Amazon & Eli Manning Release ‘The Undercovers’ Starring Baker Mayfield As Incognito Bucs Superfan Gus Swayze

While we wait to see how Glen Powell's Chad Powers Hulu series turns out, Eli Manning and Amazon had the bright idea to put a twist on the star NFL quarterback in disguise gimmick. If this project was previously announced, I missed it. I'm almost certain it came straight out of left field, perhaps in the spirit of the month of Halloween. And of course, Baker's Tampa Bay Buccaneers visit Atlanta to take on the Falcons on Thursday Night Football this evening, which streams on Amazon Prime Video. Talk about some genius marketing. In any event, Thursday marked the sudden premiere of this 31-minute, presumably one-shot stunt of a reality docuseries called The Undercovers , where Baker more or less looks like the prototypical Florida Man mashed up with ex-Jaguars and current Raiders QB Gardner Minshew. https://twitter.com/NFLonPrime/status/1841840755423289584 The character's name? Gus Swayze. And here's a little clip: https://twitter.com/PrimeVideo/status/1841840690151542833 This was obviously a collaboration between Peyton and Eli's Omaha Productions and Amazon Prime Video, whose influence over the world only expands with every quality streaming show or movie they put out. Eli explains at the top of the show that Baker was dressed up to tag along with a group of season ticket holders who'd get an exclusive tour of the Bucs' training facilities. Baker is a natural on camera. I've only been able to see the first chunk of The Undercovers , but the man's acting chops are undeniable at this point. He was excellent in those Progressive commercials back in the day while he was in Cleveland, and now he's getting to go full incognito to mix it up with passionate Bucs fans. Even in the sizzle reel that accompanies the show's introduction, you can see that Baker eventually outs himself when he launches a football probably some 60 yards to stun the rest of the Tampa fans. For all the grief he took at the end of his Browns tenure, the struggles in Carolina, and all the adversity that's beset Baker since he entered the NFL, he's thriving as Tom Brady's successor in Tampa. Brady's high-strung approach to the game preceded a more laid-back but dialed-in atmosphere for the Bucs during Baker's reign. Now, he has a golden opportunity to get his team a full two games up on the Falcons tonight, plus a tiebreaker. That'd be huge especially considering Atlanta was the preseason NFC South favorite. People said Brady might have a future in Hollywood once he retired. I don't know. I think his long-term replacement in Tampa would have a much better shot at the silver screen someday if he wants it.