Bruce Arians On Baker Mayfield: “Just Throw The Damn Ball Away”
September 29th, 2026
Wags finger at Baker Mayfield.
Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians has never been a fan of running quarterbacks. There’s just way too much risk for the often small gain, Arians believes.
As he likes to say about running quarterbacks, “Put yourself in harm’s way, harm will find you.” So it’s not surprising to Joe that Arians winces when he sees Baker Mayfield constantly scramble, trying to make chicken salad out of chicken s(p)it.
Appearing on “Up and Adams” with the NFL’s it-girl Kay Adams, Adams asked Arians why he thinks Mayfield is struggling so terribly (and is now hurt).
“Yeah, not making the plays that were there,” Arians said. “You know, there are times when they’re there and they’re not making them.”
Joe found this more than a little interesting because ESPN NFL analyst Ben Solak said he studied the Browns-Bucs All-22 tape and the Bucs had receivers open on intermediate routes, but Mayfield was dancing around in the pocket too long (happy feet or climbing the pocket) and by the time Mayfield released the ball, it was too late and the defense covered the open Bucs receivers.
Arians said Mayfield being too quick to scramble is both messing up the offense and getting Mayfield beat up.
“The offensive line is one of the best in the league, and he’s got to quit doing this [Adams’ producers showing Mayfield channeling Fran Tarkenton scrambling all over the place].
“You know, just throw the damn ball away, and that’s not his nature. … I haven’t had that conversation with him personally, but we need you on the field.”
Joe likes how Arians still refers to the Bucs as “we.”
Arians confessed that while he doesn’t like Mayfield scrambling so much, the desire to make something out of nothing is what makes Mayfield who he is and why he got a $165 million contract.
“It’s a very fine line because you can’t break who they are,” Arians said of Mayfield, Jaxson Dart and J.J. McCarthy. “We need you on the field. We don’t need Superman.
“All the guys in the locker room know you’re tough. You don’t have to prove to anybody you’re tough. But we need to play smart, not scared.”
None of us will have to worry about Mayfield scrambling and absorbing hits for at least the next three weeks because Mayfield got hurt scrambling Sunday.
Whenever Mayfield returns, it is very likely going to be too late to save the Bucs’ season.
"He's got to quit doing THIS. Just throw the damn ball away!"@BruceArians on BAKER MAYFIELD pic.twitter.com/wdtrYtBRCn
— Kay Adams (@heykayadams) September 28, 2026
September 29th, 2026 at 5:26 am
if baker did that he would look like what brady did in his last season
September 29th, 2026 at 5:29 am
Agree that baker need to throw the ball faster. Disagree this Oline is one of the best
September 29th, 2026 at 5:34 am
Hopefully the Bucs prepare cut ups of the all 22 for Baker that show the receivers open so he can learn while riding pine.
September 29th, 2026 at 5:34 am
Baker does throw the ball away Bruce…
Every time he throws longer than 20 yards he is basically throwing the ball away.
September 29th, 2026 at 5:44 am
Not is interested in what Arians has to say. He lost all credibility when he endorsed Boweis.
September 29th, 2026 at 6:02 am
Baker’s best play was convincing the gullible Glazers, Licht, and Bowles he’s a franchise QB. He is not. Painfully obvious to anybody in their right mind seeing his last 12 games. I’m glad Baker didn’t get injured first game. Bowles, and Licht would have an excuse. But we’ve seen these last 3 games with everyone healthy, it’s organizational failure from the top down. Its up to the Glazers to decide where to go from here. My 2 cents, total house cleaning, tear it down, go out and find the right people to build it back. They’re not in the building now.
September 29th, 2026 at 6:18 am
what would the bucs record have been last year if baker didnt pull some games out of his @ ss by scrambling coach?
September 29th, 2026 at 6:19 am
“Stop hating on Baker. You’re an idiot Bruce! You’re not a real fan. Just leave!” – Cult of Baker
September 29th, 2026 at 6:35 am
You gave us Bowles, shut up! Thanks for the other Bowl, now leave One Buc.
September 29th, 2026 at 6:35 am
You hit the nail on the head. He’s too slow getting the ball out. It’s like he on drugs and has no focus, when he throws these days. Arians tells it like it is. He should tel, it like it is with his buddy Boweles.
September 29th, 2026 at 6:40 am
He did appear to bail immediately on a couple of dropbacks yesterday before presssure even got built up around him. Seems the confidence in his protection is lacking at the moment, which is understandable to an extent since he leads the leagues in sacks with 13 after 3 games, 3 clear of Shough.
September 29th, 2026 at 6:49 am
College produces running QBs because they don’t b get beat up as,much there. Service academies have no choice because v the cant recruit the blockers,as big as,battleships.
September 29th, 2026 at 6:52 am
Two OC’s got a lot out of Mayfield. They are both head coaches now. 2 other OC’s getting much less. And they are not head coaches any time soon.
September 29th, 2026 at 7:03 am
Arians has always been one of my favorite Bucs coaches. Tells it like it is. Maybe you could get a comment as to how he thinks Bowles is doing? We know what happened to his sidekick Leftwich. This is the issue with hiring friends and relatives. If you think about it, if Bowles loses his job at the end of this year who would hire him? I can’t think of anyone in their right mind!
September 29th, 2026 at 7:14 am
Another thing other than just throwing the ball away… Just Take The Damn Sack, And Live To Fight Another Down And Play. I was just thinking about this on Sunday, while watching this one particular play… JUST. GO. DOWNNNNN. ALREADY. GEEEEEZ. Remember seeing Tom Brady soooo many times – especially as he aged – just immediately go down, usually ‘untouched’ when seeing it coming!? He’d just DROP like he’d been CLOCKED by Tyson. But, you Baker sitting there (just soooo STUPIDLY) ‘fighting’ until the very END. While, he’s all tensed up and getting bent around like a freaking PRETZEL, in the middle of a damn PILE of VERY LARGE MEN. It’s IGNORANCE. Though, I don’t believe Baker has ever been accused of being very smart. But, it’s just MORONIC AND FAKE. TAKE THE “L” Dude… There’s still 7-minutes left… IN THE FIRST-QUARTER. Good GOD. How FRICKING STUPIDDDDD.
September 29th, 2026 at 7:23 am
That’s the description I’ve been searching for, “Playing scared”. Baker’s entire demeanor in the pocket screams,”I’m afraid they’re going to hurt me!”. Because of the beatings he took last year behind a makeshift offensive line, hehas developed PTSD. he needs to get over it if he wants to start again. But like I said when Trask was here, if Baker misses any time, he’s going in the way of Bledsoe.
September 29th, 2026 at 7:27 am
Arians did this to the organization by quitting and not surrounding himself with the best coaches available
September 29th, 2026 at 7:49 am
It’s why he got the $165-MIL from a dumbass FOOL of a GM and clueless Owners, whom don’t know WTF they’re DOING. Cause, NO ONE FRICKING ELSE would have given “HIM” THAT. 💯
September 29th, 2026 at 7:49 am
WAIT UNTIL BAKER GETS HEALTHY! SUPER BOWL BABY!!!
September 29th, 2026 at 7:52 am
After Bakes stellar top 5 QB season under Coen, I get angrier and angrier that that weasel left! If he stayed one more year he most likely would have been head coach here! And say what u want, I firmly believe Baker and this team and offense would be humming right now and we definitely wouldn’t be 0-3! They kept the wrong coach, I mean look at the Jaguars if u need any proof! Deep down the Glazers know this too, they did offer him fantastic money to stay to give them credit, now we’re in this weird limbo until Blows is fired…and it is a matter of time, there is no way their keeping him unless a miracle turn around happens, so we just have to wait unfortunately…and most importantly, see who they get to be his replacement
September 29th, 2026 at 7:55 am
And, I don’t believe that “WE” was referring to just the Bucs alone, and was more just a former COACH speaking in general, as a COACH. Then, the very next sentence he said it in the same way, when referring to other QB’s like Dart, Baker, and JJ.
September 29th, 2026 at 7:55 am
Jalon Daniels CAN save this season by just going out there and following the game plan which he certainly is capable of doing. Zac will also be able to expand the playbook by adding some RPO wrinkles that will have teeth with Daniels abilities to run .
Very excited to see what our new offense will look like with Jalon at the helm. It will be much more exciting than what we have seen the first 3 games and more productive. The defensive emergence could not come at a better time with Walker looking better and better plus we actually saw an Anzalone that looked capable.
So LFG Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 29th, 2026 at 8:04 am
If we are all honest with each other, this is what it looks like when everything fails.
OC, OL, QB, WR. Every single one of them are the reason this offense looks like garbage.
If anyone wants to argue percentages to figure out “who’s most to blame” have at it.
I don’t have the desire or energy for that discussion.
Yes, I am a fan and will be watching. But unless something changes it only took three weeks for the Bucs to no longer be appointment television this season.
September 29th, 2026 at 8:16 am
Not gonna change him. Ever. Always been a scrambler. This season he seems to scramble immediately.
September 29th, 2026 at 8:19 am
Bruce needs to get off his ass and come be the head coach immediately. Bowles aint it.
September 29th, 2026 at 8:25 am
Arians says – “The offensive line is one of the best in the league. ”
Obviously, Bruce is not watching the Bucs’ games this year, or last. If Brucey had been viewing our games he would have said – Just throw the damn coach away.
September 29th, 2026 at 8:34 am
Bruce Arians did the Bucs fans dirty giving the Bucs Leftwich and Bowles.
September 29th, 2026 at 8:37 am
BAKER is washed!!!!!!
trade him to the vikes in the offseason
GO BUCS!!!!!
September 29th, 2026 at 8:44 am
Miss BA.. he wasn’t scared to call out players. Bowles is way too nice. Every tough coach, we had won a Super Bowl.. Gruden, BA.
September 29th, 2026 at 8:55 am
This from the same guy that forced Bowles on this franchise. I wouldn’t give a bucket of p!SS for his opinion.
He happens to be correct about Baker. The guy has a $165 million dollar arm but a 10 cent head.
The tendency to overreact and make a bad situation worse is already baked in the cake.
0-6 coming. Bowles probably gets extended knowing Licht’s genius.
September 29th, 2026 at 8:57 am
— MarineBuc
“Every time he throws longer than 20 yards he is basically throwing the ball away.”
That was…a perfect comment! Made me belly laugh a bit. Thank you.
September 29th, 2026 at 9:08 am
He ain’t lying.
September 29th, 2026 at 9:08 am
Baker desperately scrambling around backwards on his last play gave me flashbacks to Trent Dilfer doing the exact sane thing in our 1999 home game against the Giants. The last 3+ games have not provided much evidence to distinguish Baker from Dilfer. And now it’s dejavu with the injury. Daniels >= Shaun King? I guess we’ll see, but we don’t have good coaching this time around.
September 29th, 2026 at 9:17 am
Baker has the 4th slowest time to release through 3 weeks this season. He is holding the ball too long. Plays are there to made. Let’s hope Daniels is more decisive.
September 29th, 2026 at 9:30 am
arians won a super bowl because of tom brady( and Mike Evansthe year before losing record then brought in Todd Bowles
September 29th, 2026 at 9:32 am
Shut up.
This is all your fault
September 29th, 2026 at 9:33 am
Mayfield playing hero ball is killing the team. His ego is so big it’s interfering with his performance on the field.
I’m not a betting man but I wouldn’t bet a penny on Mayfield changing. In a way he’s like a Jameis Winston and that’s an alarming wake up call for the Bucs.
September 29th, 2026 at 9:35 am
The problem isn’t his not throwing the ball away. It’s that he’s not spotting open receivers.
Defense despite some issues has played well enough to be 3-0. The 0-3 start is almost entirely Mayfield’s fault.
If JD10 lights it up, it will be crystal clear why this team is and has been losing.
September 29th, 2026 at 9:52 am
*Correction, Joe…
Whenever Mayfield returns, it will be too SOON.
Jalon Daniels is the one who can save our season and he’s prob only going to start a few games, unfortunately.
We’ll have a few wins under our belt when Baker comes back and starts the losing again.
Daniels is way better right now. You’ll see.
September 29th, 2026 at 9:57 am
Bruce ain’t wrong! Been saying that it was just a matter of time till Baker got bit for over a year. Most of the scramblers learn that they have to throw the damn ball sooner or later. Cam Newton could have had a longer career if he had. Among others. The odds are against you in the NFL. Sooner or later a LB is gonna light you up. Legally.
Go Bucs!
September 29th, 2026 at 10:18 am
Thx Bruce these guys love to make excuses for baker. He is hurting the team of they can all play better. But if your QB can’t make high school decisions forget about it.
September 29th, 2026 at 11:05 am
Mayfield makes Nothing out of Something..then tries to make Something out of Nothing.
September 29th, 2026 at 11:13 am
At this point it seems Baker is who he is. This is what you get. Hero ball. Driving his shoulder into a DE or LB to prove he’s tough, then getting injured. Saying all the right things at the press conference then going right back out there and making the same mistakes, over and over and over. Amd now the owners are wedded to him at least two more years.
September 29th, 2026 at 11:23 am
This guy should be tried for treason after what he pulled to get Bowles hired and still employed after what happened at the end of last year. Thank you for your service, thank you for the Super Bowl, but he’s actively working against the interests of the franchise.
September 29th, 2026 at 11:33 am
the open receivers comment is getting kind of old . if they are open they have their backs to baker like the time baker threw it like everyone hear wants him to and it hit emeka in the back . so yeah emeka was open but the routes need to be shorter with this oline like bowles said after the game. and fyi godwin is not getting open
September 29th, 2026 at 11:35 am
What about when Bosa was holding him trying to tackle and he made that throw to White?? That would have never happened if he threw that ball away .
September 29th, 2026 at 11:50 am
The bucs gave BA way too much power. They let him hire Bowles and keep him around. Now we will have to blow everything up after the season and will look like the Browns and Dolphins in 28 an 29.
September 29th, 2026 at 12:07 pm
You should have stayed on and not forced your career loser buddy as HC!!
September 29th, 2026 at 12:13 pm
Replace Bowles with BA!!! He knows the players. And how to get the most out of them. Promote one of the assistant defensive coaches. Could I get any worse than it is now??
September 29th, 2026 at 12:43 pm
I believe Ben Solak watched the all22. The problem is he may not know or understand what he is seeing. He also has displayed a bias toward Baker. Arians loves Baker and obviously knows what he’s talking about. It’s possible that he hasn’t seen the film in light of him thinking this is a great offensive line as he made no mention of them getting bullied all game long, at times being put on their butts. There definitely were multiple times Baker should have just thrown the ball away. Bowles opted not to punt on the 4th and 13. Team is 0-2 and season may be on the line at that point. Only a quitter would not try to keep that play alive.
September 29th, 2026 at 12:49 pm
When you have a short QB and a line that apparently can’t stop a rush.. maybe a designed rollout?
But what do I know.. I’m no Zac Robinson
September 29th, 2026 at 1:03 pm
Bowles going to be retired like Arians here in a few months. As far as Baker I think what we’re going to find out is that the guy has an ego now and is all about him self. I mean he bullied his way into a new contract by saying he was insulted by the offers. It will be telling to see how the other guys play around Daniels vs Baker. If you see guys playing hard and the offensive line playing better for Daniels then the writing is on the wall.
September 29th, 2026 at 1:19 pm
Whenever Mayfield returns, it is very likely going to be too late to save the Bucs’ season.
———-
Baker literally cost the Bucs the playoffs last year when he singlehandedly lost 4 games in a row.
Then this year, Baker singlehandedly lost the first 2 games to open the season.
But nothing is his fault, and even as he struggles to get back to “save” the season, the clock is against him.
LOL!