VIDEO: Baker Mayfield Mic'd Up vs. The Minnesota Vikings is All the Content You Need
Tampa Bay Buccaneers' starting quarterback, Baker Mayfield, has always had the reputation of being a fiery quarterback.
That perception was reinforced during his debut performance as the Bucs' starter, in a game that saw his team — who were underdogs — steal a victory on the road against a quality opponent in week 1.
If Mayfield's performance on the field wasn't enough to sell you on his toughness, competitive spirit, and leadership qualities, then maybe this video will be.
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Mayfield was mic'd up for the game, and the six minutes and twenty-five seconds of behind-the-scenes video is, for lack of a better term, gold.
Seeing Mayfield hollering at his offensive linemen before the game even started, including a fired-up greeting with Buccaneers' injured center, Ryan Jensen — which immediately cues visions of how fun it would be to watch those two share the field on Sundays — is only the beginning.
There's plenty of cool footage, including Baker telling Bucs' UDFA rookie, Sean Tucker, "You worked your ass off for this moment" on the field prior to kickoff.
Baker screaming "Let's F***ing go man" after firing his first touchdown strike to Mike Evans, was another highlight. His exuberance following that TD pass was, in my opinion, reminiscent of Brett Favre, the way he sprints up the field to greet his teammates.
Mayfield's enthusiasm is contagious. And the way he carries himself on the sidelines is all the proof anyone needs. He can be seen (and heard) throughout the contest, walking the sidelines and firing up his teammates with motivational words and unrelenting energy.
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Of all the clips, the one that's since gone viral is the play where Mayfield stiff-arms Vikings' cornerback, Byron Murphy Jr., on his way to a positive gain in an important moment of the second half. Mayfield can be heard yelling "Get your weight up little boy... get your weight up" to the Vikings defender following the play that earned him 'The Scepter', as the winner of Kyle Brandt's angry runs competition for week 1.
Down the stretch of the game, Mayfield presents a focused mindset along the sidelines. He can be heard offering a stern message to his offensive teammates heading into the final frame of play, "Protect the rock in this fourth quarter. Get your F***ing minds right."
Baker Mayfield's gritty performance in the team's Week 1 victory over Minnesota likely earned him the respect of many fans in Tampa Bay. Thanks to this video — and after hearing how he conducts himself on the field — I have a feeling he's endeared himself to an even larger portion of the Buccaneers' fanbase.
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