Buccaneers' QB Baker Mayfield Cracks Hilarious Joke About NFL Career
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have really turned the corner after starting the season off hot, then having a rough middle of the season. They have now won four straight games and are on track to clinch a playoff spot by winning the NFC South as long as they can continue their spectacular play and come away with a victory over the New Orleans Saints this weekend.
A major part of the Buccaneers' success this season has been because of the play of QB Baker Mayfield under his one-year prove-it deal.
Baker has not thrown an interception in his last three games and has completed 64.3% of his passes over the course of 15 games for 3,598 yards, 26 touchdowns, and just 8 interceptions for a passer rating of 96.2.
Baker's play may not be all that eye-popping, but he has been outperforming some of the top quarterbacks in the league this season and after a tumultuous career up to this point it seems like he has finally found a place to call home in Tampa Bay.
As mentioned, Baker's career has had its twists and turns before arriving in Tampa. After being drafted No.1 overall by the Cleveland Browns in 2018, he spent the next few seasons with the team leading them to the playoffs in 2020. He then became injured during the 2021 season and even once he was healthy, the Browns' coaching staff decided against putting him back in as the team's starter.
Following the 2021 season, the Browns decided to sign quarterback Deshaun Watson which ultimately led Baker to ask for a trade from the team. He subsequently was dealt to the Carolina Panthers, but after a short stint in Carolina, he was released and eventually was picked up by the Los Angeles Rams.
Mayfield's time in LA likely helped him even though in limited work as he was able to eventually land a contract with the Buccaneers during the 2022-23 offseason.
It hasn't been an easy path for Mayfield up to this point and he acknowledged that with a subtle joke when asked how excited he is to come to work every day following the Bucs' victory over the Jags.
"It's a hell of a lot better than the last five years, I can say that."
The journey might not have been easy, but for Baker, he seems to have found happiness and a love for the game once again as he looks to make the playoffs for the second time in his career and with the hopes of resigning with the Buccaneers' following the season.
Stick with BucsGameday and the Locked On Bucs podcast for more coverage of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throughout the 2023 season.
