Baker Mayfield is feeling pretty good about himself as his Buccaneers are off to a 3-and-1 start to lead the NFC South. Just ask him.
On a recent podcast, Baker said the Buccaneers were always stressed out under Tom Brady. Mayfield told the “Casa de Klub” podcast:
“They wanted me to come in, be myself, bring the joy back to football for the guys who weren’t having as much fun.”
Typical Mayfield. He loves to poke the bear. He loves to puff the chest over his new $100-million dollar contract. He loves to point to a playoff win in last year’s playoffs. Yet, let’s be clear. Baker wouldn’t have any of this if it weren’t for Tom Brady making things “stressful”, during his time with the Buccaneers. Plain and simple, Brady saved the franchise when the Buccaneers lucked into signing him after six Super Bowls with the Patriots. Ask Jason Licht. He wouldn’t still be here if it wasn’t for Brady. Ask Bruce Arians. He wouldn’t have sniffed a Super Bowl without Brady. Ask Mike Evans. Ask Chris Godwin. Both not only have Super Bowl rings but mega contracts that go with a championship. The same is true for Tristan Wirfs, Lavonte David, and Vita Via. All Super Bowl Champs, Pro Bowlers, and millionaires many times over because of Brady’s stress.
Brady put it so well during the Bucs telecast of their 33-16 win over Philadelphia. “I thought stressful was not having Super Bowl rings. This wasn’t daycare.”
Mic drop.
Brady is so admired for his rings, his records, and his 23-year career. Nobody else has been willing to sacrifice like Brady to make that happen. Taking hard coaching from Bill Belichick. “I could find a quarterback at Foxboro High that can make that throw Brady!!” He could have easily pulled rank and not taken that from the now-unemployed Bill. Brady sat and took it. The remark fueled him. Tedious workouts in the offseason. His focus on his career certainly affected his family life. It cost him a wife. Few will hunker down for a season, let alone a 23-year career. That includes Baker.
Don’t get me wrong. Baker is the perfect quarterback for right now in Tampa Bay. His teammates love him and buy-in. Yet, this stress-free, fun ride can end oh-so quickly. In fact, the Bucs’ win over Philly was closer than it should have been after the Bucs built a 24-nothing lead in the second quarter. Baker missed on some third downs. Baker had some misreads. And between special teams and the defense, nothing is a given with this Todd Bowles-coached team.
Also in the telecast, Brady admitted it came down to the Bucs and Chicago Bears for his services. Ask the Bears how the direction of their franchise would have changed with a couple of years of Tom Brady. Tom, thank you for making life stressful. Thank you for holding an entire organization accountable. Hopefully, all of us, including Baker, learn the best way to enjoy success is to put in real work.
It ain’t daycare.
-Written By Al Keck