12 August 2023 , 00:56
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield has one of the toughest tasks in the NFL this upcoming season, as he's stepping in for Tom Brady.
Brady finally retired from the NFL in February, and Mayfield was signed by the Buccaneers on March 16 to a one-year contract. The 2017 Heisman Trophy winner was the first overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft, but has struggled since leaving the Cleveland Browns at the end of the 2021 season.
Mayfield has been chosen as the short-term Brady replacement, and began pre-season well with a pinpoint touchdown to rookie Trey Palmer against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Mayfield completed eight of his nine passing attempts, finishing with 41 yards before being replaced by Kyle Trask.
But before his Buccaneers debut, Mayfield was told to retire from the NFL by Colin Cowherd. The analyst focused on Mayfield's poor interception record, which backfired against the Steelers as it was Trask who was picked off inside his opening drive.
Cowherd said about Mayfield on his YouTube show, ' The Herd ' last 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."
The Bucs signed Mayfield to a one-year contract worth $8.5 million (£6.6 million), and he is feeling good about his fresh start. Following on from Brady is an almost impossible job, and Mayfield responded to the pressure he faces by claiming it's not just on him to perform.
"Everybody talks about Tom's gone. Yes, he is the greatest quarterback to ever play," Mayfield told The Athletic. "But football is the greatest team sport in the world.
"And so it takes a lot more than just one person. And there's a lot of good pieces here. And, yeah, they were banged up last year. I think everybody's hungry and ready to go."
Mayfield and the Bucs still have to face the New York Jets and the Baltimore Ravens in pre-season. They then play the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1.