The Risk Of Angering Baker Mayfield
July 8th, 2026
Dangerous game of chicken?
While Joe just doesn’t see the following happening (short of a total collapse by Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield this fall), the creator, curator and overall guru of Pro Football Talk, the great Mike Florio, makes the case that this cannot be ruled out.
As heard from Mike Garafolo of NFL Network this week, both Mayfield’s camp and the Bucs are still far apart in contract extension talks. Mayfield is a contract year.
Mayfield seemed positive recently when he spoke about the impasse from his youth camp at the University of Oklahoma. He professed his love for the Bucs and the Tampa Bay region and said if he had to leave the Bucs, Tampa would likely remain home for him and his family.
Ah ha! you say. Mayfield didn’t rule out the chance he would leave. And that’s where Florio thinks the Bucs might be playing a potentially hazardous game of chicken.
Let’s say the Bucs lowball Mayfield. Would Mayfield, a prideful guy, reach a breaking point and just say, “Aw, [eff] it” and bolt to take a job elsewhere?
Florio believes that possibility cannot be dismissed as he explains in a PFT Live video.
Florio makes a good case. At some point, if Mayfield’s pride is bruised, does he give the Bucs the finger, even for less money, to prove a point?
Joe is not inclined to believe that happens for two reasons. First, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht has the franchise tag in his back pocket. At the end of the day, the Joe typing this here article thinks that is eventually what will happen.
The second reason Joe doesn’t believe Mayfield will choose the nuclear option? His best friends are on the team, specifically on the offensive line. There are few places he could go that already has an offensive line like the Bucs have.
We all saw what happened last year when the offensive line was riddled with injuries. Mayfield got beat to hell.
Does Mayfield want to shaft his best friends and leave the Bucs scrambling for a quarterback?
Everything Joe has heard both on and off the record is that Mayfield wants to stay with the Bucs and the Bucs want Mayfield as their starting quarterback. Joe expects Mayfield to be the Bucs’ starter in 2027.
The Bucs believe no one will offer Baker Mayfield more than they will. What if he takes less elsewhere just to make a point? pic.twitter.com/jpD2Inv9w6
— PFT Live (@PFT_Live) July 8, 2026
July 8th, 2026 at 7:11 am
Bucs can franchise Bake for 2 more seasons after this year. The only way Bake leaves is if Bucs allow it.
July 8th, 2026 at 7:20 am
As soon as they franchise him, 30 million in deferred cap comes up immediately. I suppose that same thing happens if he walks
July 8th, 2026 at 7:39 am
@ Beeej
I believe you are correct.
I was banging the “franchise Baker” drum until this was pointed out and I double checked.
We don’t want $80M on the books for BM in 2027…
Seems the best route is to workout another 2-3 year deal with 2 years of bag money.
$50-$55M per with @ $100M G-teed money seems fair.
July 8th, 2026 at 7:51 am
Florio makes a good case. At some point, if Mayfield’s pride is bruised, does he give the Bucs the finger and run off, even for less money, to prove a point?
^^^^^^^
Sal made that case months ago. I don’t think Baker fits the Bucs long term coaching plans. As I said months ago I think they might hope Baker asks for a trade just so they could say it wasn’t their fault he left.
July 8th, 2026 at 7:56 am
Franchising Baker:
2027 $50M
2028 $60M
Best for the both:
$150M x 3 years with two years guaranteed
Stick to your guns Jason. Baker is our guy, but his reckless play combined with his record under the lights suggests he’s not a top tier QB. Great QBs get it done whether they’re hurt or not. Don’t get stuck overpaying for our beloved overachiever.
July 8th, 2026 at 7:59 am
Joe was certain Mike Evans was going to stay in Tampa.
But he took a pay cut and a tax hike to go to a vastly better team.
He now has a real HC and a QB with winning credentials not just hype.
Baker is like that hot girl in high school that everyone wants but she never puts out.
That’s when a high school aged young man moves on to a different girl who might not be as hot, but your backseat gets a lot of action.
Results actually matter.
July 8th, 2026 at 8:00 am
Run Baker Run!
I know it will be tough learning a new offense in 2027 …
But you can do it again….
July 8th, 2026 at 8:07 am
baker has to prove he deserves a raise lol….1 playoff win 3 years ago suggest he doesnt…..
win enough games and he’ll get paid…8-9, 9-8 wont cut it!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
July 8th, 2026 at 8:13 am
Can any gator fans give an update on where trask is? If he was only given a chamce to play with the first team.
July 8th, 2026 at 8:13 am
There’s a deal on the table, meaning there’s already a value point ownership & the front office feel Mayfield is worth. Mayfield disagrees, but at the end of the day it’s him looking for a payday and not us looking to pay him some inflated value.
In my opinion, not feeling like the initial offer is enough puts Mayfield in position to have to play & perform for the money he wants, so it’s kind of hard to jump to the conclusion of franchises tagging him as that assumes his level of play in ’26 will deserve it and at best right now-that’s a B-grade best case scenario for Mayfield. A-grade would be ownership miraculously re-offering a more lucrative deal, and without seeing the initial deal how sure can anybody be that happens?
This is idea Florio floats about Mayfield taking less money to be petty and stick it to the Bucs, isn’t going to get him to cash out how he feels he should at this point. So idk how or why that’d be an option.
July 8th, 2026 at 8:13 am
Proud “Baker boi” here *eyeroll.* But who cares if Baker gets mad. I love his gumption, gile, fiery attitude/competitiveness, he’s got a rocket arm blah blah, but he was bad last yr. And while it’s fun to see him occasionally truck dudes and talk his shi – he hasn’t exhibited the ability to play at a high level when he’s nicked up. And we still don’t know just how “nicked up” he was last year. No hitch in his throws, no limping etc, so the hurt excuse is thrown around a lot but there was nothing visually obvious. How well is he going to age at 31 if he keeps getting “hurt” and do we really want just good enough? IS he just good enough? I dunno. The problem with going 8-9 or 9-8 again this yr (and we surely WILL) is that we will be just good enough to miss out on a CJ Carr or an Arch Manning. Would be way cooler to have a 6-4 stud with a bazooka arm on a rookie contract for 4 years with a higher ceiling. I don’t wanna pay 50 mil for middle of the road, and neither do the Bucs
July 8th, 2026 at 8:15 am
Let Baker leave and let another team overpay. Do people realize that Baker isnt the only option? The way some people talk you’d think Baker is a top 3 QB but he’s nowhere close to that. Mediocre minds and scared people stick to average and poor results because they are afraid of the unknown. So people dont want to draft a new QB because of “hugh bust rate” but when a player at another position doesn’t workout, they say just draft another. But when it comes to QB they say no to drafting one but yes to pay $50+ mil annually for an old, injured, inaccurate QB.
Thats bucs fans and bucs media. They love slop. They love almost winning and primetime losses. They love highlight runs by the QB with under 200 yds passing. The loser mentality permeates throughout the organization, media and fanbase that look at this team and want to stay the course.
July 8th, 2026 at 8:17 am
Sal also predicted months ago that Baker would end up in Pittsburg with Rogers being traded here. However Sal predicted that Rogers might say no to Tampa thus resulting in some sort of three way deal. Could Vita be included in such a deal ? It’s all about the money. The Bucs will blame it all on Baker and have a weak tank lose the division and screw up once again.
July 8th, 2026 at 8:31 am
Sal, Aaron Rogers? Come on man! keep that prima donna as far away from Tampa as possible. Baker with an actual starting offensive line will be fine. There is already a deal in place just some minor tweaking.
July 8th, 2026 at 8:34 am
I think Baker would be making a big mistake leaving Tampa. I think Mayfield is smarter than the average Bear, and he knows that. That gives Licht the upper hand. Baker’s career hinges on stability at a single franchise (the Bucs) and a strong team (working on it). I like Florio, but he’s stretching.
July 8th, 2026 at 8:37 am
Doesn’t the franchise tag guarantee top five money for a year? That’s probably more than Mayfield earns on the free market so it would be, if not a win-win, definitely not a lose-lose. But, Baker definitely has the incentive to sign for longer term because a career ending injury is the most likely scenario for his last NFL football move. Whenever that may be.
July 8th, 2026 at 8:38 am
Hey Joe – did Baker ever recover any of his prior life savings that his own father and brother stole from him?
I believe it was @ $12M cash. Ouch.
Just curious…
July 8th, 2026 at 8:44 am
Not show Mayfield respect??? WHAT THE …… FLUCK?
The Buccaneers “ARE THAT TEAM” J@ck@ss…. Talk about reaching. He would have said the same thing if he would have just kept repeating one of his favorite lines and it goes like this… duh duh duh duh, duh duh, duh duh duh…..
That is EXACTLY how Mayfield got here in the first place EXCEPT…. Mayfield had NO OTHER interested teams at that time…. Tampa Bay IS the ONLY TEAM that showed him “Love” when ALL OTHERS wouldn’t even invite him in for a drink of water.
This guy is a mook
July 8th, 2026 at 8:51 am
why not just let Vea and Mayfield play out their contracts and then clean house next year with a new HC and GM ?
July 8th, 2026 at 8:52 am
LynchMob puts things into perspective. 🙂
July 8th, 2026 at 8:56 am
This isn’t a complicated as folks make it out to be.
If Baker, Bowles and the Bucs have a good year (10 plus wins), then Bowles and Baker will both be back.
If the Bucs have a terrible year 7 wins or less, then Bowles is toast and the new coaching staff will decide if they want to keep Baker or start the rebuild.
There is no world in which Baker and the Bucs have a successful season and Baker leaves because he’s butt hurt. The Bucs hold all the cards.
No need to hand Baker the bag before this important season plays out.
July 8th, 2026 at 9:05 am
Im Baker Mayfield! After the disastrous ending to the 2025 season ,im sorry looking forward to 2026 I have a new toy in my backfield and a healthy Bucky Im so looking forward to getting back with Eggy and playing with my new toys in the reciever room,my offensive line is finally healthy..My boss didn’t draft a qb this year so they’re trusting me to put up 40 tds to 10 picks which is very much doable! I have a few dollars now in the bank so what’s the rush?? OH YEAH! ONE MORE THING! NO MORE DIVA CRAP OUT OF THAT ENTITLED MIKE EVANS!
July 8th, 2026 at 9:06 am
I think it’s kind of funny that if Baker hit the open market he would be relegated to less than what the Bucs offer.
People, it is so damn hard to find a qb there is going to be a bidding war for Will freaking Levis.
July 8th, 2026 at 9:56 am
That ” hot girl!” Was a walk-on in college that won a national championship. A bit of an accomplishment there. Then was likely overdrafted to the worst team in the league and somehow got them to the playoffs in short order, not only winning a playoff game but nearly beating the best team in the league for another. Hot girl then gets humbled after getting hurt, and bop’s around the neighborhood for a bit. Dumped by a handful of teams. Then gets a chance with a guy that had very recently dated the hottest girl on the planet. Proceed to keep that guy reasonably happy for a few years to the shock of everyone. So yeah, nice story. But not exactly the hot girl that didn’t put out.
July 8th, 2026 at 10:06 am
OK, so Joe and Skippy50 think it’s better to be with the class ummm (less virtuous) than virtuous??? Brock Purdy has done WHAT exactly? (and probably won’t win his Division this year)
It is quite possible HOF ME13, is a MAN with pride who realized he wasn’t going to see another 1k season with this team again.
Bake “iz go-ink NO-vere” (SGT Schultz tells me, and he won his fantasy league last year…)
July 8th, 2026 at 10:13 am
This is crazy hearing everyone bashing the bucs for being 8-9,9-8 winning the division having a home playoff game every year. Yes please I will take that every year. It means every year we are three wins away from a Super Bowl. Do you guys really not remember 7-8 years ago pre Brady. The long 15 years of already scrolling through mock drafts in November to see who we might draft. The season already over at Halloween. We have went to playoffs 6 years in a row before last year and only missed out on a tie breaker so had hope until the end. Won a Super Bowl. We all have got to see a home playoff game victory. That was so rare it was actually on my bucket list and I have got to see 3 of them in the last 6 years. Yes I will gladly take this mediocrity. Some off you act like finding a good qb is just so easy. There are more bust than hits. And that’s a 1st round pick if you miss that also sets you back. Arch manning no guarantee he will be good I watched some of his games last year. I was expecting to see a messiah from all the hype and I came away thinking wow he is not as good as the media had me believing. I am a
July 8th, 2026 at 10:24 am
Go look at all the drafts for every Patrick Mahomes is a Trubisky, a Rosen, a Fields, a Trey lance, and Zac Wilson, Kenny Pickett, Kyle Murray, Mac Wilson, Anthony Richardson, Bryce young, Michael Penix, JJ McCarthy. All first round picks what one would you choose over mayfield right now. And 6 of those are top 5 picks. It is t that easy to get a good quarterback. Look at the Vikings same exact situation. They had darnold won 14 games then didn’t want to commit 40 million to him had there first round pick flame out last year and now are trying out Kyle Murray. Missed the playoffs last year as the qb they could have had wins a Super Bowl. And I’m sure they all thought they could replace darnold just as easy as most of you think you can replace mayfield.
July 8th, 2026 at 10:28 am
Darnold like Dilfer( back in the day) had the defense ,you know a little security behind you,Darnold had the defense in Minnesota also that’s where his confidence grew..
July 8th, 2026 at 10:30 am
Lynch , not sure Mike took less money and more taxes to go to a far superior team,,, pretty sure we played them pretty tough last year. I’m thinking he went to a place with a far superior Coach , RB and TE with a weak WR room ,,, we still have EE , CG, JMac and Tez and who knows about the new big guy. Pay Baker now so we aren’t screwed the year after . Tag him in 2027 and see what happens, keep him happy,,we have a top10 QB who wants to be here . Big year upcoming 11-6
July 8th, 2026 at 10:31 am
FAFO Jason,I won’t blame Baker if he leaves.
July 8th, 2026 at 10:36 am
Jeffbuc understands that you have to get to the show to have a chance (last year was an outlier due to injury and we’ve been doing it with an OC revolving door).
People who insist on firing Bowles and dumping Bake (seldom if never) offer a serious alternative. EVERY YEAR we see QB’s come out and flame out!
No guarantee we do better next year with Tomlin or McDermott. For those who remember, didn’t the Chargers toss Marty Shottenheimer after a 14-2 season? And done WHAT since?? The Buccaneers let JW go because they knew TB12 was theirs. Panic don’t pay!
July 8th, 2026 at 10:40 am
Bucs should sign him to $260m, 5 years with 2 guaranteed. That way his price is locked in for half a decade.
In such a case, the Bucs could cut ties in 2 years if needed…in case a new head coach wants to move on.
Mayfield gets his contract length and his raise.
Even if the Bucs keep him the entire length of the deal, within 2-3 years it would be cheap.
July 8th, 2026 at 10:43 am
Jeffbuc – so let me get this straight, you would be happy with 8-9/9-8 every year. This is your standard? That is…a level of pathetic on such a profound level that I almost speechless. But by all means please advise the last 8-9 team to win a Super Bowl. Losing record teams get exposed by the 12-5 teams in the playoffs. They dont win superbowls. Jesus gd Christ, I cannot even believe this needs to be said
July 8th, 2026 at 10:49 am
Will powers – the Bucs were relatively healthy towards the end of the year – especially their defense. Stop with the excuses, pathetic. There were literally 12 teams or so more “injured” than Tampa, notably the bills and 49ers.
July 8th, 2026 at 11:04 am
I think banking on any player not to “leave his friends” on a team is misguided. This is a business. Think about how Mayfield views the University of Texas all because they disprepected him. I can see it happening here too and him playing next year for say the Steelers. While Licht can say what he wants, his actions don’t really support that. I have no intel, but the numbers Florio was saying is that the Bucs likely only want to pay him $40m per year. I would consider that insulting too if I were Mayfield. If the Bucs screw this up, then they derserve to watch him because the next in a line of QBs who have left the team to thirve and win SBs elsewhere.
July 8th, 2026 at 11:21 am
He’s inaccurate and chokes when it matters most. Let him walk.
July 8th, 2026 at 11:40 am
Todd Says:
Bucs can franchise Bake for 2 more seasons after this year. The only way Bake leaves is if Bucs allow it.
^^^^^^^^^
100% Correct, sir. This is the the only thing people need to know.
There is a ceiling for Baker. “The two sides aren’t close,” isn’t a real thing. The franchise tag sets the price and the terms for Baker. If he wants another year, he probably has to take a little less than the franchise tag.
July 8th, 2026 at 12:07 pm
Two assumptions that are only assumptions: (1) the Bucs will offer Baker as much or more than any other team; (2) if the Bucs look for a new coach, that man will not want Baker at quarterback.
July 8th, 2026 at 12:20 pm
“This is crazy hearing everyone bashing the bucs for being 8-9,9-8 winning the division having a home playoff game every year. Yes please I will take that every year. It means every year we are three wins away from a Super Bowl.”
I told you. There are Bucs fans that have dreams of their favorite team LOSING in the playoffs. Lol…this guy and many more would be happy to field a team annually that cant make it out the first round. Jfc…this is the mediocrity I speak of. Too many people want to stick with what’s clearly not working instead of making wholesale changes to achieve greater. Sad.
July 8th, 2026 at 12:59 pm
How about win some clutch games when the game is on the line? How about not coughing it up like a hairball when it’s crunch time?
July 8th, 2026 at 1:04 pm
Lynch if you think the 49ers are a better team, please, by all means leave here and go post on one of their fan sites. They are not the better team when the Bucs are at full strength. Heck, we even beat them not at full strength!
As for Baker, he is a top 5-9 QB and deserves to be paid as such! He’s excellent and tremendously talented. No, he’s not a mook. You need to look at the performance of each player and not the team overall. He’s the second most prolific TD passer in the league since he joined the Bucs. That puts him firmly in the elite category. He gives us a chance to win every time he takes the field. Very rarely do we play a team with a better QB. Sign him, and pay him long term. He will be excellent for many years yet especially behind that very stalwart offensive line.
July 8th, 2026 at 1:07 pm
Give Baker a 4 year Extension with the first 2-3 years Guaranteed I love Baker Best QB the Bucs have ever had besides Brady but that’s just My opinion
July 8th, 2026 at 1:09 pm
Did you people even watch the games early in the season when we still had most of our players? Baker was clutch and won several games with big time plays/drives late in the games. Late in the season we were too decimated by injuries for the offense to move the ball at all. Baker had to immediately get rid of the football or risk getting crushed. All the plays that required timing had to be shredded from the playbook. Which didn’t leave us with much other than fast, wide passes and runs.
July 8th, 2026 at 1:09 pm
Beeej Says:
July 8th, 2026 at 7:20 am
As soon as they franchise him, 30 million in deferred cap comes up immediately. I suppose that same thing happens if he walks.
The 30 million in deferred cap can be spread out over 2 years if the Bucs designate the cut as a post June 1st release.
July 8th, 2026 at 1:09 pm
Well let’s see, Bradys last year, 2022, we were 8-9. EVERYONE said we would win 4 games in 2023. That’s part of the reason Brady retired because he was part of that EVERYONE. In comes Baker and wins 10 games. Oh I think that proves who Baker is. Anything else is a team problem not a Baker problem. Baker has proven over and over again he is not the problem. A good coach has to put together a team around him a voilà, superbowl. But you have to have that TEAM put together first.
July 8th, 2026 at 1:19 pm
Stpetematt, now you’re talking the truth and the hissyfit gang here will start screaming at you for that. Baker has proven himself clutch so many times it’s nauseating. Forget he has the best passer rating of ALL-TIME when it matters most, the playoffs. I would love to know what college team Baker abused that made them hate him this bad.
July 8th, 2026 at 1:34 pm
Floormatt can’t stand objective critique. There were more injuries cumulatively during 6-2 than 2-7. The offense got healthier during 2-7. Take some more meds.
July 8th, 2026 at 1:41 pm
The NFL should be in crisis mode at the league offices if Baker Jeff Garcia is a top tier QB. This current batch is a clown show. Stat queens. The NFL is selling fantasy football so hard they forgot what a great QB looks like. Brady may end being not just the GOAT, but the last real NFL QB.
July 8th, 2026 at 1:48 pm
Oh poor misguided little Floormatt. You are just comic fodder for those of us using our brain.
The 49ers had a vastly more injured team and in a way better division.
They won 12 games versus the Bowles lead Bucs winning 8.
The NFC West had three teams at 12 wins or more and 41 total wins. The NFC South had zero teams over 8 wins and a total of 30 wins.
Brock Purdy has been to two NFC title games and a SB in four years.
Faker Suckfield has been to zero Conference title games in 8 years and he only watches the SB on his couch like the rest of us.
Purdy got his team to the second round in the playoffs despite major injuries.
Faker Suckfield bought his teammates a second round of beers at the bar, watching the playoffs.
You should try to think before you speak. It just removes all doubt of your stupidity.
July 8th, 2026 at 1:56 pm
@ Jeff
If you had to suffer through the first few decades as a Buc fan then I would totally understand being satisfied with 8-9…
July 8th, 2026 at 2:04 pm
LynchMob50. The mighty, mighty, NFC South went 1-3 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last year. I’m sure Bowles and the Bucs are shaking in their boots just worrying about them. Jeez.
July 8th, 2026 at 2:05 pm
I mean the mighty, mighty, NFC West.
July 8th, 2026 at 2:12 pm
Personal ad hominem attacks are useless, Lynch. Your same recycled arguments over and over again never held water in the first place. The Niners have a talented team and so do we. We have had a lot of bad luck with injuries (causing underachievement) to absolutely critical players and it always seems to be where our depth isn’t all that strong. 2 years ago, we lost a ton of secondary players so we drafted a bunch to have more depth. This past year, it was our offensive line that was in tatters. To have success, you have to have a secondary and an offensive line. Bad luck is just that. But that’s also all it is.
Our starters are very talented. If we can keep them on the field, we have a plus matchup against almost any team. It’s only when we start to get decimated by injuries that things fall apart. Maybe that finally won’t happen this year. It’s always possible. Right now we have every reason to be optimistic. Yet you aren’t and that’s because you have an agenda. And your agenda isn’t logical in the slightest.
July 8th, 2026 at 2:17 pm
Careful Lynchslob50, yer hater colors are showing! Yet, still not a single answer. Perhaps you should’ve studied more and left the gum stuck under the desk. Without answers, yer doomed to live in “Hater basement”
I question the injury comparison and Bakers health at the end of the season. Sometimes where the injuries are in the scheme is as bad as who. The reason we didn’t make the playoffs was our D wouldn’t enter the middle of the field (absent Vv) or touch the opposing QB. We didn’t have the muscle on D. This draft “should” help improve that.
July 8th, 2026 at 2:18 pm
Kenton Smith Says:
“LynchMob50. The mighty, mighty, NFC West went 1-3 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last year. I’m sure Bowles and the Bucs are shaking in their boots just worrying about them. Jeez.”
I fixed it for you.
And the NFC West won the SB. The NFC South is a Toilet Bowl.
July 8th, 2026 at 2:19 pm
@Floormatt
Those meds really do work man. Just take them with some water.
July 8th, 2026 at 2:20 pm
Stpetematt. It’s too bad we can’t kick old LynchMob50 right in the nads. But I get the feeling that probably wouldn’t change anything… such is life.
July 8th, 2026 at 2:21 pm
If I’ve learned anything from the modern era of the NFL it’s that emotions have far less to do with it than money. A somewhat distant second is the right situation for smart parties.
Even with the chip on his shoulders on game day, I don’t believe the guy will abandon a fair deal because Licht plays hardball. Hes doing the same thing.
Sure, maybe he could go elsewhere if he’s not tagged or signed, but after he’s been thru moving around, does he want to go to AZ and get beat up the last 3-4 years of his career?
Give him his 50 but only guarantee a couple more years.
July 8th, 2026 at 2:21 pm
If the Bucs get a new coach not named Zac Robinson then the Bucs probably had a bad season and Baker had a poor season, and we will be close enough to get one of the 5 1st round QB, no point paying Baker $50 million a year
July 8th, 2026 at 2:22 pm
Will Powers Says:
“This draft “should” help improve that.”
Should will turn to didn’t once Toad Bowels scheme kicks in.
You could have a HOF player at every defensive position and it wouldn’t matter.
Todd is the Sultan of Suck!
July 8th, 2026 at 2:22 pm
We’d have to find them first.
July 8th, 2026 at 2:27 pm
I don’t really get the ‘point’ he’d be making. It’s like the opposite mentality of giving a discount because you like the city and place (which he does).
It’s not like the Bucs are trying to screw him. And if he would only get LESS $$ anywhere else, then it only validates the Bucs valuations further.
Is the point “you need to pay me ABOVE market value, or I’ll show you I have no loyalty and actually take a pay cut just to spite you, for NOT paying me MORE than anyone else would! Haha got you!”
Is the point “You need to pay me what I think I’m worth even if it’s not logical or supported by the market! And by taking less money elsewhere I’m somehow proving I was worth more than what you offered!”
It’s so stupid IMO. Makes no sense. Like this would be a confused toddler like decision making process. He’d have to be mad at the team for things that have nothing to do with the contracts they’re offering.
July 8th, 2026 at 2:30 pm
Also – I’m assuming they are offering him fair value deals right now that at least push $50M+ a year since that’s in the top 12. If they are lowballing the crap out of him then I get this line of thinking.
July 8th, 2026 at 2:30 pm
Kenton Smith Says:
“Stpetematt. It’s too bad we can’t kick old LynchMob50 right in the nads. But I get the feeling that probably wouldn’t change anything… such is life.”
Todd’s defense will kick us all in our collective nads come this fall.
But I’m glad my insight causes you so much disturbance you have to go the path of threatening violence.
All because you expect everyone to be blindly Polly positive after an 8-9 collapse.
July 8th, 2026 at 2:46 pm
It’s not the scheme, it’s the players executing it.
July 8th, 2026 at 2:50 pm
This is more folly from the Glazer boys and JL. You’ve already let Coen get away, chased ME13 to the other side of the country, and now you’re on the verge of pissing off Baker. Good luck winning more than 7 or 8 games unless you pay Baker very soon (before camp) and have good health all season (no depth) Mr. Robinson will be an upgrade at OC, but bored corners and loafers = losses
July 8th, 2026 at 2:53 pm
LynchMob50,
Um…we may be on the opposite side of the optimism scale, but be careful out there. LOL
July 8th, 2026 at 2:59 pm
IMO…..Mayfield is acutely aware of the lack of loyalty from teams starting with how the Browns did him. You then have Carolina that smears his abilities a bit and now the Bucs playing the negotiation game AND that makes me believe that Mayfield will play the game of business no differently. I don’t think Mayfield fears the franchise tag one bit….it’s guaranteed money and it’s one step closer to a max market deal. Two years buys him time, maybe Stafford retires with the Rams….i bet McVay would pounce on Mayfield. Or maybe there’s opportunity in Jacksonville with Coen who had tremendous success….or possibly another franchise where they have all the pieces but a young QB that simply didn’t work out. We already know some free agents changed course after seeing Evans bail so what makes Mayfield any different? It’s business at this point and he’s a vet that understands to separate feelings from finances.
July 8th, 2026 at 3:19 pm
“It’s not like the Bucs are trying to screw him. And if he would only get LESS $$ anywhere else, then it only validates the Bucs valuations further.
Is the point “you need to pay me ABOVE market value, or I’ll show you I have no loyalty and actually take a pay cut just to spite you, for NOT paying me MORE than anyone else would! Haha got you!”
Is the point “You need to pay me what I think I’m worth even if it’s not logical or supported by the market! And by taking less money elsewhere I’m somehow proving I was worth more than what you offered!”
Clarity and actual negotiating sense in one comment relevant to the negotiating tact regarding this deal, way to go Cornelius. Florio tried really hard to make it seem like the Bucs are slighting him.
July 8th, 2026 at 3:49 pm
If Baker plays this season like he has for throughout most of his entire career (including 2023 and 2025 as a Buc), then he can forget all about this whole ‘franchise tag’ thing. It will NOT be an option for him. Cause, the Bucs are NOT giving HIM $50-MILLION for even ONE-season, if he plays the way he did for the last 9-11 games of last season. That’s just the REALITY. Even, if he gets injured (‘for real’ this time), and is knocked-out for the rest of the season… Then, they’ll just decide to move on. So, there is absolutely no reason for ANYONE to even be thinking about the “franchise tag,” at this point. Baker can shutdown ALL of THIS all by HIMSELF, by just signing the deal. If it’s 3-years at $130-$135MIL, with $85-$100MIL fully-guaranteed + incentives (for League MVP/NFC Champs/Super Bowl CHAMPS), then he should ‘sign-it’ IMMEDIATELY. Just call-it a day, and get back to BUSINESS. He’d be REAL SMART to sign-it! It’s more than fair deal, and then all your “Baker Bois’ can still save face over their big talk of a “DISCOUNT.” Even, though, it’s NOT. Honestly, I hope HE DOESN’T and decides by himself, to just play-it out!!!!
July 8th, 2026 at 3:57 pm
I like watch the Bucs when Baker is at QB,, probably the only reason they are exciting . I really don’t want to go into the QB abyss ,, you know the teams that have been trying hard to get a good QB for 5-10 years , Browns (not one since Baker), Jets (not one since???) Steelers (since Big Ben ) Cardinals (since Palmer) , Panthers (since Cam) , Saints (since Brees ) , ,Bears (since Jim M but may have one now ) Raiders (since Gannon but have a prospect now).
This year w good health 11-6
July 8th, 2026 at 4:06 pm
Wow. They had Baker ranked over PURDY, in those NFL Top-100 Rankings!? No way. “First Things First” dedicated an entire segment to this today!!!! The ‘side-by-side’ comparison is not even close… But, all you need is the “eyeball” test. Purdy will end up having a MUCH BETTER career. The QB-position is mostly about what it between the EARS. Baker has a stronger arm, but is lacking in the most important skills… Accuracy, and BRAINS. Purdy is calm, cool, and collected. Just smooth and always under control, and therefore is MUCH MORE consistent. You KNOW what you’re getting… A LEADER. Baker is like watching a NASCAR Race, and waiting on a CRASH. He’s a total train-wreck.
July 8th, 2026 at 4:17 pm
@ Lightningvinny1 – all of those teams you’ve mentioned have had very poor FO’s (&/or) OWNERS. And, yes… That also includes the STEELERS. Finally, moving on from Tomlin was a start, but they’ve been STUCK in the old days, while REFUSING to embrace the more modern game based around OFFENSE. And, the Saints might just have found THEIR QB of the future. But, they were CAP HELL for all those years, seemingly FOREVER… They had to PAY FOR THAT, eventually. So, I would NOT put them in THAT GROUP. Not yet anyway, as long as Shough comes through for them.
July 8th, 2026 at 4:36 pm
Joe also didn’t think Evan’s would leave. Just sayin’….
When the Evans truth finally comes out, you’ll understand why. –Joe
July 8th, 2026 at 5:06 pm
Agreed with Cornelius.
Florio’s got good scoops and contacts but there’s only so much content in the middle of the summer. You have to create a little news yourself.
July 8th, 2026 at 5:55 pm
Bosch. You might have just opened up a can of worms. And Joe, you have got some explaining to do. Go Bucs!
July 8th, 2026 at 6:00 pm
You can tell who doesn’t read the Collective Bargaining Agreement….
Look up Article 10, Section 1 & 2 and Article 13, Section 6
Also….in particular…Article 13, Section 6(b)(ii)(2)
@Joe…..you could help clarify a lot of this if you chose to….you have the resources
July 8th, 2026 at 6:16 pm
So….posting facts and documentation of facts is not allowed now?
Ok….cool
July 8th, 2026 at 6:18 pm
Mike wants in on some of that Silicon Valley CASH. So, that he can pull a Tristan Thompson (and many others). I read an article yesterday, about Tristan being an EARLY investor in Poppi (just sold to PepsiCo for about $2-BILLION). He invested $25K and just got back a ‘seven-figure’ return. He was also an EARLY investor in another Silicon Valley Company. These guys get invited (and surely HOUNDED constantly) to all of these ‘start up’ events up there!!!! I mentioned this as soon as Mike left, that it’d be the PERFECT spot for a young professional athlete/celebrity with a fat pocket full of CASH.
July 8th, 2026 at 6:26 pm
“Optimistic Says:
July 8th, 2026 at 1:09 pm
Beeej Says:
July 8th, 2026 at 7:20 am
As soon as they franchise him, 30 million in deferred cap comes up immediately. I suppose that same thing happens if he walks.
The 30 million in deferred cap can be spread out over 2 years if the Bucs designate the cut as a post June 1st release.”
This is incorrect….post June 1st releases can only be used on players with an active contract. Mayfield’s contract voids on February 20, 2027…..teams can’t release players who are no longer under contract. This, as well as the acceleration clause, are all covered in the current CBA.
July 8th, 2026 at 8:53 pm
Lots of egg on lots of faces once the ME13SF story comes out. Hope many of you can apologize as good as you criticize.
July 8th, 2026 at 10:43 pm
Kenton Smith, I thought the truth was obvious. Evans knew the Bucs were going nowhere with Bowles at the helm. 3rd and 28 says it all. Everything fit.
But Joe seems to be implying he knows “the truth”, cannot share it, but expects it to come out. I guess we just have to wait for it to come out. If Joe was told something in confidence, he has no choice but to take it to the grave.
July 9th, 2026 at 12:38 am
BobbyM you are 100% right. McVay would be all over Baker. The same reason Zac Robinson wanted to come here. Both coached him with the Rams and both loved him. Never know BM6 might be with the Rams in a couple years. The boys better not let this go too long.
July 9th, 2026 at 11:10 am
Sarcasm…. Let the loser go. No super bowl ring no contract. All these other guys have super bowl rings….or do they? Jackson, Dak, Murray, Herbert, actually just about all 32 starters.
July 9th, 2026 at 11:59 am
I love Baker and he is entertaining both on and off the field. However, the Bucs have lots of needs on both offense and defense. If Vita Vea walks, then there is going to be a huge gap to fill literally and figuratively on the Bucs front line. Lichtenstein needs to negotiate another 2-3 year contract laden with incentives if BM meets certain targets. If other teams want to offer Baker more money and risk the chance he might get injured, and he has that history, or that he has a really off/bad/no-good season then that is a risk others can take. The Bucs need to look to the future and see if BM is a fit in that future. Todd Bowles is definitely not a part of that future and the longer the Glazers continue to misplace their loyalty the more mediocre the Bucs become. Go Bucs, Go Canes. Cheers.