More Jake Browning Bashing
July 12th, 2026
Chucky isn’t feeling the backup.
A Buccaneers legend has joined the chorus.
Joe has struggled to find people outside One Buc Palace impressed by the Bucs signing former Bengals QB Jake Browning to back up Baker Mayfield.
Browning, 30, had a rough time in Weeks 2 through 5 with the Bengals last season. His performance sent Cincinnati scrambling to trade for Joe Flacco. (Joe wonders whether a knock or two on Browning will be heard by — or through — Flacco during the upcoming Quarterback series on Netflix.)
Why did the Bucs want Browning?
Well, Joe is confident the Bucs very much like the Browning-Mayfield fit in quarterback meetings and their scouts also feel good about his film. Joe hopes the latter assessment remains a mystery because Mayfield stays healthy.
The Bucs also liked Browning’s salary. He only cost $1.3 million this season. That’s near the NFL minimum for a veteran quarterback.
Jon Gruden seems to think the Bucs got what they paid for: not much, so he told WDAE radio on Friday afternoon.
“They don’t have a backup [QB] in place that could, I think, keep the Buccaneers in contention to win the division let alone a championship,” Gruden said without naming Browning.
And for those wondering, yes, Gruden is very aware Browning is the Bucs’ backup QB. Joe can state that with certainty because on Friday morning, Joe and Ira Kaufman hung out with Gruden at his Tampa lair and recorded a soon-t0-be-heard episode of the Ira Kaufman Podcast.
Ever since Bucco Bruce Arians arrived in 2019, the Bucs have had little-to-no interest in paying for a high-quality backup QB. Blaine Gabbert, Kyle Trask and Teddy Bridgewater all were hovering near the NFL minimum salary.
To be fair to Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht, a backup quarterback has not started a game for the Bucs since 2018.
And “this Joe” does not believe Baker Mayfield would have sat out a game to heal in any of his three seasons if the Bucs had a better backup.
Ira Kaufman Talks Different Baker Mayfield Contract Angle, Damning NFL Stat Reveal, Rueben Bain Rally, O-Line Date, And More
July 12th, 2026 at 9:05 am
The other two QBs sound like they have higher upside. Bazelak and Daniels. Browning is a bum no idea why they even signed him.
July 12th, 2026 at 9:08 am
Wow….and Gruden LOVES everyone too!
July 12th, 2026 at 9:11 am
Licht loves his Dollar-Store free agent pickups. Sure, he needs cap space to re-sign Vita and Baker, sure he’s got a bunch of cheap rookies on defense this year, but REALLY – Browning? Maybe our new QB coach, Chandler Whitmer, can work a miracle as he did pretty well with Mendoza at Indiana.
July 12th, 2026 at 9:25 am
This roster is in shambles. Not only are some starters subpar but the backups are bad too and are unable to be coached up. But to be fair not many teams are winning with backup QBs, that is until they play the Bucs defense then they career days. Oh well…having a terrible backup QB is another genius strategy in roster building by the GM and HC.
July 12th, 2026 at 9:32 am
Don’t underestimate the affect circumstances could have on this kind of decision. Given that the team is negotiating with Baker and (regardless of opinion of Baker) everyone seems to agree the team wants to sign him, here is the mission:
Sign a backup qb with starting experience who has won some games, get him at a reasonable salary, but be careful the story for months isn’t “are the Bucs sending a message to Baker?”
July 12th, 2026 at 9:36 am
The starting roster is excellent. It’s very tough to have an extremely deep football team and also have premium starters.
July 12th, 2026 at 9:48 am
Vicious catch 22 circle by having a cheap backup QB to save money hoping baker won’t get hurt. Isn’t Baker hurt every year, yet plays through it with below average performances? How about we spend more for a quality backup and help Baker make better business decisions – like sit him if he’s looking hurt.
July 12th, 2026 at 9:56 am
They traded for Flacco because browning couldn’t effectively get the ball to his elite weapons.
Besides the wife, which is a considerable achievement, i don’t think he’s accomplished much.
July 12th, 2026 at 10:01 am
Can they get worse than Trask? They did. Can they get worse than Bridgewater? Yep.
The diminishing quality of the backup QB is appalling.
Licht, if Baker goes down, you do, too.
July 12th, 2026 at 10:02 am
Back when Tom Moore was with Indianapolis and Peyton, a reporter asked him “why don’t you give the backup QB more reps?”
(Moore) “Because of Peyton goes down we’re f***ed, and we don’t PRACTICE f***ed”
July 12th, 2026 at 10:40 am
Which Backup QB on the market besides maybe Flacco would we have signed? As I recall it was slim pickings. Resign Teddy? Rodgers? Not for backup duty. Daniel Jones? Achilles and all. Mariotta? He never really showed this fan much unless it was against us. Where’s Jaymiss? They still have Kyles number?
Go Bucs!
July 12th, 2026 at 10:44 am
Jimbob! very capt.obvious like ,that’s great how you asked and answered your question..However ill take the Buccaneers situation over the hapless Raiders situation all day! UGH!
July 12th, 2026 at 10:53 am
I like that Daniels kid. He has a huge upside. Once he learns the system, and matures, I think he would be a feasible backup.
July 12th, 2026 at 10:58 am
“ Joe and Ira Kaufman hung out with Gruden at his Tampa lair and recorded a soon-t0-be-heard episode of the Ira Kaufman Podcast.”
WOW! This will be a must listen!!! Please make sure to announce this several times when it drops.
July 12th, 2026 at 10:59 am
Someone do a screen grab. Floormatt says the starting roster is excellent.
That takes one excuse away from Toad Bowels and his lousy Swiss cheese scheme.
Licht has zero ability to asses the QB position. Unless their name is Tom Brady.
He’s the guy that brought us Jameis Winston and Kyle Trask. Both were huge busts.
Meanwhile John Lynch drafted Mr Irrelevant and Brock Purdy has been to two NFC title games and a SB in four short years.
If you stand on someone’s shoulders that doesn’t make you tall.
Mike knows.
July 12th, 2026 at 12:13 pm
should have got americas qb as a back up he has had really good games
July 12th, 2026 at 12:21 pm
I’m expecting Browning and Daniels fighting it out in those worthless preseason games. Bazelak, too. This hotshot young QB coach, with help from Zac, oughta have us a competent backup this year. I get the feeling this Daniels kid has some upside. It’s these coaches job to find it.
July 12th, 2026 at 12:57 pm
i swear griff or traskie would be okay… 🙂
browning, not so much……..lol
July 12th, 2026 at 1:00 pm
your back up qb generally says a whole lot about what mgmt. and ownership thinks of their franchise…
and if they are in the running to truly compete for a superbowl
July 12th, 2026 at 1:03 pm
Lmao what a ridiculous statement. If a QB can help win a team a championship it is unlikely that they are a backup QB just sitting on some teams roster. If your backup QB could win you a game or two in spot up duty that’s considered a win