Getty Image / Joe Scarnici
After getting cut by the Carolina Panthers last season, former #1 overall draft pick Baker Mayfield got picked up by the Los Angeles Rams and put together a couple of performances that might’ve saved his career.
Now getting what will likely be his final chance to be a starter in the NFL, Mayfield was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the offseason, who will likely be rebuilding this season following the retirement of future Hall of Fame signal-caller Tom Brady.
Speaking at his introductory press conference on Monday, Mayfield mentioned Brady by pointing out the obvious: that he is, in fact, not the greatest quarterback of all time.
“Listen. I’m never going to be Tom Brady,” Baker Mayfield says in wanting to be his own self while competing to take over for maybe the best QB ever. pic.twitter.com/LPys7Zd1Ab
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) March 20, 2023
“Listen, I’m never going to be Tom Brady,” Mayfield said. “There’s a reason why he’s won so many Super Bowls. He’s the greatest of all time — there’s no doubt about that. I’m not going to try to be Tom. I’m going to be me. That’s what’s gotten me to this point. We’re going to do it differently.
“But that’s what makes this league so special. Everybody puts their own touch on it. It’s an honor to follow up somebody like that. And I’m definitely — the people that played with him around here, I’m going to pick their brains for things he did, there’s no doubt about that. So, I’m excited.”
Given how Mayfield’s career has panned out so far, fans were quick to jump on his case for even thinking he had to mention that he’s not Tom Brady.
Whew, that was a close one. Thought Baker Mayfield was going to be Tom Brady for a second there… https://t.co/wNNvzPjSBF
— Blake Skaggs (@skaggs_561) March 20, 2023
Tom Brady never got waived by the Panthers though so maybe he should change his approach 🤷♂️ https://t.co/Mw3PR7KrSb
— Zero Dark Pudry (he/him) (@DHSpeedwagon) March 20, 2023
https://twitter.com/brockgolfer/status/1637880650039435286
Heading into the 2023 season, the NFC South will make history as each of the four teams in the division — the Bucs, Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons, and New Orleans Saints — will all have different starting quarterbacks than they had last year.
In addition to the Bucs going from Brady to Mayfield, the Saints are going from Jameis Winston to Derek Carr, the Carolina Panthers will be taking a QB with the #1 overall pick in the draft, and the Falcons will be turning to second-year passer Desmond Ridder.
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