Baker Mayfield: "I'm Never Going to be Tom Brady"
Baker Mayfield is officially a Tampa Bay Buccaneer after signing his contract on Monday. Shortly after signing his official contract with the team, Mayfield took time to answer questions from the media during his introductory press conference.
Mayfield knew that he would need to be patient in finding his new home and once Tampa Bay became a real possibility for him and his family he knew it was the right place for him.
“An organization like this, that’s had success, obviously, for a while and in recent years as well — it was important to me to be in a place that’s stable and knows how to win, knows how to do it properly,” Mayfield said. “I’ve gotten to see different things from my journey that’s not exactly how I drew it up. But, it’s helped along the way, especially to make a decision like this. And I want to go somewhere that we can win right away and this is that place.”
READ MORE: Baker Mayfield Dishes Out Thoughts on Upcoming QB Competition With Kyle Trask
The Buccaneers do still have a contending roster at their disposal, so it is easy to see why Baker would be drawn to the Bucs. Currently, Mayfield joins Kyle Trask as the only two quarterbacks on the Tampa Bay roster and both will compete with one another to be the successor to the greatest quarterback of all-time, Tom Brady. However, Baker doesn't want to make too much out of replacing the 7x Super Bowl Champion.
“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.”
It would be mighty difficult for anyone to come in to try and replicate what Tom Brady was able to achieve in his career and in Tampa Bay. Baker doesn't want to even try as he understands that every quarterback is different, and has their own style of play. That is what he plans to bring to the Buccaneers. Learning from those who have had experience coaching Brady is one thing, trying to be him is a whole other challenge.
Baker seems to be coming in with the right mindset to become the eventual starting quarterback for the Buccaneers, but we will have to wait until later in the offseason to see if he is indeed THE guy.
Stick with BucsGameday for more coverage of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throughout the 2023 offseason.
