Baker Mayfield Says He Intentionally Slides Late To Take A Hit
August 13th, 2026
What an exchange between a Buccaneers postseason legend and franchise quarterback Baker Mayfield.
Leonard “Playoff Lenny” Fournette sat down with Mayfield on the 4th and South podcast recently and pleaded with him to stop throwing his body around on the field.
“Get down, bruh,” Fournette told Mayfield. “Look, I understand the attitude you got, but we need you. Get your ass out of bounds.”
Co-host Jarvis Landry, a Mayfield teammate in Cleveland, jumped in to tell Mayfield he respects his situational awareness when he puts himself at risk.
“A lot of it’s like methodical,” Mayfield replied.
“Everything I do is intentional. Sometimes, it might be first down; I might slide late to take a hit. Get the boys going. Let them come over and set the tone. Get’em sparked up. … There’s certain points I can definitely be better about that, and I know that. But every once in a while, guys need a little kick in the ass.”
Pretty stunning admission there from Mayfield that he’ll slide late. It’s one thing to try to stiff arm a defender or lower a shoulder on a run, but sliding late is a very slippery and dangerous slope.
Mayfield needs to find someone else on the offense to assume that role. Pick a lineman to start playing with the fire and edge of former Bucs center Ryan Jensen, for example. Or figure out a way to motivate the team effectively on the sidelines or in the huddle. Or figure out why his veteran offensive teammates need a kick in the ass in the first place.
August 13th, 2026 at 2:10 pm
hope the refs don’t read this
August 13th, 2026 at 2:11 pm
shots fired at the O-line lol….
but then again, kinda a Todd Bowles theme…no sense of urgency…coming out flat has always been a problem under bowles
GO BUCS!!!!
August 13th, 2026 at 2:12 pm
Or you could just complete the pass, execute the game plan and stop thinking you can win games on moxy and adrenaline.
August 13th, 2026 at 2:14 pm
Joe … ‘but sliding late is a very slippery and dangerous slope’.
Now THAT’s an understatement Joe. Mayfield got banged up really bad last season, and to hear that some of it was INTENTIONAL just blows my mind. His teammates need a ‘kick in the a$$’ so Baker does something to motivate them that’ll get him injured? That’s the most bizarre thing I’ve ever heard a pro-QB admit.
August 13th, 2026 at 2:18 pm
I don’t remember ever hearing Tom Brady say anything like that…
Everyone loves Baker and I respect him for what he brings to the football field. But he wants big money he has to mature as a quarterback and expand his boundaries and his mental awareness of the big picture winning for the whole season not just for the moment… How many times did Tom Brady throw a ball away
August 13th, 2026 at 2:20 pm
“Everything I do is intentional. Sometimes, it might be first down; I might slide late to take a hit.”
Does this sound like a leader of men to you? If you’re a team owner are you rushing to pay this guy $50+ million per season when he’s trying to get hurt?
Here’s the best question: How is this strategy going to help him play better and win games to get the payday he wants?
Baker is next level stupid. I mean a complete moron, my god. He actually said this out loud on camera. Jfc….but the Bucs offer was disrespectful. 🤣
August 13th, 2026 at 2:23 pm
What a moron
August 13th, 2026 at 2:27 pm
“ But every once in a while, guys need a little kick in the ass.”
What they don’t need is a broken QB1 playing down the stretch and losing to Quinn Ewers.
Enough with the hero worship. It might sell jerseys but it doesn’t equate to wins in the playoffs.
The 2-7 record after the bye was partially a result of Mayfield making dumb decisions like taking hits he couldn’t recover from.
August 13th, 2026 at 2:36 pm
“Everything I do is intentional”
Oh really?
What kind of emptied headed nonsense is this?
August 13th, 2026 at 2:41 pm
And he wonders why ownership hesitates to give him a 3 year guaranteed contract? Situational awareness, dude. It’s a long season. Brady knew when to get down, and when to take a risk. (like at the one yard line in a close playoff game against the Saints)
August 13th, 2026 at 2:42 pm
All I got was: Please pay me $150-200 million and guarantee 70-75% so I can SLIDE into early retirement.
Jokes aside, that’s dangerous and an unnecessary risk.
August 13th, 2026 at 2:43 pm
Is Baker a genius or what? What an intelligent way to play the qb position. You know that way he can’t lift his arms over your head by the end of the season so we miss the playoffs. So refreshing to hear my franchise qb be so wise. Pay him like 80 mill per…. Don’t get me wrong i do like Baker but his flaws are so easy to see. Hope he can clean up his game. Play a little smarter. Thanks Joes for getting us through the off-season . Go Bucs
August 13th, 2026 at 2:45 pm
And that’s why you don’t get a long term
Contract lol
August 13th, 2026 at 2:48 pm
Exactly what CleanHouse and Warren Brooks stated.
There was a poster asking about what makes a franchise qb weeks ago. This type of “I’m a tough guy” big chip on his shoulder, “everyone’s against me” attitude is good for the short term but bad for the long.
August 13th, 2026 at 2:55 pm
Baker Mayfield leads the NFL in both “moxy” and “grit”…
Super Bowl here we come!!!
August 13th, 2026 at 2:57 pm
Who cares Fans, it’s not our money. I want a QB who is giving 200 % on each play!! I applaud Baker, if he gets seriously hurt? that’s why you invest in a solid backup!! Someone has to motivate these players because obviously Bowles can not. Go Bucs
August 13th, 2026 at 2:59 pm
Jalen Hurts slides more than any QB I’ve ever seen.
Baker needs to slide more the first 8 games.
We need him healthy in the second half of the season and post season
August 13th, 2026 at 3:02 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! Bunch of WOOOOSIES here!
Giving it up to gain that EXTRA? YOU QUESTION THAT?
jeeze…look they all do it to some extent….but yes he needs to slow his roll a little…..but really, THATS WHERE DEEP THINKING MINDS GO!
August 13th, 2026 at 3:03 pm
@ Obvious
I believe I asked “what is a franchise QB?”
Then I asked “have the Bucs ever had a franchise QB”
To which my answer was – NO.
This franchise has never had a true franchise QB and it might stay that way for eternity…
We better get that #1 defense real quick or we will be stuck in NFL “purgatory” in perpetuity.
August 13th, 2026 at 3:08 pm
Truly, his ego would inflate a hot air balloon.
August 13th, 2026 at 3:09 pm
You know what really would get the team going and the fans a 50 yard td pass, stick to that one.
August 13th, 2026 at 3:09 pm
Jarvis Landry jumps in to tell Mayfield he respects his situational awareness when he puts himself at risk. “Everything I do is intentional… There’s certain points I can definitely be better about that, and I know that”.
It’s forgiven when your hall of fame linebacker says he and his teammates took plays off, bored or loafing or whatever. But when your QB says something stupid you bunch of ninnies pounce!
I’m thinking both of them said something that they didn’t mean to come out like it did. No big deal.
One thing I am beyond positive about. Every single decision Mayfield makes in the course of a ballgame is a better choice than any decision any of us commenters on this wonderful corner of the interwebs would make. And I ain’t whistling Dixie.
August 13th, 2026 at 3:12 pm
What a dumb thing to say seriously. Nobody does that ON PURPOSE.
So he got injured On Purpose, basically.
Geez, when are the Bucs gonna have a true leader again?
August 13th, 2026 at 3:21 pm
And surprisingly, the people who hate him still do
August 13th, 2026 at 3:29 pm
@BigPappaBuc
Thank you, it’s simple and yet truly sums it up.
August 13th, 2026 at 3:30 pm
LMAO, look at the tough guys coming in here to Mayfield flirting with CTE or the football equivalent to a flop
August 13th, 2026 at 3:35 pm
In his mind set, Baker does not want to be known as a robotic game manager type of quarterback! Problem with the maverick type of attitude is its ratios to turnovers and injuries! He has never played a complete season for a head coach that demanded structure and discipline! That within itself is why he will at best be a notch below average as an NFL quarterback! If he follows the same hell bent for leather in 2026, he will have the same results he had in his last season with the Browns!
August 13th, 2026 at 3:35 pm
Papabuc said it
August 13th, 2026 at 3:36 pm
Kenton:
How about those mayfield decisions to close out the Miami, panthers, and
Falcon games? Difference between 8-9 and 11-6
August 13th, 2026 at 3:38 pm
Brady had a few slow starts here to stop that Todd stuff Tampa never gets off to fast starts I honestly feel we are a second half team we do better as the game goes on
August 13th, 2026 at 3:39 pm
S
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M
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D
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August 13th, 2026 at 3:45 pm
I don’t know which is worse; actually being dumber that the other team or choosing to be dumber. And having a coach that allows it.
August 13th, 2026 at 3:45 pm
Truly a testament to how unmotivated Todd Bowles teams are.
Todd couldn’t motivate his way out of a wet paper bag.
August 13th, 2026 at 3:47 pm
AquaBum. You won’t be able to tell me one single bad decision Baker made in the Miami, Panthers, or Falcons games. It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s… a bum. It’s AquaBum!
August 13th, 2026 at 4:03 pm
LMAO at people trying to put the Falcons game on Baker. 28-14 in the 4th. Baker while playing defense gave up 3 and 28 then 4 and 14. And he allowed the Falcons to put up 29 points completely on his own.
Defense giving Up 29 points difference between 8-9 or 9-8 And the playoffs?
August 13th, 2026 at 4:12 pm
The juice isn’t worth the squeeze on the slide. Sorry Baker. I love ya but hell no. You are too important. A better coach would have a talk with him and set him straight but Bowles is worthless. Sad.
August 13th, 2026 at 4:16 pm
Let’s put all qb’s in skirts! UGH!
August 13th, 2026 at 4:30 pm
Slide just a teeny bit earlier.
August 13th, 2026 at 4:59 pm
“Everything I do is intentional.” So I guess those red zone picks were intentional?
August 13th, 2026 at 4:59 pm
@Marine –
It was a great question and it is more applicable to our situation than any I can recall in recent memory.
The dolphins situation comes to mind. They made the idiotic decision to give Tua that money. That’s why I applaud Licht and the glazers for doing what they are. They might not know when to move on from a HC but they sure know when to not break the bank on a fake franchise qb. Give him a few more years. Hes earned that in my opinion
I would disagree on us never finding a franchise qb. For as long as I can remember KC fans told anyone they could their franchise wasn’t capable if finding the guy. Over and over they said it, until they could.
If Bain works out that should provide some relief. All I saw written here was that we should never draft an edge rusher in R1 because Licht was incapable.
Let’s see
August 13th, 2026 at 5:06 pm
Bucnbeers. Baker Mayfield had ONE red zone pick in 2025. So you’re either dumb, or too lazy to research that, or a liar. I think you’ve probably just bucked one too many beers.
August 13th, 2026 at 5:18 pm
“There’s certain points I can definitely be better about that, and I know that. But every once in a while, guys need a little kick in the ass.”
So he admits he can be better at picking moments.
I vote Goedeke as my new Jensen… supply the afformentioned “little kick in the a$$” on place of Baker. He can just talk the sh!t… not take the hit.
He needs to be better situationally. Look around a bit. If the LB or strong safety or and edge guy has a bead on you in the open field, better to slide earlier for sure.
August 13th, 2026 at 5:56 pm
“LMAO at people trying to put the Falcons game on Baker. 28-14 in the 4th. Baker while playing defense gave up 3 and 28 then 4 and 14”
Love how you totally omitted that we were up 8 and threatening to score again had he NOT thrown a INT in Falcon territory that would’ve put us back up 2 scores in the 4th quarter.
We all watched the game, idk why you’re trying to spin it like the offense didn’t commit footballicide on a drive to put us back up by 2 scores. Alternative facts are
Simple pleasures for a simple mind
August 13th, 2026 at 5:59 pm
That is very disturbing indictment of his o-line. Baker needs to avoid interviews if he is going to give stupid, poorly thought out answers such as that.
August 13th, 2026 at 6:12 pm
WBL. Why would this organization have gutted everything on this team and coaching staff- except the offense. Hmm. Maybe because they know alot more about football than you, WBL? You reckon that’s the reason?
August 13th, 2026 at 6:13 pm
The dude can flat out play!
August 13th, 2026 at 6:16 pm
Well tough guy speaking of a simple mind. You’re no different. You seem to be Ok with the defense giving up 29 points. 14 thru 3 quarters then giving up 15 in one quarter to lose . I know you’re a loser that couldn’t even make it to the NFL. So you come here trying to be the new bully of the site insulting people’s opinions.. Guess what. I really don’t care if you insult me because I have always laughed at someone that thinks they’re a know-it-all and never wrong.
August 13th, 2026 at 6:28 pm
“Why would this organization have gutted everything on this team and coaching staff- except the offense.”
Why do you think the front office doesn’t want Baker past 2028?
Do you think the Panthers & Jags shot callers thought “if ya can win with Baker, you can win with our QB”?
Do you realize, when people say “stick to the short intermediate stuff” with Baker that basically points at the cap of his prowess as a pocket passer?
Why is Baker letting his dumbest intrusive thoughts slip out in interviews? To endear people like you who champion his bad decision making?
Why are we so bad against man coverage since he’s been here?
What team and fanbase are you going to jump to if he craps the bed this year like 6 of his 8 yrs in the league?
August 13th, 2026 at 6:35 pm
Mayfield wasn’t dissing is OL. You haters are a riot!
August 13th, 2026 at 6:42 pm
“I know you’re a loser that couldn’t even make it to the NFL. So you come here trying to be the new bully of the site insulting people’s opinions.. Guess what. I really don’t care if you insult me because I have always laughed at someone that thinks they’re a know-it-all and never wrong.”
Awww, look at you being all Carl Thomas in the comment section lol
Know it all? Nah I know what I know, if from reading my comments you assume me to be a know it all it just means I def know more than YOU
Why would I care about what you laugh at when you did to make an erroneous recollection of a game pretty much everybody reading this watched? Seriously what were YOU trying to accomplish?
August 13th, 2026 at 6:44 pm
Moron.
August 13th, 2026 at 6:54 pm
If it’s to try to draw a penalty it’s smart. If it’s to excite his teammates it’s stupid to risk injury to do so. Im sure his teammates would be more excited to play in the Super Bowl- which they cannot do if he gets injured.that much is for sure.
August 13th, 2026 at 7:10 pm
Franchise QB for Mayfield is almost as stupid as Americas QB for Winston
August 13th, 2026 at 7:18 pm
johnny Says
“hope the refs don’t read this”
Wouldn’t matter. He’s not breaking rules.
August 13th, 2026 at 7:19 pm
I like it…and for the naysayers, you think Tom Brady didn’t do the same at one point. Most QBs do. It gets their offensive players good and mad and fired up so they play better.
August 13th, 2026 at 7:21 pm
Stpetematt Says:
“If it’s to excite his teammates it’s stupid to risk injury to do so.”
Not really. He’s ready for the hit and can roll with it. Almost no injury risk.
August 13th, 2026 at 7:28 pm
I know it’s been a while, but Baker Mayfield plays like Bret Favre did. Almost to the letter.
Favre was reckless. He wasn’t always accurate. He ran tough (early on). His coach used to say that he would decide during games to bench him the following week, then change his mind by the end of the game. It was frustrating to him.
Bret Favre only won one superbowl. And that took him time.
Baker is molded like Favre…except I believe he can win more than one Superbowl with this team.
Really, if not for all the injuries last year…he may have won one last year. He was heading for it before the bye week.
August 13th, 2026 at 7:32 pm
He might have heart but he will never be a winner baker mayfield in the superbowl yea right not in this life or the next
August 13th, 2026 at 7:36 pm
We shall see.
August 13th, 2026 at 7:40 pm
Lokog Baker can definitely win a Superbowl, as a backup
August 13th, 2026 at 7:40 pm
So they obvious goal.of the off-season was to bring nasty.dawgs to Tampa. Baker is the biggest dawg with attitude in the nfl. But thats different?
August 13th, 2026 at 7:58 pm
This is why you can’t pay Baker 60+million a year. He plays too recklessly and when I watched that youtube podcast with Lenny and Landry (recommend it to hear from Wirfs, Godwin, Bucky as well) – I knew this would come back to bite Shake N Bake.
He has to play with grit and passion WITHOUT playing to be on the sideline or playing injured. Learn to throw the ball away. Learn to go down. Learn not to get into the face of EVERY defender that jaws at you. Some of it is ok when the game / conf / season / playoffs are on the line but not the 1st quarter of game 1 because you want to juice up the OL. Just stupid.
August 13th, 2026 at 8:43 pm
@ Kenton Smith. Who cares about 2025? I’d say that 27 career red zone interceptions makes you the idiot. Talk to me after the year. We’ll see if he earns his money.
August 13th, 2026 at 8:47 pm
Kudos to Stpetematt, the only one here who seems to realize what is no secret to most football fans: quarterbacks try to draw penalties –major ones– by inviting contact on the fringes of the rules. Roughing the passer and late hits on sliders are game changers, and “embellishing” (to use a hockey term) is an art. I’m sure Mr. Tom Brady got his share of marginal calls, although I can’t remember one off the top of my head. What really excites his teammates is moving fifteen extra yards closer to the goal line and making opponents a little hesitant about unloading the next time. I know that Baker is lauded for his candor, but sometimes there’s a little extra shake in the bake.