With each passing strong performance, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield slowly shakes off any doubts haters hold toward him from seasons past. Even so, some in the mediasphere still rely on his old performances to criticize his game today.
Mayfield impressed in the first half of Thursday Night Football, completing 12 of his 15 passes for 131 yards and three touchdowns against a leaky Atlanta Falcons secondary.
However, he failed to total 50 passing yards as the Buccaneers fell 36-30 in overtime to a key division rival, dropping them to 3-2 on the young season.
Former Buccaneers running back LeSean McCoy took Baker's poor second-half showing as a reason to bash the former first-overall pick on FS1's "The Facility."
"I never really did trust Baker," McCoy said in response to a question comparing Kirk Cousins and Mayfield "In the past he's been throwing picks, that's why you don't trust him, but he's a good quarterback. That's Baker Mayfield…. I can’t get over what he used to be."
Mayfield is off to another strong start in Tampa. Through five games, he ranks fourth in the NFL in completion percentage and holds a sparking 11-2 touchdown-interception ratio.
"I can't get over what he used to be," McCoy continued. "You think Kirk can't be trusted because of what he did before, I feel the same with Baker! He hasn't been consistent enough for me after, what, a couple of games? A cool season? 9-8 to barely get into the playoffs? No, I can’t do it. Baker, right, keep balling, keep getting better and better…eventually, things may change.”
Mayfield led the Buccaneers to the division title with more than 4,000 passing yards and defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card Round for his second career playoff victory.
This isn't the first time McCoy, a six-time Pro Bowler in his own right, has come for Mayfield. After Mayfield's playoff win over the Eagles, McCoy quipped: "When you look at this win in the playoffs, you beat the Eagles. I can’t even sit there and pat your back … because everybody’s beating the Eagles. Everybody’s beating them. We’re talking about a long-term contract?"
“You never touched a Pro Bowl? That’s not even hard to do. … I’m going to pay you some money? Some real money? Come on, man.” Mayfield was shortly named a 2023 Pro Bowler and signed a three-year, $100 million deal to stay in Tampa Bay.
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McCoy was part of a panel on FS1's "First Things First" in February and welcomed Josh Allen to the show. McCoy asked the Bills quarterback who has the best arm in the NFL.
"You know who's got a sneaky big arm is Bake," Allen said. Baker Mayfield has got a cannon, and I don't think he gets enough credit for it. I'm serious. He can actually chuck the ball. I'm serious."
McCoy nearly fell out of his chair in disgust before calling for a virtual timeout. “Did he say Baker Mayfield?" McCoy asked.. "When I call you later [Josh] we’re gonna talk!”
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