture-taking, video-game-playing, Taylor-Swift-listening, pickpocket-thwarting, Bucs-uniform-frowning, Allie LaForce-smitten, Big-Ten-Network-hating, pedestrian-bumping, olive oil-lapping, popcorn-munching, coffee-slurping, fried-chicken-eating, oatmeal-loving, circle-jerking, craft-beer-chugging, cricket-watching, scone-loathing, college football-naïve, baseball-box-score-reading, NPR-honk, filthy-hotel-staying, fight-instigating, barista-training, Budweiser-tolerant, baseball-scorecard-keeping, pasta-feasting, vomit-dodging scrooge, Kay-Adams-following, Coors-Light-souring, pineapple-upside-down-cake-eating social activist and NFL insider Peter King, of NBC Sports fame.
In his weekly (unless it’s Christmas or the summer when he cannot otherwise be bothered) missive for Pro Football Talk, King praised the quarterback he scoffed about when he signed with the Bucs, Baker Mayfield. King also toasted Mayfield and said he deserves a new deal in Tampa.
Back in the spring, King believed Mayfield’s signing was nothing more than a bridge, a one-year gap-filler for the Bucs until they could draft one of the covey of quarterbacks expected to be selected in April’s draft.
Alas, Mayfield surprised many with his season, leading the Bucs to a franchise-best third-straight division title. Now, King doesn’t believe Mayfield is a bridge.
Joe strongly believes Mayfield should get “Comeback Player of the Year.” But Joe knows how the folks who vote for that award are wired and think (click on King’s column for evidence). So Joe believes that Denny Damar Hamlin of Buffalo will get the award. Hey, it’s a tremendous story that Hamlin rose from the dead on a football field to continue his career.
Great story. Only Hamlin’s story is a human interest story, not a football story. Dude has two tackles all season — two! As world-renowned JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman would say, “Comeback from what?”
No, Mayfield is much more deserving of the award.
Has Mayfield earned a new pact with the Bucs? Of course. That still wouldn’t stop Joe from drafting, say, Michael Penix or Bo Nix. Mayfield’s career has been a roller coaster.
Joe has no issue with a rookie quarterback sitting like Jordan Love and others have done. If Mayfield continues to ball out, then that young QB becomes an awesome trade chip.
January 8th, 2024 at 10:47 am
Gotta sign him although I hope we don’t use first round pick on qb if we sign him. Keep building around him. Specifically in the trenches! We’re a 9 win team that could have easily, like really easily, (houston & atlanta) been an 11 win team. Keep building!
January 8th, 2024 at 10:50 am
If comeback player of the year is really about what youve done on the field, Mayfield absolutely deserves it.
January 8th, 2024 at 10:52 am
This rarely happens, but I agree with Peter King, Baker deserves a few more years. He is gritty, the team loves him, and he plays with a chip on his shoulder (like he has his entire college QB career) and he is out to prove all of the nay sayers wrong. Let’s give him a few more years. With more time in system and with more talent added in coming years, I don’t see why we can’t win with him.
January 8th, 2024 at 11:09 am
I’m good with signing Mayfield and we already have a high-round QB backing him up.
How about let’s draft the meanest, nastiest C/G available in round 1 and a stud TE in round 2 and a bruiser RB in round 3….
Time to feed the offense in the draft.
January 8th, 2024 at 11:13 am
Like I said from the very beginning. The Bucs lucked out getting Baker. Sign him to a Team Friendly deal and draft a young QB. The Future looks Bright! Go Bucs!
January 8th, 2024 at 11:13 am
Mayfield will be courted by other teams, but I trust Licht to find a way to re-sign him. The dirty birds and kitties could make an offer.
January 8th, 2024 at 11:25 am
I like Baker hope they re-sign him but I hope he isn’t like some of our player who get big deals then turn into crap like Dean and………….
January 8th, 2024 at 11:29 am
If…huge if…you can get him at $100 mill over 3 years you do it tomorrow.
Baker is going to get PAID. And paid like a top ten QB.
IMHO, he’ll get closer to $40 mill a season.
January 8th, 2024 at 11:35 am
Center guard first round? Who?IOL go in later rounds, there are very few that go in the first round.
January 8th, 2024 at 11:38 am
A good offensive line makes every quarterback looks so much better
January 8th, 2024 at 11:45 am
I like your thinking TampaBayBucFan, but my order would be slightly different
FA – G (proven), RB (power) assuming we can afford them
Draft in order – DE, TE, C, S, LB, CB (Assumes we re-sign Winfield, Evans, LVD, Baker and McLaughlin)
Other thoughts – Trade back 5 positions in the first round if the value isn’t there for an extra 3rd and 5th rd pick.
January 8th, 2024 at 11:51 am
Now I’m starting to think baker will get comeback player of the year. They already shafted Winfield, I can’t imagine them being dumb enough to shaft two of the teams players and being even more spotlight to us
January 8th, 2024 at 11:51 am
I’d really rather talk about the Wild Card round next weekend, but if we’re thinking about the future, I say definitely resign Baker, draft a stud defensive player in the first round (edge LB or inside LB) then use the rest of the draft to bring in inside offensive linemen, a running back, and a true slot receiver.
January 8th, 2024 at 12:03 pm
How about drafting a fullback, and kick returner? Did those positions become extinct? This is all hot air. We gotta win on MNF first.
January 8th, 2024 at 12:18 pm
A wink and a nod to Joe.
January 8th, 2024 at 12:20 pm
I like Baker. But I never see us in another sb with baker. Call me a hater. Until he beats a playoff team. That isnt the dog sh*t Steelers when he was on the browns. The Steelers are no eagles. Change my narrative idc how you do it. Beat the eagles. I’ll change my tune.
January 8th, 2024 at 12:23 pm
We need a corner. You said it yourself Jose, somewhere else and many times over. The Bucs are one of the worst pass defenses in the league and a top notch corner is the best cure.
January 8th, 2024 at 12:37 pm
C’mon Joe, airport piano players that like pineapple upside down cake can’t be all that bad. I don’t think Peter King would know a good cake if he ate one.
January 8th, 2024 at 12:43 pm
Watch Baker mess around and get a superbowl ring with bucs
January 8th, 2024 at 1:13 pm
We already have a highly drafted QB waiting in the wings.
January 8th, 2024 at 1:15 pm
It would be stupid to draft another one, while at the same time never giving the current back-up a chance to show what he has. If Trask is that bad, cut him
January 8th, 2024 at 1:23 pm
I’ve said it all along, Mayfield’s a top-half quarterback. Till you can get a top-eight quarterback why debate it at all? Mayfield’s the low-mileage used car of the NFL. Just fine for most teams. You might be a tight A like the munch, you have to admit that Mayfield brings the show to every game. He’s always in a game and something wild almost always happens And that goes all the way back to his college days. He’s must-see TV.
January 8th, 2024 at 1:27 pm
Joe:
Comeback player of the year will be “Joe Flacco”… you heard it here first.
January 8th, 2024 at 1:55 pm
“Continues to ball out” he really balled out the last two games didn’t he?
January 8th, 2024 at 2:11 pm
It’s amazing how much the Bucs get ignored by media especially ESPN.
Without a doubt Baker is the comeback player of the year, after all the media had already thrown dirt on him before his first snap and trash talking they did on how bad the Bucs will be, with most predictions had Bucs winning 4 games, hands down Baker is this year’s NFL Comeback Player of the Year, and if there was a grit and tough as nails award dude would have that too.
January 8th, 2024 at 2:16 pm
I agree with Ianshark. Flacco deserves it, as he was really out of the game for a while. I think Baker should be re-signed with triple his current salary so we can keep our other great players. I don’t think (for money) he will want to jump ship.
January 8th, 2024 at 3:31 pm
Baker is not re-signing for 15 million.
It will be in the 25-33 million range 2 years guaranteed, on a minimum 3 year contract.Th3 league has already set the bar for players of his caliber. The bar doesn’t get lowered just because it’s Baker Mayfield who was written off.
January 8th, 2024 at 4:58 pm
137 yards with no touchdowns and against a 2-14 team and we won 9-0 but y’all rather to resnig a him lol 🤣🤣 ok go ahead and watch next year y’all will be saying it was a bad singing. We will be Ryan Tanahill and the Titans, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Todd Bowles with the Jets. And Cleveland Browns and Watson, Derick Carr and saints and Kirk Cousins and the Vikings. And it’s going to set the team back .
January 8th, 2024 at 5:54 pm
You peoplle keep conveniently forgetting that the Carolina Panthers were 3rd against the Pass in the NFL. Mayfield would have had more yards if they weren’t trying to run down the clock. You people are the most unknowledgeable football fans I’ve ever encountered.
Let’s say for arguments sake that Mayfield is in the Top 50% of NFL QBs. WHy do you think Trask second rounder would be more elite?
January 8th, 2024 at 6:18 pm
I would not believe anything Peter King writes going forward. This guy knows nothing about football.
January 8th, 2024 at 6:20 pm
I’ve done a complete 180 on Baker Mayfield.
He’s won me over.
I was sitting in the study one evening last spring when I saw the news that we’d signed him. The house was quiet and there were very few lights on. I read the story and let out a great big loud “are you f–ckin’ sh!ttin’ me???”
My housemates all came running to see what was going on, lol.
I was incredulous. I couldn’t believe it, and immediately thought it was one of the dumbest decisions the Bucs could have made.
However, very simply, Baker has played his heart out this year. He’s given his best 100% to the team.
Was he perfect? No. Of course not.
Did he make mistakes? Sure he did.
Is he inconsistent? Well… …uhm … …yes. When he’s hot, he’s hot, but when he’s having an off day, it’s not… so… good. Lol.
Will he ever be “elite”? Maybe, but I’d lean more toward a “no” on that one.
But, he embraced the team, he embraced Tampa, his teammates all speak highly of him, and he’s worked his butt off this year. As others have occasionally said here on JBF, he’s carried the team on his shoulders at times.
Good or bad, the guy doesn’t quit.
I’m also factoring in that he’s playing for a defensive-minded HC who’s more concerned about not turning the ball over and playing not to lose, versus scoring points and playing to win.
He’s also playing for a first year OC who could use another year or two of seasoning and perhaps some help with a little creativity in his schemes.
Both his HC and OC were stubbornly committed to a futile effort to run the ball up the middle long after all of us, and the rest of the world, were screaming at the top of our lungs because it was painfully obvious their plan wasn’t working.
You can’t pin that on Baker.
We won a Super Bowl in the early 2000’s with an average QB who had outstanding weapons around him offensively and defensively. It’s a team effort. No QB can control who his team drafts and you never know how good a draftee is going to be until they’ve gotten a few regular season games under their belt.
Same with free agency. Sometimes you strike gold and sometimes you get a total bust. (We’ve had a couple of those busts in recent years.)
In the end, I think Baker’s earned it, and I’d be fine with a team-friendly deal that fairly compensates him.
January 8th, 2024 at 7:11 pm
DRAFT PENIX JR AT QB
THIS IS STRONG QB DRAFT…. GET ME A FIRST ROUND QB PLEASE!!!
January 8th, 2024 at 7:19 pm
Baker Mayfield has a lower competition rate than Justin Fields but y’all want him back lol 😂😂!! The Colts cut Wentz and he better numbers than Baker Mayfield.
January 8th, 2024 at 7:20 pm
Baker Mayfield has a lower completion rate than Justin Fields lol 🤣🤣!!
January 8th, 2024 at 8:11 pm
Joe you are a drama queen Mayfield balling out is a stretch beautiful!
January 8th, 2024 at 10:54 pm
Seems people are forgetting some more of Baker’s
playing incentives giving him another $900,000. Finishing tied for 4th in # of TD, finishing 9th in passing yards and passer rating. Elite, maybe one day, certainly in the top 10.
January 8th, 2024 at 11:14 pm
Agree with Joe – Baker for Comeback player of the year!
Safety Antoine Winfield for Bucs MVP
Chase McLaughlin is a close second