This Is The Upside
January 27th, 2026
Already prepping for 2026 season.
The voice of Cleveland sports radio Tony Rizzo is with Team Baker. And while Rizzo threw his support behind Baker Mayfield in his latest dust-up, Rizzo also wonders what the upside is.
Recently, as most know, Mayfield took to Twitter to unload on his old Browns coach, Kevin Stefanski, the new head coach of the Dixie Chicks.
Joe loved it because it provided juicy content.
Rizzo fully disagreed with the notion that Mayfield was a failure in Cleveland, though the end of Mayfield’s days in Cleveland were not good, Rizzo confessed.
What Rizzo couldn’t understand is why Mayfield decided to tee off on Stefanski in mid-January, so he said on his show on WKNR-AM 850 in Cleveland.
“Why light a fire,” Rizzo asked. “You have to play Stefanski twice a year. Does this help him get fired up?”
Rizzo’s second banana, Chris Oldach, claimed Mayfield needs this to get himself pumped, knowing he must win both games now against the Dixie Chicks this fall.
Now that’s an angle Joe never thought of: By calling out Stefanski, does Mayfield now know games against the Dixie Chicks are his personal Super Bowls in which he must play above the rim?
Hey, whatever it takes. Meanwhile, Joe hopes Mayfield has more quality blasts at people on social media. The NFL is, after all, all about drama.
Are you Team Baker or Team Stefanski? https://t.co/hOY52AovyL pic.twitter.com/IGFobrbQxb
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) January 21, 2026
January 27th, 2026 at 5:54 am
Baker will be BAKING!!!
January 27th, 2026 at 6:08 am
Thats just Baker. Once the game starts you arent thinking about revenge and all the crap, youre just doing your job.
January 27th, 2026 at 6:09 am
I always thought Baker got a raw deal in Cleveland and Carolina. Both of those teams were dysfunctional from the top down. This team went dysfunctional too after the bye. Everyone simply gave up
January 27th, 2026 at 6:10 am
“The NFL is, after all, all about drama”. Therein lies the problem with this site and society, as a whole. The NFL and football, in general, used to be about a whole lot more. Teamwork, grit, hard work, competition, rising up and overcoming impossible odds, etc.
January 27th, 2026 at 6:14 am
Lack of NFL-caliber backup guards killed us.
January 27th, 2026 at 6:27 am
I have seen several articles on Baker in reference to the losses of games
THIS GUY PLAYED HURT PERIOD
OUR so called Coach let him play hurt you know WHY
BECAUSE MR TOILET WENT OUT AND GOT A GARBAGE COUCH RIDING BACKUP
FACT Bridgewater was out of the league for a reason HES NOT GOOD
So why did Bowles bring him back
It’s the same reason Bowles is still here
January 27th, 2026 at 6:30 am
Actions always speak louder than words.
January 27th, 2026 at 6:44 am
Joe, are you suggesting if he didn’t call out Stefanski, he would be OK losing to the Falcons.
January 27th, 2026 at 6:47 am
I believe baker is the reason Todd Bowles still has a job, he called the glazers and
Talked them out of firing Bowles because he took blame for the season being lost.
And he’s right he is the reason they didn’t make the playoffs. The dude just not
That good. bucs have no chance to be a legit contender until he’s gone.
January 27th, 2026 at 7:01 am
Like Sam Darnold?
January 27th, 2026 at 7:05 am
I still say doing commercials is a big distraction. And he did a lot of commercials in Cleveland. Not to mention his injuries.
I saw a take on TB12, and he said his Friday nights were spent in the film room. He knew the opponents defense better than they did. That’s just one reason TB12 is the Goat.
January 27th, 2026 at 7:09 am
Our defense needs to get a lot better to win with Baker. Look at the Seahawks with Darnold.
January 27th, 2026 at 7:15 am
I think that fiery chip is part of his personality. As,licht said v when he,asked Baker to join just be you. So Darnold is in the super bowl.. What are the lessons. 1. Bowles ruins Quarterbacks. He had Darnold at the jets. Todd can’t really ruin Baker because Baker is fully formed at this point and its the oC,s job now. 2. This narrative that a QB is on their fifth team as,Darnold is then the QB must be trash is trashed. Darnold was in the same draft as Baker and just took a while to get there.n 3. Teams give up too soon. The Vikings,are kicking themselves now. 4. If Baker had the,Seattle coach the Bucks would be in the super bowl. 5. Bowles is lucky Manchester united is bleeding money. That is the Glazers other Football team. They did not want to pay a guy for sitting around.
January 27th, 2026 at 7:22 am
I didn’t like the way Baker was treated by other teams either. Fans love him everywhere.
BucsNbeer – Have to agree somewhat. But that could include podcasts, social media, and everything else too. Even the Hard Knocks shows. So much distraction. TB was all about football, totally focused. In the same breath, it probably didn’t help his personal relationships. However, he is the Goat all the way.
January 27th, 2026 at 7:40 am
Unknownoutlire HAHA
You think Baker is the reason
Baker runs the Defense?
Baker Sets the plays
Baker prepares the players
NO TOILET IS SUPPOSED TOO AND DIDNT
January 27th, 2026 at 7:47 am
I think Bucs have the Edge now Both Baker an Zac will have this team pumped to beat ATL
January 27th, 2026 at 7:49 am
Learn to be a true professional Baker. Did Brady need to trash talk anybody or did he let his play on the field speak volumes?
January 27th, 2026 at 7:53 am
If Brady had something to say he definitely did on the field via trash talking and playing.
January 27th, 2026 at 8:30 am
What ever. We’ve seen time and again how the “Falcons vs Todd’s D” movie ends. Falcons win both this season. Good night now.
January 27th, 2026 at 8:39 am
Yeah just what we need, a more fired up Baker. The guy already gets to hyped up before games, especially primetime games. Too jacked up isnt great for the Bake. Too jumpy in the pocket and trying too hard isn’t what Baker needs.
Hopefully he’s learned by this point in his career and matured enough to relax and run the offense. Hopeful, but still highly skeptical.
January 27th, 2026 at 8:57 am
Love bakers attitude and drive and the NFL has always been about entertainment from way back when to right now.
January 27th, 2026 at 9:15 am
The season should not start with Baker locked at QB1. Sorry but the last two seasons were 8-9 and a home loss in the Wild Card. This is not a great run. Bring in a legit competition – not a Trask – a pro starter that can win. If Baker comes back healthy and balls out, great. But if not, Baker is what we see – a top 20 QB with some great games that is not a franchise guy.
January 27th, 2026 at 9:49 am
View from 132 Says:
January 27th, 2026 at 9:15 am
The season should not start with Baker locked at QB1. Sorry but the last two seasons were 8-9 and a home loss in the Wild Card. This is not a great run. Bring in a legit competition – not a Trask – a pro starter that can win. If Baker comes back healthy and balls out, great. But if not, Baker is what we see – a top 20 QB with some great games that is not a franchise guy.
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Proving my point about the idiots who comment on players like Mayfield here. View from 132 can’t even get Tampa record right. “The last two years were 8-9” is his statement. When you can’t even get a simple factual statement right, who cares about your opinion?
January 27th, 2026 at 9:54 am
Who cares if Stefanski gets fired up? He is not out on the field laying it on the line. Anyway, he is a loser. I believe his resume is similar to Bowles.
January 27th, 2026 at 9:55 am
Last year’s Hallmark NFL drama movie was the Bucs in romance act 1, only to go straight to act 3, where all the players died in the end of locker room cancer.
January 27th, 2026 at 10:04 am
None of us really know what went on between Stefanski & Mayfield in Cleveland, but I sure do wish that Baker hadn’t attacked him like he did. Everyone’s got a choice: take the high road or the low road. Baker made his choice & now gets to live with whatever comes of it.
What concerns me though about our QB situation is that we have no viable veteran backup QB. That should be a priority signing this season. Playing anyone who’s sub-par because of injuries or whatever doesn’t help the team one bit.
January 27th, 2026 at 10:49 am
He shouldn’t need to “pump himself up.” Especially next season when he is part of a trio that is tied to JL and Bowles… And, is in a CONTRACT YEAR. I mean, shouldn’t that be ENOUGH for him!? My God.
It was more about just Baker himself, as usual. To Baker, it’s ALWAYS all about BAKER.
I wonder what would happen IF Baker ‘held-out’ this off-season for a new contract!? I can’t really remember a QB ever doing that before, BUT what if he did!? Would he have any takers? What could he get from the Bucs!? Would ANYONE ELSE, offer him a longterm deal well over $200-MIL+!? Would the Bucs go ahead and ‘move him’ IF he did!? It would give them another EXCUSE for keeping Lickt and Bowles for another freaking year!!!! Lmao I’m mostly kidding here.
January 27th, 2026 at 10:50 am
It would definitely make for PLENTY of content for the Joes. That’s for sure.
January 27th, 2026 at 11:07 am
this is BS and baker & his fan club are full of it!!!!!
where was this extra motivation when we played the rams and panthers?
both teams told baker to kick rocks!!!!!…
why didnt he, “get himself pumped” vs the rams or panthers…
baker=faker!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!
January 27th, 2026 at 11:07 am
Considering that Stefanski >>>>>>> Boeles, Baker has made it a near certainty to suck worse in the two Atlanta games than all the other 2026 losses, where he will suck just enough to lose.
Welcome to the Sewer of Shame.
January 27th, 2026 at 11:12 am
so i’ll get baker will, “get himself pumped” only vs Kevin lol….
not the rams or panthers who also told him, see ya!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
January 27th, 2026 at 11:32 am
@ BucsNbeer Says: “I still say doing commercials is a big distraction. And he did a lot of commercials in Cleveland.”
I said this as soon as they started with all the MVP “talk.” I could see it coming immediately, after his very first interview. I said that HE BETTER stay away from all of these long form E60 types of interviews, podcasts, tv commercials, & etc. And, what does HE immediately do the very next week… He agrees to sit on his couch and do a whole pregame ordeal, with his wife and dog, & etc. Then, the next thing you know you start seeing all of these brand new commercials, and everything. IN-Season. The last one I saw was actually at the Bucs facility, BUT STILL. It’s just another freaking DISTRACTION. And, right in front of all his TEAMMATES, while THEY PRACTICED. You KNOW that didn’t rub a lot of them the right way!
Seems-like, I remember when Brady was a young QB… He REFUSED doing commercials, unless his “O-Linemen” were allowed to participate, too. Then, refused them all-together DURING the season, later on in his career. Now, towards the very end he might have done a few, while here in Tampa Bay, but I can’t really remember any… At least not DURING the season. I mean, he had all of those ‘personal’ issues going on during that last season, and I still can’t remember him even addressing any of it!? Maybe my memory is wrong here, but seems-like he stayed pretty well hidden, and low-key about. Though, everyone was probably AFRAID to say a whole lot about it publicly, to HIS FACE.
Anyway, I KNEW that it was only a matter of time, that Baker would fall flat on his face again, right after that very first long ‘in-home’ pregame interview, and then the new commercial that followed. It was OVER. Baker is not a big enough, strong enough, or elite enough ATHLETE to compensate for not being 💯 completely focused and dialed-in on JUST FOOTBALL.
January 27th, 2026 at 11:41 am
Meljr.,
Spare us the endless, run on, non sequiturs. I am sure in all those tangled up words your central point is that Baker Mayfield is no good? Does that sum it up?
January 27th, 2026 at 11:59 am
@ Gipper – I never said he wasn’t any good. Just absolutely nowhere close to the future HOF’er that YOU think he is. Baker will be going into next season as a fringe Top 15-20 QB in the league (probably ’outside’ of the Top-20, if you had to draft a QB to start a new franchise). Middle of the pack starter. He is a mostly competent, solid, inconsistent ‘starting’ QB in the league, who can turn in the occasional Top-10 worthy performance one week, and will give you a Bottom-10 the next. He puts up a lot of empty stats at the end of ballgames, since the Bucs are usually trailing, or are in tight games (lots of times, mostly due to his poor performances throughout the first 3-quarters of ballgames). He is what he is now, heading into his 9th season being in the league, and at 31-years old.
January 27th, 2026 at 12:04 pm
Arians said it best “Baker has the magic”. What a great quote.
January 27th, 2026 at 12:11 pm
Melvin, don’t you think the coaches know if their quarterback is preparing enough? He was hurt. Arians said his injuries MATTERED. What do you want him to say. Yes Baker was so beat up he shouldn’t have been out there but we hired a backup that can’t play so Baker had to?? Would that be more to you idiots liking? Try using that thing between your ears for once.