The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are currently engaged in contract negotiations with their quarterback Baker Mayfield.
Mayfield recently told reporters that he and the team are not close on reaching a deal. As Mayfield’s deadline of training camp approaches, the team’s biggest concern about meeting the quarterback’s financial demands has come to light.
Buccaneers need Baker Mayfield to stay healthy and avoid injury
Buccaneers insider Rick Stroud recently penned an in-depth piece taking fans behind the scenes of the ongoing contract negotiations.
Mayfield’s health is one of the organization’s primary concerns as they prepare to make a major long-term commitment.
“ However, the Bucs are concerned about one element of his game he continues to neglect: his health,” wrote Stroud. “While Mayfield hasn’t missed any games since joining the Bucs, he’s been slowed by injuries.”
It’s a known fact that Mayfield was battling injuries down the stretch last year. It’s a side effect of his physical, sometimes reckless playing style.
He’s always been willing to put his body on the line, and while many consider that one of his greatest attributes, the team views it as a liability.
“No, he’s not going to miss any games, but he can take a little bit better care of himself in certain situations. I understand when he’s a yard and a half or 2 from a first down, but not when it’s 10 yards or 8 yards from the first down when he can get up and live another day,” said Bowles, via TampaBay.com. “Unless it’s fourth and 10 in Houston and the game is on the line, and I understand why he’s doing those types of things. But if we can take care of that, we’ll be fine.”
Mayfield is entering his age-31 season, and as he gets older, the importance of taking care of his body is only increasing.
The team is likely about to invest $50 million or more annually into their quarterback, so it’s understandable why there is concern surrounding his daring, hard-nosed playing style.
It’s great to have a quarterback willing to do whatever it takes to put the team in position to win, but the best thing Baker Mayfield can do for this team as the long-term franchise quarterback is to keep himself out of harm's way and stay healthy down the stretch.
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