Baker Mayfield shows true colours after brutally being told to retire
Tampa Bay Buccaneers star Baker Mayfield is confident going into his first season with the franchise.
The Bucs quarterback signed for the team in March as a free agent, agreeing to a one-year deal worth $8.5 million (£6.6 million). In the process, Mayfield will replace NFL legend Tom Brady who retired at the end of last season.
Mayfield is expected to be the starting quarterback for the Bucs in his first year in Tampa. However, he will also have competition from other players in the QB room.
Kyle Trask is also held in high regard within the franchise, and could be a starting contender for the 2023 NFL regular season. Pre-season throughout August will be the build-up to the Week One opener against Minnesota Vikings on September 10.
Mayfield has spent the last 12 months facing an uncertain future in the NFL. After leaving the Cleveland Browns he signed for the Carolina Panthers, but that stay lasted just five months before he moved to the Los Angeles Chargers until the end of the 2022 season.
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Now Mayfield will be competing with Trask for the starting QB spot in Tampa. The 2018 No.1 overall pick is confident with how things have been going through training camp, and is looking forward to thriving on the competition from his teammates.
“I just think overall competition, in general, brings out the best in everybody,” Mayfield told NFL Network.
“It’s nothing really new to me, I’ve been doing it since high school, having to battle for a spot. So just being comfortable with the internal pressure and trying to elevate my own game.
“When it comes to quarterback battles, you just want the whole QB room to improve and progress as camp goes on. So it's just about us all pushing each other in there.
“I’m comfortable within this competition, and enjoying it as we go.”
Mayfield added, when asked what it would take to be a starter for the Bucs: “For me, it would just be now that we’ve got all the insolves in as we continue to get everyone comfortable with the foundation of our offense - taking care of the ball.
“And then the intangible qualities that I always try to bring; leadership, making sure that I get guys on the same page and elevate them.
“So those things, along with taking care of the ball, I think are the most important.”
Mayfield’s comments come just days after NFL analyst Colin Cowherd urged the quarterback to retire from the NFL.
Cowherd said on his YouTube show, The Herd this week: "I'd like to be Baker Mayfield's agent and I'm going to tell him at 28 years old, retire, save your brand and go to college football and be an analyst. You'll be able to make seven figures.
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“I just saw a story this morning where Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask - it's a battle to see who will start at quarterback. It's time to retire.
"You lead the NFL in interceptions since you entered it. You're not a franchise quarterback.
“You've never grown out of the chutzpah and the tough guy thing. And like Tim Tebow or Cam Newton, he's just too relevant to be a backup."
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