- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,253,166
- Reaction score
- 59
The contract standoff between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and quarterback Baker Mayfield has cast a dark cloud over the first few days of training camp.
Mayfield had set a deadline to get a new deal worked out by the beginning of camp, but nothing materialized. When the two sides couldn't reach an agreement, it was announced that Mayfield would play out the final year of his current contract and become a free agent in 2027.
To make matters worse, the disgruntled QB ripped the team on Thursday, telling reporters that he felt "disrespected" and "undervalued" by the team he has led for the last three seasons. Mayfield insisted that he is going to have a big year and has ended further negotiations until after the season.
However, it seems like Mayfield extended a lifeline to the Bucs to reach an agreement during the upcoming campaign.
Speaking with Pete Prisco of CBS Sports, Mayfield appeared open to signing a new deal during the season as long as the Bucs give him what he's looking for.
Despite remaining firm for the past few weeks that negotiations would end if a new deal wasn't reached before training camp, Mayfield's stance seemed to soften a bit with Prisco.
When Prisco envisioned a scenario in which both Mayfield and the Bucs were playing well, and the team wanted to get something done, the 31-year-old left the door open. However, he insinuated that his agent wouldn't even bring him an offer if it wasn't what the QB was looking for.
"Unless it's some deal that they actually recognize my value and they want me here long-term... that was probably the biggest difference, there was zero long-term lock-in."
Sounds simple enough: if the Bucs make an acceptable offer, Mayfield will accept it.
It is a different tone than the one Mayfield has struck all offseason with his commitment to putting contract talks off until the season's end. Though his comments leave the possibility open, Mayfield sounds like he has given his agent strict instructions on how to proceed.
The reports coming out of Tampa suggested the Bucs only offered Mayfield a two-year contract, while most other franchise QBs around the NFL are receiving at least four years on their extensions.
Mayfield wants a longer commitment than two years. He knows, and so does the team, that he has played the last three years at an incredibly discounted rate for a franchise QB (with a fourth discounted season upcoming). The Bucs gave him a chance to rejuvenate his career, which Mayfield did, and the team got a franchise QB on a salary far below market value.
Mayfield still expresses his gratitude to the team for giving him a chance to prove himself all over again, but now he wants what he feels he is worth.
Mayfield's comments to Prisco seem a bit more positive than what he was telling reporters earlier in the day. It was clear that he wasn't happy with what the Bucs had offered him and was very forthcoming when discussing it.
Now that his deadline has passed without a new contract, it appears Mayfield would still be willing to consider offers, as long as they become much more generous than the team's previous ones.
New deal or not, Mayfield insists the contract won't be an issue during the season, and he is determined to have a big year. If he does, his price is only going to go up.
Now that Mayfield has left the door open a crack to still get a deal done, hopefully this saga has a happy ending.
Join our ROUNDTABLE community! It's free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members. Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!
Continue reading...
Mayfield had set a deadline to get a new deal worked out by the beginning of camp, but nothing materialized. When the two sides couldn't reach an agreement, it was announced that Mayfield would play out the final year of his current contract and become a free agent in 2027.
To make matters worse, the disgruntled QB ripped the team on Thursday, telling reporters that he felt "disrespected" and "undervalued" by the team he has led for the last three seasons. Mayfield insisted that he is going to have a big year and has ended further negotiations until after the season.
However, it seems like Mayfield extended a lifeline to the Bucs to reach an agreement during the upcoming campaign.
Speaking with Pete Prisco of CBS Sports, Mayfield appeared open to signing a new deal during the season as long as the Bucs give him what he's looking for.
"Recognize My Value"
Despite remaining firm for the past few weeks that negotiations would end if a new deal wasn't reached before training camp, Mayfield's stance seemed to soften a bit with Prisco.
When Prisco envisioned a scenario in which both Mayfield and the Bucs were playing well, and the team wanted to get something done, the 31-year-old left the door open. However, he insinuated that his agent wouldn't even bring him an offer if it wasn't what the QB was looking for.
"Unless it's some deal that they actually recognize my value and they want me here long-term... that was probably the biggest difference, there was zero long-term lock-in."
Sounds simple enough: if the Bucs make an acceptable offer, Mayfield will accept it.
It is a different tone than the one Mayfield has struck all offseason with his commitment to putting contract talks off until the season's end. Though his comments leave the possibility open, Mayfield sounds like he has given his agent strict instructions on how to proceed.
The reports coming out of Tampa suggested the Bucs only offered Mayfield a two-year contract, while most other franchise QBs around the NFL are receiving at least four years on their extensions.
Mayfield wants a longer commitment than two years. He knows, and so does the team, that he has played the last three years at an incredibly discounted rate for a franchise QB (with a fourth discounted season upcoming). The Bucs gave him a chance to rejuvenate his career, which Mayfield did, and the team got a franchise QB on a salary far below market value.
Mayfield still expresses his gratitude to the team for giving him a chance to prove himself all over again, but now he wants what he feels he is worth.
Final Thoughts
Mayfield's comments to Prisco seem a bit more positive than what he was telling reporters earlier in the day. It was clear that he wasn't happy with what the Bucs had offered him and was very forthcoming when discussing it.
Now that his deadline has passed without a new contract, it appears Mayfield would still be willing to consider offers, as long as they become much more generous than the team's previous ones.
New deal or not, Mayfield insists the contract won't be an issue during the season, and he is determined to have a big year. If he does, his price is only going to go up.
Now that Mayfield has left the door open a crack to still get a deal done, hopefully this saga has a happy ending.
Join our ROUNDTABLE community! It's free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members. Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!
Continue reading...
