The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have trusted Baker Mayfield to take the mantle from Tom Brady. But many people are concerned about the attitude that he brings with him to the dressing room. Mayfield faced some tough questions on his first day as a Buccaneer. And he used his first press conference in Tampa to shut up the haters.
Mayfield has struggled to nail down a franchise since coming onto the scene almost five years ago. But he believes everything will change for good when he plays at the Raymond James Stadium.
Baker Mayfield shuts down haters
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Baker Mayfield spoke to the media for the first time after joining the Buccaneers. And he used his time on the podium to answer his doubters in stern words. A reporter flagged concerns about his attitude in the event of him not getting the starting QB job in Tampa. The QB pointed out the events of last season to make his point.
“Just take a look at last year. I don’t really have much to say other than that. Everybody wants to talk about years ago, how it used to be. If you haven’t realized that I have changed a lot then that’s alright,” Mayfield said at the press conference.
The QB started last season as the Carolina Panthers starter, but his poor performance resulted in him losing his starting role first to PJ Walker and then Sam Darnold. Despite being ready to support the team, the franchise decided to trade him to the Los Angeles Rams. He wants to emphasize that he didn’t create the circumstances that led to his exit after being benched.
Looking ahead, there’s uncertainty about whether he will start right away with the Buccaneers or if Kyle Trask will get the nod initially. This upcoming season could be a turning point for Mayfield, and it’ll be interesting to see how it plays out.
A make-or-break chance
Time is running out for Baker Mayfield in the NFL. It has already been five years since the Cleveland Browns picked him up first overall in the 2018 draft. But the QB hasn’t lived up to the potential that people saw when he came into the league.
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#Bucs Baker Mayfield : I’m not going to try to be Tom Brady. I’m going to be me. pic.twitter.com/XVyoJa61VI
— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) March 20, 2023
Mayfield has had a history of changing teams quite frequently. The Buccaneers have become the fourth team to place their bet on him in his relatively short career. But even they aren’t going all-in on him, they have only offered him a one-year deal worth $8.5 million, putting the onus on Mayfield to prove himself.
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While there is no doubt that Mayfield is a talented quarterback, his fans are eager to see him translate that talent into performance on the field.
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