Baker Mayfield Talks Locker Room Support, Health
August 11th, 2026
Baker Mayfield sat down with Leonard Fournette and Jarvis Landry for a extended chat recorded after he spoke out to media regarding his contract frustration 12 days ago.
The interview published today on the 4th and South podcast. Mayfield didn’t address his contract situation but he responded to Landry, his former Browns teammate, about “the dilemma” he’s facing personally.
Mayfield said he feels completely at home in Tampa — and that’s very much about his teammates and entire culture within the team.
“Everybody’s so close; there’s no egos in that locker room, “Mayfield said. “It doesn’t matter who you are; you just go about your business. So for me, that feels like home. And so, it makes it easy for me to be just up front and honest. I’ve always worn my emotions and my thoughts on my sleeve. If you like that, great. If you don’t, that’s too bad. I’m not going to change for you.
“But the guys appreciate that part of it. There’s the business side of football, yes, we all play this for a job. But [my teammates] know that when it comes to game days, I’m ready for a good season. I want my lick back in 2026; we didn’t play well enough in 2025. It’s on go.”
Mayfield also explained one reason he’s prepared to have a special 2026 season.
“I think I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in,” Mayfield said. “It took a while to feel healthy enough to actually train and get to that point. But I feel great. You know, you find your routine in the later years of your career and you figure out what works for you schedule-wise, workout-wise, diet-wise — all things you need to adjust and adapt to as the years go on. I feel really good. Yeah, last year I was banged up but, I mean, the whole team was.”
Interestingly, Mayfield added he believes the chip on his shoulder is still growing every year.
“I think if it wasn’t and I had the mindset of, ‘Oh, I’ve arrived,’ I wouldn’t have a job,” Mayfield said.
August 11th, 2026 at 3:31 pm
I’m so glad you’re healthy. Now go out there and earn that bag you’re trying to get!! That will unite the fanbase.
August 11th, 2026 at 3:32 pm
Sign him Now please. Bob Seger Turn the Page LFG!!
August 11th, 2026 at 3:34 pm
Allow me to be the first this year….FIRE BOWLES!
August 11th, 2026 at 3:39 pm
Grover will post even if the mod that does not like critics is the only one wh reads it.
August 11th, 2026 at 3:45 pm
I told ya so.
August 11th, 2026 at 3:45 pm
Baker needs to feel healthy in week 9, 10 and beyond. When it comes to cash-yet-to-be-earned this is the most important season remaining in his career.
Whoever he’s playing for next season needs to see more slides and less head first dives this year. Because while he’s able to heal up in the offseason from all the tears, dents and bruises at age 31 it’s going to be harder and harder each year after. No one is giving a wreckless guy willing to sacrifice his body for an extra yard a long term guaranteed deal just to kill their own salary cap later.
August 11th, 2026 at 3:45 pm
Keep Bowles and win the Super Bowl instead!
August 11th, 2026 at 3:47 pm
I like Baker very much! I did not use the other L word as you can see. I don,t see anyone better that is available out there.If he can catch fire late and play well enough to take a team deep into the playoffs this year then sign him 3 years for 160 million. I can,t believe I just said that. But we all know that defense wins championships! Todd Bowles knows it. Another flop and I still say go after Goff and throw a large bag of money at Tomlin and bring trophy number 3 home! That,s the Buc way
August 11th, 2026 at 4:08 pm
Baker’s attitude is why I don’t buy all the “vibes are ass” talk. If he really had a beef with the organization, he wouldn’t be talking like this and doing all the social media things.
August 11th, 2026 at 4:12 pm
Perfect picture. Baker is a spoiled little boy that wants all the toys he hasn’t worked for.
That’s why he’s perfect in the Bowles > Licht > Baker trifecta.
Winning isn’t the goal. Just the bag of cash for the promise of future success.
But only failure is achieved through a mountain of excuses. Great work if you can get it!
August 11th, 2026 at 4:24 pm
Baker this camp has been exactly what he’s been his entire time here. Great at times, ok at times and not so good at times.
Lot to prove this year to earn the fat new deal all these fans want to hand him right now
August 11th, 2026 at 4:55 pm
HE’S COMING HOME: Byron Leftwich Eyes Tampa Bay Return as NFL World Trembles
😂😂😂
August 11th, 2026 at 4:56 pm
Good practice for road trips.
August 11th, 2026 at 5:05 pm
“I’ve always worn my emotions and my thoughts on my sleeve. If you like that, great. If you don’t, that’s too bad. I’m not going to change for you.”
This is why we’ll see the same Baker or worse this season. No adjustments, no self reflection and no growth. At his big age you’d think he’d have his emotions in check by now.
With the trio of Licht, Bowles and Baker it’s like Groundhog Day for the Bucs but less entertaining cause there’s no Bill Murray.
August 11th, 2026 at 5:14 pm
Stop taking big hits, SLIDE! We need you healthy at the end of the season..
August 11th, 2026 at 5:28 pm
“I want my lick back in 2026; we didn’t play well enough in 2025. It’s on go.”
What does that mean? My lick back? Typo? Slang I’m not privy to?
August 11th, 2026 at 5:38 pm
Stanglassman
“Lick back” basically means revenge.
August 11th, 2026 at 5:49 pm
For all the Debbie Downers: Get a grip! Quit listening to all the no-nothing prognosticators. If they’re so smart, why aren’t they rich? The Tampa Bay Rays were picked to finish last in the American League. They had the longest odds on the board to finish first in their division and in the American League and to finish under .500. Now they are first by 6 games and on schedule to win 95 to 100 games.
August 11th, 2026 at 6:25 pm
1st Yay Baker! Gotta talk about the article at hand
2nd Happy Birthday Ira Kaufman… you were really there at the beginning of it all, which is pretty cool and you got to meet John McKay!
3rd why aren’t the Buccaneers kicking the tires on CB Terrion Arnold
I know he has a lot of baggage…. to say the least, but still
4th Alfred Collins… a draft pick and Brandon Aiyuk…. for Vita Vea
I still believe Brandon can be salvaged somehow!.. Even though I might be the only one!!
August 11th, 2026 at 6:53 pm
Tired of this bozo. Zero credibility he accomplished very little after earning over $100M in the NFL and lands the team a bunch of distraction and BS because needs more money. Jeff Garcia if Garcia had been a jerk.
August 11th, 2026 at 6:55 pm
Happy Birthday Ira. We love you!
August 11th, 2026 at 6:57 pm
Ours has to be the worst history of dreadful QB play with the possible exception of the Browns. And we are afraid of seeing what he can do this year with what is probably the most talented group of skill players we’ve ever had? What is the downside, we suck for a couple of years? That outcome is pretty much a given if we don’t sign Baker.
August 11th, 2026 at 7:53 pm
St Pete Matt is a good dude.
Let’s go win the Super Bowl!!!
Go Bucs!
August 11th, 2026 at 9:26 pm
Could the Bucs be interested in Lamar Jackson ?
August 12th, 2026 at 12:16 am
He’s using the old banged up excuse because that’s what bucs meadi been doing all off season. He’s trying to get a contract every player is banged up by week 5 dealing with something. That excuse is not going to cut it this year. And he’s to old for anyone still saying he needs to play with a chip on his shoulder. If the only way he plays good is by having a chip on his shoulder in year 9 then he’s not a good quarterback. What happens after after he gets his contract then the chip is over and it’s ok for him to play bad . Lol 😆