“They Aren’t Going To Just Let You Get To Free Agency”
July 31st, 2026
Adam Schefter report surfaces.
We’ve heard from Baker Mayfield about his contract hassle. Now it’s time to hear from the Bucs.
Well, indirectly. The Bucs aren’t talking (on the record). But someone is clearly talking off the record, specifically to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
For those who read Joe regularly, you may connect the dots as to who that may be.
So, as Joe pointed out this morning after Jeremy Fowler and Jenna Laine of ESPN updated their story last night, the Bucs did indeed offer Mayfield in excess of $50 million a season as part of a two-year contract extension for 2027 and 2028. The creator, curator and overall guru of Pro Football Talk, the great Mike Florio, noted the Bucs offered a two-year extension not a two-year contract. There is a difference.
That would mean Mayfield’s salary, averaged out for a three-season span of 2026, 2027 and 2028, per Florio, would be less than $50 million a year. Mayfield balked. He’s set to earn $40 million this season.
So someone with the Bucs dialed up Adam Schefter and Schefter went on Pat McAfee’s show today to explain the Bucs are being painted in an unfair Licht light.
McAfee seemed to think the Bucs hacked off Mayfield to a point he just may pull a Mike Evans and bolt town after this season. Schefter scoffed at that notion.
“They aren’t going to just let you get to free agency,” Schefter told McAfee.
Schefter added that the franchise tag after this season is very much in play by the Bucs if the team and Mayfield cannot come to an agreement.
And then Schefter breezed through a comment without adding any context. Apparently, Mayfield’s words yesterday ruffled the wrong feathers of Bucs suits.
“Baker is not happy with the team; they (the Bucs) are not happy with the way he spoke about the organization,” Schefter said. “That’s not great.”
Whoa! So it’s not just Mayfield unhappy? The Bucs are peeved at their franchise quarterback, who wants a raise, and how he teed off on them yesterday?
There’s nothing better than some good ol’ fashioned quarterback drama to jazz up otherwise dreary training camp!
Things are getting fun!
"The Buccaneers were offering Baker Mayfield over $50M a year..
They felt their offers in the final days of the negotiations were competitive..
They offered Baker Mayfield a two year deal worth slightly above $100M in total" ~ @AdamSchefter #PMSLive https://t.co/iUisKgKj7w pic.twitter.com/H78uczZe6E
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) July 31, 2026
July 31st, 2026 at 2:13 pm
Joe – if you absolutely had to predict how this plays out – what are you thinking?
July 31st, 2026 at 2:13 pm
Squeeze Baker Squeeze!
54 million xās 3 years
$ 162,000,000
July 31st, 2026 at 2:15 pm
If Bake wants to be paid like a franchise qb, he needs to start acting like one. You handle your business behind the scenes. Maybe that netflix show got in his head a little too much.
July 31st, 2026 at 2:15 pm
LMAO I love the drama.
July 31st, 2026 at 2:15 pm
Wish we could just fast forward through this lame duck season and get to the part where we fire Bowles, and start over from scratch with more cap space when we let Vea and Mayfield walk.
July 31st, 2026 at 2:17 pm
I have young managers at my company that like to do this s***. āIf I donāt get the promotion to director, Iāll quit – I deserve itā.
āļø
July 31st, 2026 at 2:17 pm
Still think Mayfield is Bucs quarterback in 2027. But a little less confident than Joe was before Thursday’s practice.
July 31st, 2026 at 2:20 pm
Schefter is also saying Bakers’ little outburst rubbed ownership the wrong way. [Joe is pretty sure he pointed this out in the story. And the video where Schefter said that is above, for all to view. — Joe] Which is like biting the hand that you want to feed you. Starting to think this dude didn’t grow out of the immaturity that was allegedly part of him getting bounced out of the state of Ohio(embarrassing), but he did manage to mask it in a new environment.
Remember how Brady responded to Bakers’ comments about having fun? This can’t be apart of that fun
July 31st, 2026 at 2:21 pm
He was offered what y’all been screaming about, “pay the man”, nothing left, he is done here, unless he takes less which what I would do. If you turn down over 100 million for two years and you declined, then you next contract offer will be substantially, don’t like it, GTFO!!
July 31st, 2026 at 2:22 pm
This will produce the best outcome for the upcoming season–Baker was the #3 QB in ’24, I see similar results upcoming
July 31st, 2026 at 2:23 pm
Substantially lower I mean.
July 31st, 2026 at 2:25 pm
Baker and VV in a package deal for multiple picks?
July 31st, 2026 at 2:25 pm
Big difference between a new contract and an extension, right? Interesting that the āorganizationā did not make that known until Baker right or wrong called them out! Again, get the great guru of a GM in a press conference and let reporters ask him questions. He will parse his answers to fit the teamās narrative. Say what they say, they intended to sign Baker to a new contract.
July 31st, 2026 at 2:26 pm
Walter’s comment above is spot on. Took the words right out of my mouth. This is a lost season already lets just get it over with. Lame duck head coach, lame duck QB… franchise is going back into the doldrums
July 31st, 2026 at 2:32 pm
āApparently, Mayfieldās words yesterday ruffled the wrong feathers of Bucs suits.ā
You KNEW they would be. I mean, HOW could they not be. It really rubbed me the wrong way, too. It was SO PATHETIC, and on soooo many levels. It only exposed (to those who have been fooled and blinded) exactly WHO and WHAT āBaker Mayfieldā truly IS. Itās all FAKE. I mean, come onā¦ There is a very good REASON for why (according to him) āHEā is always being screwed over. Itās because, the people who are forced to witness it first hand, can easily see THROUGH IT. And, is a big part of the reason for WHY Mike left. Heās a JOKE, Man. And, that is all on HIM. Cause, heās had PLENTY of time to have LEARNED by now! But, itās people who are exactly like HIM, who never do. Again, that is all on HIM. Heās a loose cannon, and a HUGE risk. He needs to take a real good look in the mirror. I mean, YOU DONāT take your locker room or your business, PUBLIC. We see exactly who HE IS. Though, I already KNEW. Could always, see right through-it. I most always can, so he NEVER fooled ME.
July 31st, 2026 at 2:36 pm
Idk, seems a 2 year extension is more of a placeholder for the next QB1. If ownership believes heās the guy, give him the 4 year deal. Seems QBs play well into their mid 30ās.
July 31st, 2026 at 2:38 pm
@ gbobucsfan Says: āIf Bake wants to be paid like a franchise qb, he needs to start acting like one. You handle your business behind the scenes. Maybe that netflix show got in his head a little too much.ā
EXACTLY šÆ. And, HIS WIFE (in his head). She was sitting around watching tv and scrolling social media, and then got him all worked up over it, even more. Heās an āemotionalā guy! LoL. We need a little āCryin Baker Doll,ā that has him screaming āIāM A FRANCHISE QUARTERBACK,ā when you pull the string.
July 31st, 2026 at 2:45 pm
“[Joe is pretty sure he pointed this out in the story. And the video where Schefter said that is above, for all to view. ā Joe]”
Definitely read here it here first, Joe. Was just shocked because there’s news coming out everywhere, I go from hearing Tiki Barber talking on WFAN about the Jets making a run at Baker to coming back here and seeing Schefter had a temp check on our owners.
Either way, we’re all over the sports news wire for some not-so-good reasons and it all boils down to money. IJS I remember Mike Evans saying he wouldn’t talk about a deal back in ’23(?) once the regular season started iirc and he stuck by that. Baker could’ve done the same, but he’s apparently grappling with impulse control on & off the field. Sure, reporters can ask anything they want, but you were probably there Joe, he gave up alot of information that some in the press pool didn’t specifically ask for.
July 31st, 2026 at 2:48 pm
It is very embarrassing. Remember way back when around Week-6 of last seasonā¦ When, he walked up to the podium, and started āpopping-offā to all of his detractors throughout the years (about immaturity and moxie, etc). Lmao. It was PATHETIC THEN, and it is even WORSE NOW. Heās got BIG PROBLEMS (ālittle manā issues). Heās just SUCH a lil child, Man. GROW TF UP, Dude. Youāre a freaking MORON for not taking THAT DEAL. GTFO.
July 31st, 2026 at 2:50 pm
Not liking this at all. Just super disappointed with everything. First keeping Bowles was stupid, ownership saying “oh they fight for him” and then Bowles saying the opposite. Then Mike leaving. Then Vita wanting to leave, now Baker is being a jerk.
July 31st, 2026 at 2:51 pm
Maybe not a jerk, but it’s def not a good look at all. I get where he’s coming from, get your bread, at the same time, like you don’t need to be inflammatory.
July 31st, 2026 at 2:53 pm
@ Scotty in Fat Antonio Says: āBaker and VV in a package deal for multiple picks?ā
Yeah, right! So, WHOās got about $80-MILLION to commit to those two, over the next 3-YEARS+!? Iāll go ahead and answer āthat oneā for youā¦ NO ONE. Now that should tell you a lot more about the predicament, that the Bucs find themselves in.
July 31st, 2026 at 2:54 pm
baker is outta here after the season!!!!…book it!!!!…he just burned another bridge….
GO BUCS!!!!
July 31st, 2026 at 2:55 pm
now watch the glazers extend Vita on a 3year deal 22mil per year lol
GO BUCS!!!!
July 31st, 2026 at 2:57 pm
Baker Mayfield is the only QB in more than a decade who couldn’t throw the football 1000 yards to a first ballot HOF wide receiver. Mike Evans left to be with a QB that can. Jason put him in his place and Mayfield got disrespected.
July 31st, 2026 at 2:58 pm
“Heās an āemotionalā guy! LoL. We need a little āCryin Baker Doll,ā that has him screaming āIāM A FRANCHISE QUARTERBACK,ā when you pull the string.”
“Somebody’s poisoned the water hole”
-or-
“There’s a snake in my boots”
-or-
That one Dirk Diggler quote from “Boogie Nights”, ya’ll know the one lol
July 31st, 2026 at 3:02 pm
Whereās that BIG āDISCOUNT,ā Bois!? Lmaoooo. But, heās my good-ole widdle Bakey-Bake. Hahahah. He would play for FREE. Thatās just who HE IS. A true Leader. Pssstt. Like Iāve been saying all alongā¦ DELUSIONAL. On another planet.
July 31st, 2026 at 3:03 pm
Iām sick of his a$$! Awe heās disrespected, EVERY TEAM DID EXCEPT THE BUCS!!! But go ahead bite the ONLY hand that fed you!!
July 31st, 2026 at 3:04 pm
Tough situation to navigate when we have a lame duck HC (potentially).
We should’ve just hired Zac Robinson ascHC and been done with it.
It as in Bowles’ tenure
July 31st, 2026 at 3:06 pm
š¤£š¤£š¤£
I’ve been right about him all along and this whole fiasco. I knew he would not get the long term extention, he loves himself too much. Each game This season will feel like a playoff game to him with 9 figures at risk every throw. This will be fun to watch…
July 31st, 2026 at 3:13 pm
@ Bee – šÆ Iām here for it! LoL.
July 31st, 2026 at 3:17 pm
“Baker Mayfield is the only QB in more than a decade who couldnāt throw the football 1000 yards to a first ballot HOF wide receiver. Mike Evans left to be with a QB that can. Jason put him in his place and Mayfield got disrespected.”
Somehow, I think it’s difficult to throw for 1000 yards to a guy who is on the sideline in a sling with a broken collarbone. Maybe Brady could have accomplished that…
July 31st, 2026 at 3:22 pm
I think Joe has always been right by saying let the season play out. If he balls out and the Bucs win a playoff game, it will be the same next offseason.
July 31st, 2026 at 3:28 pm
@ BucfaninMi Says: āIām sick of his a$$! Awe heās disrespected, EVERY TEAM DID EXCEPT THE BUCS!!! But go ahead bite the ONLY hand that fed you!!ā
Yep. Exactly. šÆ. It was literally SHOCKING to see (even knowing āBAKERā). I just wouldāve thought that heād at least grown up SOME, right!? Wow. They gave HIM his current CONTRACT. And, when it was a literal GIFT. Since, they were only bidding AGAINST THEMSELVES šÆ. They were literally, THE ONLY āoptionā for him BOTH TIMES. After Cousins signed with ATL, there was NOWHERE or NO ONE ELSE. And, HE immediately TOOK-IT (exactly as I said he would, and at the EXACT number). The Bottomline is being, when Players AGE, and they start getting EXPENSIVEā¦ Teams just donāt want to ācommitā any further than 2-YEARS, which wouldāve been 3-TOTAL, in his current situation. And, thatās just the way it IS. I mean, SERIOUSLYā¦ Heāll be 32-YEARS OLD. What the hell has HE DONEā¦ HOW has HIS career played-outā¦ WHO IS HE, exactly!? All of those āquestionsā have already been ANSWERED. Everyone already KNOWS. With young QBās (who you DRAFTED) before signing THEIR 2nd-Contractsā¦ NONE of this is typically KNOWN, so you have no other choice. You basically, HAVE TO (though, I do believe that some of that will change moving forward, and that teams will at least ātryā drawing a line in the sand)ā¦ But, HOW have several of those deals, worked-out so far!? NOT GREAT.
July 31st, 2026 at 3:31 pm
These players make way to much money and are always demanding more. Thatās never going to win you a Super Bowl when that happens. Brady did it the right way and thatās why heās a true winner.
July 31st, 2026 at 3:32 pm
Brady made sure he accomplished that because he threw catchable passes. Mike wrecked his body trying to make Mayfield look good.
July 31st, 2026 at 3:34 pm
Well it looks like it bucs have losing season new coach will be in town and who knows if new coach is like Baker or not
July 31st, 2026 at 3:34 pm
Leaked NFLPA player rankings of ownership ranked the Glazers as 3rd worst ownership. They are penny-pinching losers who have no problem seeing Raymond James empty on Sunday afternoons. They have no problem with another lost decade looking for their next franchise QB. This is why Mike Evans left and it will be why Baker Mayfield and Vita Vea leave. Itās also why the defense quit on the team last year. If you donāt pay players above and beyond as a reward for their effort going above and beyond, why should they go above and beyond? Thatās how you get a lost decade. These arenāt mere employees here ā¦ NFL players are elite top .0001% human beings who put an enormous amount of sacrifice and pain into their craft. You canāt just pay them āmarket rateā like theyāre accountants and expect Super Bowl championship effort. You get lost decade effort.
July 31st, 2026 at 3:40 pm
Rich people problems must be so tough and these players and owners wonder why everybody can’t stand their ass.
July 31st, 2026 at 3:44 pm
Trade Him now!!!!
July 31st, 2026 at 3:48 pm
Do any of the national actually watch Baker play from week 7 on? Are they even aware that Baker played so bad he got his entire offensive staff fired? Did they see him putting up 122 yards, and 145 yards with the playoffs on the line in must win games? Did they watch him go to Miami, in a game that was his 4th chance in a row to win ONE game to make the playoffs, and Baker played probably the worst game of his Bucs career when you account for circumstances.
The fact the Bucs offered any sort of extension was just the Bucs fishing to see if Baker would take a cheap deal coming off an awful season. From the Bucs standpoint, they were offering a middling deal for a middling quarterback – but also giving themselves plenty of outs by structuring it so they didn’t have a huge amount of money involved and could always trade him if he was once again “not healthy” since some dumb team (looking at you Cleveland) would give up something for him.
Again, Baker is under contract, coming off a terrible year where he singlehandedly cost the Bucs the playoffs, and there is no legit reason to try to extend him now unless you get a very team friendly deal with outs.
From Baker’s standpoint, I have zero issues with him not taking the deal. At the same time, while everyone remembers he bet on himself before 2023, what they never talk about is how he also had a very inflated view of himself going into the 2024 offseason and thought he’d get a huge big money offer, and the Bucs, meanwhile, gave him a middling deal with an out after 2-years (sound familiar?). Baker earned the full contract, however, so good on him for doing so. Also, if Baker is convinced last year was all about health, and he’s healthy, then of course just play out the contract and he’s going to make a lot more next offseason as opposed to this offseason, so there’s not much of a reason to sign anything unless the Bucs were going to massively overpay – and they’re not.
July 31st, 2026 at 3:54 pm
You really want to peeve them off…. hold out / in after last day of training camp. Give them what they want, tanking the season
July 31st, 2026 at 3:59 pm
baker the baby, he was behaving himself until this drama, what about the team? 40 million is not enuf for the qb that probably will never win a sb, the worst part is taking your million dollar problems to the media- the timing is wack, go out and win something then ask for more money, not right after your epic flame out to 2-7. we can get another qb
July 31st, 2026 at 4:01 pm
What happens if and when Baker has ANOTHER season just like 2023 and 2025 (and for most of his career)ā¦ THEN, WHAT!? Now, THAT will be a real tough one there. It will depend on the new HC, but then you CANāT āFranchise Him,ā right!? Cause, then WHO ELSE would be willing to PAY $50-MIL!? You couldnāt trade him. Unless, it was just the ONE perfect situation, with the ONE team who has a LOADED (āchampionshipā/Super Bowl level) ROSTER, the āavailableā Cap Space, but NO QBā¦ And, wanted to give-it a run for 1-season, to see what happens. Baker shouldāve TAKEN the deal. At least for his family, if not for anything else. His stubbornness and EGO mightāve just gotten the best of him for one last-time (in the league anyway).
July 31st, 2026 at 4:02 pm
What a feces festival. That’s right everyone, take it public, burn down everyone’s reputation, incinerate all good will. Vitriol and empty seats all around. Devil take both sides…
July 31st, 2026 at 4:05 pm
Baker’s words have been taken out of context.
July 31st, 2026 at 4:26 pm
Mike Tannenbaum (deservingly so), just LIT INTO Baker on NFL LIVE. And, he aināt the only one, either. He hit the nail, exactly on the head. I mean, HOW DUMB.
July 31st, 2026 at 4:32 pm
And, he spoke the TRUTH (even before Bakerās little tantrum). Especially, about WHOās giving him $50-MILLION next year NOW, after that!? Even though, heās always HAD TO have the season of HIS LIFE (this season) in the first place, in order to have accomplished and earned THAT. But, NOWā¦ It BETTER BE DAMN SPECIAL. Heās already burned too many bridges, and they just aināt gonna do it. Like Iāve said, all alongā¦ It aināt happenin. Huhā¦ Then, WHO!?
July 31st, 2026 at 4:34 pm
He feels disrespected. Fans should feel disrespected spending their hard money on $25 beers watching a crappy quarterback tank second half of the season.
July 31st, 2026 at 4:37 pm
THIS Franchise has been DAMN GOOD to BAKER, and fully-supportive for the entire way! EVEN, when no one else was. And, then FOR āHIMā (of all people) to go out there in PUBLIC like that, and to SAY ALL THOSE THINGS!? No. Just NO, MAN. GTFOH. Itās DISGRACEFUL. PATHETIC. ENTITLED. And, REAL STUPID.
July 31st, 2026 at 4:45 pm
We had so many guys in the family fighting each other. Half saying, Pay the man! thinking the Bucs were lowballing Baker. Sooooo many family members had Baker’s back. Now, not only do we hear that the Bucs offered Baker OVER $50M, Baker comes out in a press conference saying the Bucs disrespected him!!
What king of foolishness is this. This guy should be a professor and the name of his course should be “How to alienate your fans and supporters in 30 days.” No wonder Cleveland chose to trade for an accused sexual predator instead of keeping Baker. Think about that for a minute. Baker wasn’t playing horribly when they made that decision. When he learned that the Browns were aggressively pursuing Watson, guess what Mr. Moxie said? He said he felt disrespected.
So Baker!!! Are you saying that you feel the same way about the Bucs offering you $50+ M per year as you did when the Browns signed another QB??? At that time, someone in the Browns organization said they pursued Watson because thy wanted an “adult at quarterback.
So, here you are again Baker, going through the same thing. Over and over again (Kiesha Cole) alienating the Bucs organization that had up to this point had you back. The Glaziers called you their franchise QB. One thing is for certain. The Bucs have a very respected organization around the league. If Baker burns this bridge with his mouth and immaturity like he did in Cleveland, there won’t be too many desirable places to go.
Now you have pi$$ed the front office off and right now they’re wondering if you’re worth the headace and distraction. At 28-26, you ain’t!
July 31st, 2026 at 4:48 pm
@ Buccaneer Bonzai Says: āBakerās words have been taken out of context.ā
No, they have NOT. I mean, WHAT PLANET are YOU living on!? Did YOU even WATCH the whole thing!? There is ONLY āONEā WAY to take them. It was extremely CUT & DRY. There is literally, NO other way to say or describe it. PERIOD. End of Story. I mean, are YOU āfamilyā or something!? Cause, thereās literally no other way to explain how YOU are taking up FOR HIM like thisā¦ Especially, when there are obviously ZERO EXCUSES, or any other way to try to SPIN-IT. I mean, WHOās side are YOU on hereā¦ Are you an actual REAL BUCS FAN, or just a BAKER-FAN!?ā Cause, otherwise it doesnāt even make any sense what YOU are saying.
July 31st, 2026 at 4:59 pm
All the mods can do now is WHINE.
July 31st, 2026 at 5:00 pm
@ Serge – Oh, REALLY!? My bad then, because I was u der the impression that Bake was already SIGNED and UNDER CONTRACT. So, I guess, YOU BELIEVE that Baker will be SO BAD this season, that we will be forced to have to TANK the second half, then. GOT-IT. When, I see all the EXACT SAME ROSTER and everything else weāve had for the past SEVERAL MONTHS. Or, you are in agreement with MYSELF and the rest of the realistic and rational Bucs Fans, who believe that THIS is already NOT a āchampionship-caliberā ROSTER or TEAM in the first placeā¦ And, extending TWO 32-YEAR OLDS for $80-MILLION LONGTERM over the next 3-YEARS, does absolutely NOTHING to change that. Other than, just handcuffing us and making it IMPOSSIBLE, to be able to get any BETTER.
July 31st, 2026 at 5:09 pm
If you’ve signed a contract, honor it. If the Bucs offered $50M+/year for two years, Baker has every right to turn it down, but “disrespect” seems like a reach.
July 31st, 2026 at 5:10 pm
@ ATL – This is exactly what happened in Cleveland. His TRUE SELF, has been exposed once AGAIN. The dude is not a stable individual. And, that is WHY no one has wanted HIM enough, in order to be willing to ācommitā to HIM longterm. Ya knowā¦ Itās just SO PATHETIC. After he walked up there to that podium like that last season, after Week 5 or 6, JUST to āpop-offā to literally EVERYONE, who has EVER said even the ONE slightest, ānegativeā little thing, towards HIMā¦ Itās just embarrassing, FOR HIM. Itās shameful. Or, shameless.
July 31st, 2026 at 5:19 pm
I think the Bucs were probably foolish not to offer three years (2027-29) at the same price, and Baker would have been foolish not to accept. Everyone gets to make their choices, obviously, of course, but if this season turns into bad morale and pointless drama, I’ll pass.
July 31st, 2026 at 5:24 pm
Of course the bucs aren’t happy. Mayfield is an employee. He goes on air talking like that? You dont like 2.5 million dollars to go out and suck half the time find another job. Too much for one guy anyway. Draft a QB after lovie and Mayflower lead you to another losing record.
July 31st, 2026 at 5:25 pm
āhere you are again Baker, going through the same thing. Over and over again (Kiesha Cole) alienating the Bucs organization that had up to this point had you back.ā
Elite RnB reference
July 31st, 2026 at 5:28 pm
Bake will not last the first half of the season.
July 31st, 2026 at 5:37 pm
Melvin, Melvin, Melvinā¦. Take your blood pressure meds dude.
Iām thinking the very spoiled and entitled Glazer boys got their feelings hurt too.
āNo employee will disrespect us publicly!ā
Also, MJ try to be more creative. The constant Gtfās are unnecessary and sad
July 31st, 2026 at 5:38 pm
Itās really amazing. If he hadnāt been SUCH an immature little CHILD like this, for throughout his entire career, he couldāve made things a whole lot easier on HIMSELF, and wouldāve been in a MUCH BETTER situation right nowā¦ Had he NOT allowed the MONEY and HIS EGO to get the best of him.
I just had MAJOR Deja Vu right there LoLā¦ Iām trying to think who it wasā¦ Seems like I remember typing/saying this exact same thing before, about an NBA Player, maybe!? Or was it just Baker before, in the past!? Hmmmmā¦ Weird. Iām trying to thinkā¦ Seems like, there was an NBA Player once, who allowed āMONEY & EGOā to really mess him up and only ended up screwing himself over!? Idk, itās probably BAKER in Cleveland (but I was thinking it might have been more recent).
Regardless, heās REALLY exposed HIMSELF nowā¦ WHO he is truly is. Itās just amazing to ME though, that HE wasnāt able to get past OBSESSING OVER MONEY like that, and having IT to define HIM. Itās crazy. But, just how WEAK and PATHETIC THO. And, I tried telling all of these JUST DELUSIONAL, āBaker Bois.ā They single-handedly, have made it IMPOSSIBLE, even trying rooting for BAKER.
July 31st, 2026 at 5:50 pm
@ OLDSCHOOL1976 Says: āNo employee will disrespect us publicly!ā
Yah, and YOU would be the exact same way, if it were YOU, or YOUR Business, or YOUR Company, or YOUR WHATEVER. On top of thatā¦ There. Is. A. SALARY CAP. I thought BAKER was this āLEADER.ā Cough, cough, BS. Heās a spoiled little CHILD. I mean, come onā¦ ANYONE, would have more SENSE than that. Heās 31-YEAR OLD NOW, and HEās EMOTIONALā¦ After being offered $50-MILLION to play a freaking GAME!? Be REAL.
July 31st, 2026 at 5:57 pm
Really lame how the “leaders” of this team who led their team to a 2-7 collapse and resolve it by this abysmal show of professionalism and heart
Baker – really a poor representative for a professional negotiation
Tristen – starts camp injured (hey, rookies look at me on the sideline b4 any hits)
Mike Evans – bailed as fast as he could
David – admitted to loafing and immediately retired
AWJ – not vocal and not great in 2025. You’d think a guy with a C on his shirt could help lock in rookies and a bored CB
Vita – big fat part time baby can’t honor his contract.
This is the character Licht drafts and Bowles molds. LAME! This is starting to p!ss me off. No love for the game, no honor in fulling your commitment whether a contract,- to not loaf- or be prepared to start a season, no loyalty: Baker was resurrected with a stacked team, ME13 was coddled to nurture the 1000 yd string, Vita wants top 10 pay for 60% play. Gtfooh
July 31st, 2026 at 5:58 pm
I blame licht. That canned ham of a head needs to wake up and read the room. Stop waiting for everything to fall in your lap. Get proactive!
July 31st, 2026 at 5:59 pm
Take the drama to the llama. He said she said? Really?
July 31st, 2026 at 6:06 pm
The way the start of Preseason is going for the other NFC South teams, let Baker and Vita play out this season under their current contracts. Bucs could probably win the division with just 7 wins.
Next year, Franchise Baker and let Vita go. Also draft a QB with the 1st round pick. Then the rebuild will start in earnest in 2028.
July 31st, 2026 at 6:12 pm
Happy haters club today! Melvin (13 posts!) and the numbnuts are rocking! You guys better calm down else you won’t be able to sleep tonight.
Two year deal — not fully guaranteed. That is indeed a slight to someone you’ve told the media “is our guy”, “franchise quarterback”. What BS! Opps, got caught with your pants down!
Glazers are cheap, period. That’s why the organization is saddled with coach Bowles.
July 31st, 2026 at 6:18 pm
I’ve read that the dead money would be added to his salary…so $80 million cap hit next year? Yeah right. This makes little sense. He counts $30 million next year whether he’s on the team or not. Licht kicked the can and it is time to pay…again. Brady at least got us a SB. The chapter post Brady is a mess.
July 31st, 2026 at 6:18 pm
Ex Brown, nice job calling it like you see it. I was tempted to do the same. My God, some of these people must be paid by the post… Get a life guys!
July 31st, 2026 at 6:30 pm
@ Justvisiting Says: āBaker has every right to turn it down, but ādisrespectā seems like a reach.ā
Yeah, right!? Itās all absolutely mind-blowing. I mean, HE really thought that was a good smart idea, to go up there, and spew all that BS outta HIS MOUTH like that. He has never come across as being very smart though. Itās just SO RIDICULOUS, and on soooo many level. You are šÆ correctā¦ I mean, HE turned it down, and declined the offer. So, what else is there left to SAY!? It wouldāve given HIM a guaranteed check for the NEXT 3-YEARS.
All the Baker Bois, have so strongly and confidently explained now FOR YEARSā¦ That, āMONEYā does not motivate or drive BAKER. That, HE is a REAL LEADER, who just wants to WIN and PLAY BALL Lmao. And, even more delusionalā¦ That, HE will gladly accept a āDISCOUNT,ā & etc. They would try to argue over and over & again and again, while only trying to make āTHEMSELVESā believe. And, then I would tell THEM that they were all DELUSIONAL, and are just living inside of some very weird āadultā Baker-Fantasylandā¦ That, it was nothing but absolute pure ABSURDITY. Which was ALL TRUE. But, THEN he goes and does THISā¦ Itās ALL Total Insanity. Especially, when it comes to Baker. Itās LITERAL.
July 31st, 2026 at 6:41 pm
JL needs to talk
July 31st, 2026 at 6:51 pm
@ 80sBucsFan Says: āIāve read that the dead money would be added to his salaryā¦so $80 million cap hit next year? Yeah right. This makes little sense. He counts $30 million next year whether heās on the team or not. Licht kicked the can and it is time to payā¦again.
Entirely, IRRELEVANT. Because, the $30-MILLION is a helluva LOT ‘easier’ pill to swallow, than what the $150-MILLION+ would be (and longterm, well into future CAPS). Annnnd, the $30-MIL is guaranteed, regardless… They WILL have to pay that, no matter WHAT happens. It’s already, a DONE DEAL. Plus, there will be at least a ‘half-dozen’ OTHER WAYS, to take care of it!!!! So, that is nothing but a WEAK attempt at an EXCUSE. You canNOT allow something like that, to dictate your ENTIRE organization’s FUTURE. 19 PERIOD. End of That Story.
Also, Letās REMEMBERā¦ They absolutely did NOT just tell him to take a hike! THEY OFFERED HIM. 2-YEARS, and OVER $100-MILLION EXTRA, on top of this seasonās PAY, that hasnāt EVEN TAKEN PLACE YET. I mean, HE hasnāt taken the FIRST SNAP. Annnndd, once AGAINā¦ Had you people not just āLISTENEDā to ME for the entire TIME, you wouldāve already KNOWN that āHEā wasnāt getting 4-5 YEARS. NEVER, in the first place. Was NEVER HAPPENING. I mean, HOW ABSURD. But, you people continued throwing all of these JUST EMPTY and RIDICULOUS ānumbersā out there for the number of YEARS, & etc. It was all just sooo ABSURD. And, my other favorite wordā¦ DELUSIONAL. LoL.
July 31st, 2026 at 7:01 pm
Yo Joe
You got the nerve to praise the receiving core
Sounding just like Bowles lol
āWe like the guys we gotā – Bowles etc
Let me tell you something
They all gonna look like world class receivers playing against these corners !!!
July 31st, 2026 at 7:05 pm
Itās like Munch expecting someone to pay for his opinion. He thinks itās VERY valuable, but he could be offered maybe 10 cents. He wouldnāt like it either. The thing isā¦..Baker is worth what heās asking.
July 31st, 2026 at 7:26 pm
so if they were offering him a 2 year extension of his current contract at 50mil for 2027 and 2028 and he’s getting 40mil for 2026, that’s about 47mil/yr. he said it wasnt about the money though, it was about the length of the contract. also there’s no mention of how much they offered him in guaranteed money which is kind of a big deal..
July 31st, 2026 at 7:31 pm
Joe Bob Pigskin Says:
July 31st, 2026 at 7:05 pm
Itās like Munch expecting someone to pay for his opinion. He thinks itās VERY valuable, but he could be offered maybe 10 cents. He wouldnāt like it either. The thing isā¦..Baker is worth what heās asking.
————
It’s almost like it’s a comment section and someone is commenting… and you’re commenting on my commenting so you could comment on what I was commenting on.
July 31st, 2026 at 7:32 pm
sunny Says:
July 31st, 2026 at 7:26 pm
so if they were offering him a 2 year extension of his current contract at 50mil for 2027 and 2028 and heās getting 40mil for 2026, thatās about 47mil/yr. he said it wasnt about the money though, it was about the length of the contract. also thereās no mention of how much they offered him in guaranteed money which is kind of a big deal….
————-
If it’s not about the money, then the Bucs should give him a max length offer at vet min. I’d love to see a team make an offer like that public and say it’s on the table – you know, if it’s really not about the money, here you go, max length, the best we can do, and its what he claims is most important.
July 31st, 2026 at 7:34 pm
I wish someone would disrespect me for $50M x2 years- Iād also take 40M x2.
July 31st, 2026 at 7:34 pm
@ Joe Bob – No, HE is absolutely NOT. He would be VERY hard pressed to get ANYTHING MORE than just the 2-years/$100MIL+ that the Bucs OFFERED, from ANYWHERE ELSE. Sorry to burst your little Bakey-Bake Bubble, but itās just a FACT. Itās called REALITY. And, he definitely couldnāt even get THAT, NOW. Now, that everyoneās past concerns and fears about HIM has been FULLY EXPOSED (once again). NOBODY is handing-out LONGTERM deals like that, to 32-YEAR OLD Quarterbacks. Thatās just a FACT. Especially, to ones that THEY did not DRAFT. Especially, to those with HIS HISTORY. His history of INJURIES, inconsistent PLAY, & etc. etc. Especially, to āundersizedā QBās, with A LOT of baggage, who is a literal walking DISTRACTION, and who is focused on all of the WRONG things! Thereās just absolutely NO-WAY. The Bucs offered HIM the best deal HEāS GETTING. Especially, AFTER a 3-8 FINISH, and given HIS PLAY. It just is what it IS.
July 31st, 2026 at 7:40 pm
@ Rod Munch – Baker is not just full of HIMSELF. He is FULL-uv-IT.
July 31st, 2026 at 7:49 pm
Melvin Junior with SEVENTEEN posts in one article…Joe’s…come on…someone is just rage posting at this point. Might be good for him to take a break. 17? Wow.
July 31st, 2026 at 7:54 pm
@ magoobee – Vet-Bridge on the CHEAP. Donāt waste a single YEAR of your young stud QBās ārookie-levelā deal. BUILD. THE. ROSTER. FIRST. Thennnnn, make your very calculated move by DRAFTING the one YOU WANTā¦ With an already LOADED and STACKED ROSTERā¦ And, 5-FULL YEARS of his ārookieā contract. Do NOT āREACH,ā just to be DRAFTING ONE. Unless, itās a canāt-miss generational talent, that you canāt afford to pass on. There will be soooo many STUDS in this next draft-class, at ALL POSITIONS, up and down and all throughout the board. I can mane 20 of these QBās right now, right off the top of my headā¦ I havenāt seen āgenerationalā yet, on ANY of them. But, I HAVE with a certain WR. If weāre picking between 3-5, Iām taking āJeremiah Freaking SMITHā šÆ ALL DAY LONG. EVERYDAY. And, I really like Cam Coleman an AWFULLY LOT, too!!!! This. Draft. IS. SO LOADED. Canāt afford wasting a pick by REACHING for anything. We just need as MANY of these āpicksā as humanly POSSIBLE.
July 31st, 2026 at 7:55 pm
@ 80sBucsfan – Not even CLOSE to my record yet, buddy!
July 31st, 2026 at 8:04 pm
Cry me a river!! Lol!! Personally I really dont care what he gets! Long,short term $10 to 100 Trillion, I Dont Have To pay him!! Football is a right around the corner Yeeeee Hawwwww! The ozone is burning and the world keeps turning!!
July 31st, 2026 at 8:52 pm
Who cares there all overpaid
July 31st, 2026 at 8:59 pm
Rod, occasionally your comments are somewhat interesting.
The Bucs need to pay Baker and also give him the years. I believe itāll happen.
July 31st, 2026 at 9:21 pm
What do you expect from owners who continually employ a subpar HC!
July 31st, 2026 at 10:22 pm
It’s about respect/appreciation which, in professional settings, are primarily expressed in contractual terms. It’s pretty obvious that, on Baker’s side, none of this is about how many total millions are in his contract. It’s about him wanting recognition that he is (in his opinion) a “franchise” QB. That means getting paid like a franchise QB, with a term like a franchise QB.
The one person who hasn’t done his job in this mess is Licht. As a manager, you might decide not to show your single most employee the respect he thinks he deserves, but there’s no excuse for doing it without +realizing+, and it sure seems like that happened here.
July 31st, 2026 at 10:23 pm
single most important employee
July 31st, 2026 at 10:33 pm
Glazers are thin skinned woke wimps. They removed Gruden from the ROH because of their weenie wussified demeanor. They were victims of too many playground beatingsā¦but in reality, probably not enough.
July 31st, 2026 at 11:10 pm
Melvin is so full of it. I can’t read his crap it is so full of bs l. Total waste of time. So misleading and untrue. Ridiculous
July 31st, 2026 at 11:19 pm
1. Bakers Game injures himself , see last year !!
2. Baker often does not check down on 2 nd down
creating a move the chains or less than 3 rd and 2.
3. This , see above is where he has to make great plays
to make a play ā¦.. all created by Baker ā¦.. not at al necessary
4. Franchise tag is less than 45 mil ā¦.. No Way anyone that
can accurately watch film can say Baker is def. a top 10 qb.
No Way !! BTW Baker and Agent , half the Super plays are caused by Baker
not throwing from the pocket well and unnecessary play extension
5. At least two batted balls a game and at least two important throws pulled down do to batted ball issues
6. Thatās at least 3 move the chains lost ā¦ā¦. thatās less than 50 mil
7. Love Bake but heās a top 15 qb with an All American Effort w a good arm
but not good at all in the pocket. He extends plays to make NOT necessary plays !!
8. Love some Baker Plays but he has some real limitations and next years Franchise $may be above his performance!!
9. Franchise is currently less than 45 mil ā¦Baker is a great competitor but heās no where close to top 5 and he wants like 60 mil ā¦ā¦ā¦ Dude the Bucs Org Saved You !!
Child Please Gets Sober , Gets Real !! š
July 31st, 2026 at 11:44 pm
Lefty. I’m woke and that means I’m aware was going on around me . That’s the true meaning of being woke and Gruden was wrong he shouldn’t have said what he said.
August 1st, 2026 at 12:48 am
This talk of oh they will just franchise him lol yeah ok let’s force a disgruntled guy to play and further not make a decision lol what a mess. This chip on baker talk is wishful thinking it’s all a distraction what a freaking mess.
August 1st, 2026 at 6:58 am
@ oneil..For someone that is ” woke ” and doesn’t recognize the country’s ” Independence Day” makes absolutely no sense!
August 1st, 2026 at 7:45 am
The fans really loved you, Baker. But when you said that “this is not a pity party” after passing on $100,000,000 (look at all those zeroes) for two years, you lost us. Two years? Or more years? That’s a subjective variable. Regardless, with $100 million, your great-great-great grandchildren will not have to work. It’s life changing money for generations of Mayfields! (And in the context of this discussion, professional sports salaries have become obscene. And no pundits have the integrity to say this out loud.)
Karma is a b*tch, Baker. And I truly fear that your public tantrums and self-righteous outrage will backfire. This season’s myopic and obsessive pursuit of vindication–on the field–may not serve you well. The football gods are not always benevolent. All that said, good luck to you…
August 1st, 2026 at 7:56 am
So he passed on an extension that would pay him his current contract this year and a little north of $50 million a year for two additional years just to make the exact same pay this year and look for some new organization to pay him a little north of $50 million a year once the season is over. Am I missing something? It wasnāt top of the market money, but the Bucs made him a good offer. If heās injured this year or his skills diminish, he wonāt be offered north of $50:million a year by the Bucs or anybody else. He needs stronger representation.
August 1st, 2026 at 9:05 am
Could all this drama with Mayfield be about 1 thing? The franchise tag?
August 1st, 2026 at 9:50 am
Oneil case in point.. just re-read your post. Jeez
August 1st, 2026 at 10:16 am
I repeat myself. Baker is a child in an adult’s body. He still hasn’t grown up. The evidence is in his choke jobs, lousy prime time record, and all around attitude.
August 1st, 2026 at 11:13 am
Iām extremely happy with how the franchise views mayfield and with their offer. Itās reasonable and representative of where he ranks among his peers.
However, is how mayfield reacted really that bad? I donāt think so. Itās not ideal thatās for sure. But he negotiating, albeit quite childishly. But that should surprise no one. Thatās who he is. Mr āIām so disrespectedā is always looking for revenge on someone which as a poster noted above explains a lot of his play.
August 1st, 2026 at 3:17 pm
I like Baker. But I have a hard time feeling sorry for his āI feel disrespectedā nonsense for a guy that has already made fantasy money and was offered more fantasy money and somehow itās not enough. Work maybe till 40 and then retire with more money than youāll ever need. Itās a rough life compared to the regular guy that works till north of 65 and hopes they have enough.
August 1st, 2026 at 6:06 pm
For everyone complaining about professional athletes getting more money than any of us normal folks can dream of, or spouting off because pro athletes want to get paid market rate for the positions they play…Would you be happy with your current employer if they offered you much less than guys you know you are out working / out producing at your job function – when you know the competitor down the street is likely to give you a fat raise and better benefits package should you seek out a job with them???
I think not, you would do what is best for your family. Just as Baker is doing. Just as Vea is doing – though at least Baker is practicing and not playing the “Walk-in” fake injury BS that Vita’s pulling.
You would push for pay consummate to you job performance and experience, especially if you knew you could wait it out & go get a better job down the street if your current employer wouldn’t match the market rate…If you had any leverage, you would use it to benefit your household. Period.
WTS, I like Baker. I am not sure any QB is really worth $50M/ yr but that is the market rate is set at now…& after looking at who else is in that pay range, there’s no doubt Baker should get $53-55M/yr on his next deal & it should be at least a 4yr deal. The 2 yr “extension” offered by the FO is laughable.
If you don’t think Baker is as valuable to the Bucs as Herbert, Purdy, Goff, Love or Lawrence are to their franchises…it is what it is. But there’s no way he has not played at a level = to / better than all those guys that are making $52-55M/yr.
Offering anything less than $55M annually is a slap in the face to Baker. Remember, he has already taken 2 sweetheart deals to be in TB. (While watching Licht over commit/overpay Glazer resources to a host of other rostered Bucs during that time)…It’s his time to get his & I fully support that regardless. He has every right to seek out appropriate market rate compensation.
Now, the FO can balk at the numbers Baker or his agent want & that’s fine if they truly do not believe Baker is worth the money….Whatever, it’s their careers on the line just as much as Baker’s.