Pewter Report’s Bucs Training Camp coverage is presented by
Synergy Outdoor Kitchens & More
Become the envy of the neighborhood – and the place to come for Tampa Bay watch parties and home tailgating – with a custom outdoor kitchen from Synergy Outdoor Kitchens & More! Get a FREE Coyote Portable Tailgate grill – an $800 value – with the purchase of a new outdoor kitchen Wesley Chapel • Sarasota/Bradenton • Tampa • Orlando / Call Synergy at 813-993-1531 or visit SynergyFL.com
Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield took shots directly at the the organization stating his displeasure for how he was treated during contract extension negotiations that didn’t come to fruition. Mayfield used statements such as being disrespected, undervalued and overall disappointed with how everything went. His comments made news waves all across the NFL landscape on a national level with every pundit talking about it.
Per Reports, Bucs Offered Mayfield More Than $50 Million A Season
Mayfield stoked the fire on Thursday with his blunt approach in a public forum. One of the main factors in the discussion was his frustrations in the amount of years and money offered per season. However, the Bucs had the chance to respond indirectly on Friday, and reports coming from Jeremy Fowler and Adam Schefter of ESPN indicate that although the offer was still for two years, the money certainly reached over the $50 million threshold per season.
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
Schefter appeared on the Pat McAfee Show on Friday and explained it all:
“I don’t know what the guarantees were, but the offer was over fifty million dollars a year in average,” he said. “And I think the Buccaneers, that’s their side, which is fair. And i think Baker’s side is fair. Two years, like, you’re the franchise guy. You deserve more than two years. So, that’s part of the issue. Baker’s got a point on the years. I think the value was a little bit more than was let on.
“The Buccaneers have made an offer over fifty million dollars per year, and Baker says it’s shut down. It’s shut down, and he’s not going to talk. Now, they can still franchise (tag) him at forty-seven million dollars, which would be less than fifty, and then fifty-seven the next year. So, essentially, they have him for the next two years for one-hundred and five million with the franchise tag.”
Bucs Not Happy With What Mayfield Said About Them
So that was financial side of it from the Bucs perspective. But the personal side, the public bashing, is what really doesn’t sit well with Tampa Bay’s front office.
“It almost feels like it’s Baker versus the team,” Schefter said. “Baker’s not happy with them. They’re not happy with the way he spoke about the organization. That’s not great.”
The Bucs can be upset about it all they want, but realistically, what are they going to do? They’re not cut him or fine him. He’s still going to be the quarterback of the team this season. And if Mayfield does have an incredible season, is one press conference with some harsh comments going to dissuade Tampa Bay for paying him what would have earned? The answer is no.
Contract negotiations can get ugly at times. With this negotiation, each time has good points to say what they’ve said in the case of Mayfield and do what they’ve done in terms of the Bucs’ offer to him.
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
Ultimately Mayfield is going to have a great season to get what he believes he is owed. The Bucs would happily abide by that if he does. And if Friday’s training camp was any indication of the performance that Mayfield will have this season, the price will be going up.
Pewter Report reacted to Mayfield’s comments from the day before on the Pewter Report Podcast, which can be watched by clicking this link. We also shared our opinions on the Bucs side of things during Friday’s podcast episode, while recapping the events of what went on at practice that day. Click the link below to view it and subscribe to our PewterReportTV YouTube channel.