14 March 2024 , 04:00
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Baker Mayfield was jokingly insulted by Tampa Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht, who quickly said sorry. Bucs' top man cheekily said the quarterback is a "10 on the p***k scale" just days after they signed him to a big-money deal.
Before free agency officially started, Mayfield agreed to a three-year deal worth up to $115 million with $50 million guaranteed to stay in Florida. This deal comes after he had a great season and filled Tom Brady's shoes effectively.
On Wednesday, the Buccaneers had a press conference to announce Mayfield's new deal. When asked to describe how tough the 28 year old is, Licht joked that the former first overall pick is a "10 on the p**** scale" before saying sorry to Bucs vice president of communications Nelson Luis.
Licht then added in a fun way that Mayfield "is an offensive lineman in a quarterback's body". These funny comments were definitely his way of praising Mayfield's strong playing style and attitude he brings to the position.
In his first season with the Buccaneers, Mayfield achieved career-bests in passing yards (ninth in the NFL ), touchdowns (seventh), and completion percentage. The Oklahoma alum completed 64.3 percent of his passes for 4,044 yards with 28 touchdowns and 10 interceptions along with a 94.6 passer rating, reports the Mirror US.
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Had he not penned a new deal with the Bucs prior to the legal tampering period, Mayfield would've been one of the most sought-after free agents. His leadership guided the Buccaneers to the NFC South title and an unforeseen playoff win against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Despite a close loss to the Detroit Lions, Mayfield still managed to propel the team to their third Divisional Round in two decades. Finalised after Mike Evans landed a mega-money deal, and All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. ,signed, Mayfield's agreement allows the Buccaneers flexibility going forward, especially given the heavier competition following the Atlanta Falcons' recruitment of Kirk Cousins.
Apart from calling him a "p****", Licht showered his quarterback with compliments as he pledged his future to the Bucs.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were able to re-sign both Baker Mayfield and star receiver Mike Evans ahead of free agency (No credit)"Baker is the ultimate competitor and has demonstrated strong leadership and resilience on the field over his six-year career," was how Licht described Mayfield. He credited Mayfield's determination and unwavering commitment to his teammates for their success last season.
"Our entire team feeds off the energy and passion that Baker brings, and he will play a key role in continuing to build off the winning culture that has been established here. We are all looking forward to seeing Baker build off last year's success as we continue our pursuit of winning another Super Bowl."
Mayfield, Evans, Winfield Jr. , and long-time linebacker Lavonte David all entered the offseason with uncertain futures but Licht and the Bucs front office got the deals done. After years of bouncing around the Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers, and Los Angeles Rams, it appears Mayfield has found a home in Tampa.