“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 5:19 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