Buccaneers Round Table: Chris Baker Apologizes to Fans

Michael Horan

Veteran defensive tackle Chris Baker has had a tough going in his first season with the Buccaneers. He’s registered just 17 tackles and zero sacks on the season, and has been completely invisible for the most part. Baker was extremely good for the Redskins last year, so it’s highly doubtful that his talent disappeared over night. I also doubt that it’s an effort problem; Baker is an undrafted free agent and has had to fight and claw to make it this far in the league. Baker’s apology reinforces that thought for me, and as a fan, it made me smile to see that he empathizes with the rest of us. If Baker wanted he could put his head down, sulk, and demand a trade to a competitive team. Instead, he made it clear that he cares about winning with the Bucs, and that he’s genuinely bummed he hasn’t been able to contribute more. If Mike Smith returns next season, I hope that he has a more specific plan in place to maximize Baker’s talent. My acceptance of Baker’s apology will however be revoked if I see Baker mailing it in the rest of the season. It’s without question a lost year, so the players that are still giving it their all and playing hard will the ones that return next season to try and right the ship. Hopefully Chris Baker is among them.