Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield can’t do any wrong right now. On the field, he has been elite this season, leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 4-1 record, and playing himself into MVP discussions.
Off the field, Mayfield has been fiery and petty, winning people over with his actions as well. The wild part is, he’s the same guy he was when he first came on to the scene as a college quarterback, everyone just loves him now.
People who watched Mayfield grow up in the NFL know that wasn’t always the case; he was once one of the most criticized players in the league, for the same actions he’s being praised for now. On Wednesday, the veteran quarterback made sure to call out the media’s hypocrisy. Speaking about his recent viral exchange with a Seattle Seahawks fan, Mayfield explained that things like that used to be called cocky and immature, but now those actions are praised with words like moxie and being a dawg.
Baker Mayfield knows to be himself, because the media will always change the narrative
Mayfield’s biggest takeaway from the wishy-washy media was to be yourself; all that matters in the end is playing well. Having experienced all the ups and downs of the NFL, the veteran quarterback understands how the media can shape narratives, and how winning ultimately cures all. Instead of trying to shapeshift to appease an ever-changing crowd, Mayfield knows to just show up as the version of himself that will put the best player on the field.
That’s exactly what he’s doing this season. After two career years in his first two seasons with the Buccaneers, the quarterback has seemingly taken things to another level. In five games, he’s completing 65.1% of his passes for 1,283 yards and 10 touchdowns, to just one interception. Additionally, the team only has one loss.
As long as he continues to play at that level, the media will remain on his side.