Sports Editorial (EFE) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield said his team is turning negative comments about Tom Brady retiring from the 2023 NFL season into motivation.
“That was the motto for all of us going into training camp this offseason. The external narrative that everyone used against us we turned into motivation,” Mayfield said.
The Buccaneers defeated the Minnesota Vikings 17-20 on the road in Week 1 of the season, although they were not favorites due to the retirement of Tom Brady, considered the best player in NFL history, last February. team. .
The 28-year-old Mayfield dispelled the doom and gloom with a solid performance against the Vikings, throwing for 173 yards and two touchdown passes.
The former Rams and Panthers quarterback arrived in Tampa Bay this season and highlighted how his teammates are dealing with such criticism.
“We have a lot of talent in the locker room. That’s the most important part. “So we just went out in this adverse environment and got a road win to start the season. “
Brady spent three seasons with the Buccaneers. After winning six Super Bowls with the New England Patriots, he joined the team in 2019 and in his first season with the Florida franchise, he led the team to a championship, wearing his seventh Championship ring.
But Brady announced his retirement from the NFL last February, so the Buccaneers began looking for someone to guide them, which wasn’t easy after successfully having the best season in history.
During the preseason, Mayfield convinced head coach Todd Bowles that he was ready to run the offense under 25-year-old Kyle Trask, who had been playing until last season. is Brady’s backup, and he confirmed that last Sunday against the Vikings.
“We had a fair pace and we were able to do that because Mike Evans and Trey Palmer were scoring and really allowed our guys to settle down. No one was nervous. I was able to do that and that Good for us,” the quarterback concluded.