ESPN Analyst and Former Buccaneer: "I Was Wrong About Baker Mayfield"

Doubting the Buccaneers and their new quarterback, Baker Mayfield, was a popular preseason take. Just 4 weeks into the season, one ESPN analyst and former Buccaneer felt obligated to walk that back.

A lot of people were confident when predicting that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were destined to be a bad team in 2023.

As it turns out, a lot of people were wrong. 

Whether or not the Bucs will be able to continue their strong play to start the season is yet to be determined. But we've seen enough to know that the individuals who doubted this team, and especially Baker Mayfield, were wrong.

One of those individuals was former Buccaneer, and current ESPN Analyst, Booger McFarland.

READ MORE: Baker Mayfield Took Buccaneers Offensive Line to Bahamas

However, unlike a lot of the other doubters who wrote off the Bucs, and Baker Mayfield without doing proper due diligence, McFarland has at least taken the accountability of owning up to his failed prediction.

I was wrong about Baker Mayfield. He has proven to be exactly what Tampa needs. Don’t know if it last all year regardless I was wrong and Tampa is the best team in the NFC South

— Booger (@ESPNBooger) October 5, 2023

McFarland took to the public forum formerly known as Twitter to acknowledge his own mistake.

"I was wrong about Baker Mayfield. He has proven to be exactly what Tampa needs. Don't know if it last all year regardless I was wrong and Tampa is the best team in the NFC South". 

Let's be clear, Booger McFarland was not in the minority when he vocalized his belief that Baker Mayfield likely wasn't going to be the guy to lead the Buccaneers to a successful season in 2023. But he is in the minority when it comes to going out of his way to issue a public gesture of respect in Mayfield's direction.

An apology, of sorts.

READ MORE: Former Buccaneer Has Strong Things to Say About Baker Mayfield

He also threw some respect on this Bucs team in the process, by anointing them the best team in the NFC South. 

Thankfully, in the modern landscape of sports coverage, we've got no shortage of receipts. Those receipts, however, are best reserved for the individuals who refuse to acknowledge when they were wrong. Respect to Booger McFarland for calling himself out before anyone else had a chance to.

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