Throughout a Monday look on SiriusXM NFL Radio, quarterback Baker Mayfield explained how “the management within the locker room” helped the 2023 Tampa Bay Buccaneers earn a playoff berth and a house postseason win after they fell from 3-1 to 4-7.
Unsurprisingly to those that have adopted the Buccaneers over the previous yr, it seems Mayfield was an enormous a part of that management group.
“He stored all people optimistic, all people free,” Buccaneers basic supervisor Jason Licht stated about Mayfield whereas talking with SiriusXM NFL Radio, as shared by the JoeBucsFan web site. “And he fought his a– off for each yard he threw for or rushed for. All people simply jumped on the bandwagon with him. He was mainly saying, ‘Include me. Let’s go win. Let’s go flip this round and I’ll purchase drinks on the bar on the finish of the day.’ All people form of purchased into that.”
Buccaneers senior advisor Bruce Arians beforehand hinted that Mayfield and head coach Todd Bowles each may’ve been proven the door this offseason had they not guided Tampa Bay to wins throughout 5 of the membership’s closing six regular-season contests. Bowles‘ 2022 Buccaneers completed with a document of 8-9 earlier than they had been smashed by the Dallas Cowboys within the wild-card spherical of the playoffs, however 9-8 Tampa Bay notched a powerful 32-9 wild-card victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in January of this yr.
Licht additionally praised Bowles through the interview for by no means getting “too emotional, someway” by way of the ups and downs the Buccaneers skilled final season.
“Todd, our head coach, does an incredible job of being the identical on daily basis, steading the ship,” Licht talked about.
The vibes inside the Buccaneers are understandably excessive after Licht did properly to largely preserve the band collectively by way of offers that included the signing of Mayfield to a brand new three-year contract. With that stated, some believe rumors in regards to the membership parting methods with Mayfield and/or Bowles early subsequent yr may hover over the group if Tampa Bay enters its Week 11 bye in November with a dropping document.
It is unclear if dwelling legend Invoice Belichick would have an interest in probably changing Bowles come January 2025, however logic suggests Belichick will not flip down any interview requests after he did not land a training job this previous winter.
