Baker Mayfield Demonstrates Again Why He’s A Team Guy
December 4th, 2025
Capable of winning now.
Baker Mayfield once again showed Bucs fans why he’s beloved in the locker room.
Why is that? Because Mayfield is all about the team.
Yesterday as one can imagine, a major piece of conversation with various players and head coach Todd Bowles was the 21-day window opening for Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan to begin practicing. Each now has three weeks, if necessary, to ready himself to play.
And predictably, Mayfield right away was asked about Evans and McMillan in his weekly press conference. Of course, Mayfield would be asked about his receivers’ return. That is a major story.
And while Mayfield is obviously stoked about Evans and McMillan progressing, Mayfield made it clear the season does not hinge on when or if Evans and/or McMillan can get back on the field.
They are not saviors.
Mayfield suggested the Bucs must worry about winning now and said the Bucs can win football games without Evans and McMillan (though it would be nice to have them back).
“We have all we need to win right now,” Mayfield said. “Those pieces [Evans and McMillan] will be bonuses for us, but we need to execute with what we have right now.”
You don’t think that went over well when word got back to the locker room? You don’t think that boosted some guys’ confidence? You don’t think that may have made Bucs players want to fight a little harder for Mayfield and teammates?
Mayfield wasn’t saying Evans and McMillan aren’t important. He was saying the Bucs cannot and should not use Evans and McMillan as an excuse for losing.
Team guy, this Mayfield.
December 4th, 2025 at 6:00 am
baker isnt stupid, he isnt going to take the bait and throw shade or let anyone off the hook. players need to make plays, as todd would say.
December 4th, 2025 at 6:20 am
yeah but… they need a spark bad to get back to the team that beat the falcons and the texans
December 4th, 2025 at 6:51 am
Geting ME back helps in so many areas.
It will help the other WRs get open as the opposing D will have to check ME and EE won’t get the ME double treatment.
It should help open up the running game a little.
ME gives Baker a reliable downfield target.
Maybe, most important, getting ME back might make Grizz run a pass play that is more than 5 yards past the LOS.
I am having wet dreams of ME, Godwin and EE on the field with Baker and Bucky…
December 4th, 2025 at 7:21 am
So JMac will be a #4 and Tez #5 ,, 5 wide sets anyone ,,, come on grizzz , start thinking up some plays
December 4th, 2025 at 7:53 am
Baker sounds like he is blaming the players currently on the team ..Time to clean house in the off season
December 4th, 2025 at 8:06 am
Get what Baker is saying in an optimistic way. The Bucs should be able to win the next game without Mike and Jalen. We all know that once Mike and Jalen are back, other teams are going to be going after them and major coverage. Hope the Bucs have some creative play calling ahead to keep our opponents in the cold. When Mike and Jalen are back, the opposing teams should basically be clueless to what our plan is.
December 4th, 2025 at 8:18 am
Shep may be # 4 & Tez # 5…….with Cam returning punts & Miller on ST that’s 7 WRs
December 4th, 2025 at 8:24 am
“but we need to execute with what we have right now.”
Simply put, because even with those guys back in the fold, we still have to make it happen on a play to play basis.
December 4th, 2025 at 8:32 am
Those guys won’t play until they are ready.
December 4th, 2025 at 10:10 am
The big question is who goes to make room for Mike and J-Mac? Shep? Culp? Kam? Ryan? This will have a big impact on special teams.
December 4th, 2025 at 10:29 am
Nice job by Mayfield keeping things real with his teammates. With that said can you imagine the boost these guys will get when Mike steps back on the field.
December 4th, 2025 at 12:23 pm
I sure hope whoever Jason brings in as the next real head coach wants to keep Baker around. He and Godwin are the only ones with enough heart to overcome soft Todd’s Bowlesian Regression Syndrome.
December 4th, 2025 at 12:46 pm
If Mayfield would control his “happy feet” , then agree he would make better decisions, be more accurate and the Bucs will execute better with what they have now.
December 4th, 2025 at 3:32 pm
“We have all we need to win right now,” Mayfield said. “Those pieces [Evans and McMillan] will be bonuses for us, but we need to execute with what we have right now.”
You don’t think that went over well when word got back to the locker room?
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Dismissing the return of your future HOFer, saying take your time, we don’t need you to win? No idea how that is taken as a positive and not a slight.
December 4th, 2025 at 3:57 pm
“No idea how that is taken as a positive and not a slight”. Rod, if you’d reread it a time or two before your busy little fingers banged out a little thought out retort you’ll see it was the perfect response. A leaders response for sure. You know, a winner’s response.