With no new contract, Buccaneers front office is giving Baker Mayfield all the motivation he needs

Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is the type of player who looks for any sort of slight to give him that extra edge and motivation.

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He won’t have to look far for it this year — upstairs, in his team’s own front office.

Mayfield, set to make $27 million this season in the final year of his three-year, $100 million deal he signed before the 2024 season, was hoping to score a new long-term contract. But his self-imposed deadline of the start of training camp came and went last week with no deal close to Mayfield’s liking.

“That’s really the disappointing part — to feel undervalued after thinking you’ve earned it,” Mayfield told reporters Thursday. “When it comes to having a chip on your shoulder and all that, for me it just puts me in the mindset of betting on myself. That’s something I’m pretty familiar with, and it’s a good place to be.”

After bouncing from the Browns to the Panthers to the Rams in the first five years of his career, Mayfield found stability in Tampa Bay and provided a smooth transition after Tom Brady retired. In three seasons, Mayfield is 27-24 with two playoff appearances and one win.

That is why Mayfield was so disappointed, he told ESPN, that the Buccaneers only offered a two-year deal, and came nowhere close to averaging at least $50 million per year. While that may seem a little rich, consider that 12 quarterbacks make at least $50 million, with the high mark currently $64 million.

Mayfield, 31, may have been playing a little loose with the truth, as Pro Football Talk reported that he was really offered a two-year extension, which is actually a three-year deal. Still, Mayfield believes he deserves more.

“I also know what I’ve brought to this franchise, leadership-wise and even play-wise,” Mayfield said. “I’ve been told I’m a franchise quarterback — it’s been said publicly from ownership down here — so to not have a deal done is very disappointing.”

While most players tend to shy away from talking publicly about their contracts, Mayfield was feisty and took a few shots at his team. He said he was “not presented with an offer that’s appealing whatsoever” and “I don’t know if they thought I was just going to take some of the offers they gave.”

Mayfield noted that he’s not the only Buccaneers star dealing with a contract issue. Defensive tackle Vita Vea, set to make $17 million in the final year of a four-year, $71 million pact, has requested a trade. Mayfield called out the Buccaneers for being stingy.

“This is kind of historically how they’ve done negotiations, which is disappointing when you think you’re a cornerstone of the franchise to be treated like that,” Mayfield said. “I’ve sat here and watched these guys go through it, even Tristan [Wirfs]. You’re talking about the best tackle in the league, the only person in NFL history that’s been an All-Pro at right tackle and left tackle, and he had to have a hold-in during training camp to get it done. So it’s disappointing. You hope they take care of their guys.”

Of course, the Buccaneers likely have their reasons for not offering Mayfield everything he wants. Mayfield plays with a reckless style that endears him to teammates and fans and brings a lot of energy to the huddle, but also led to him suffering a bevy of injuries last year. Mayfield’s numbers dipped across the board as the Bucs went 8-9 and missed the playoffs despite a 6-2 start.

As for Wirfs, he was signed to a five–year, $140.63 million contract extension before the 2024 season, a deal that made him the highest paid offensive lineman in NFL history

Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles already seems annoyed at questions about Mayfield’s future.

“We’re not going to make this training camp about Baker from a team standpoint,” Bowles said. “If something happens, great, but we’re getting ready for the season and play it out. He’s expecting to have a great season from himself. He loves the guys that he’s around and building it from that. That’s all we’re going to go with right now.”

Mayfield’s teammates expect the failed negotiations to fuel him properly.

“I don’t know if there’s anybody more equipped to handle something like this,” receiver Chris Godwin said. “He’s a constant pro, he’s going to go out there, going to handle his business and he’s going to be the Baker that everyone loves.”

Mayfield said the negotiations are done now that camp has begun, though it’s hard to imagine he would turn down an offer if they meet his price.

“They’re not talking to me, I know that,” he said. “If my agent answers it, he’s not going to bother me with it unless it’s actually recognized for my value.”

Mayfield is famous for talking smack on the field. This time, he sent some toward his front office.

“If you’ve waited this long to take care of your franchise quarterback, that’s too bad, because it’s only going to get worse from here,” he said. “I’m going to have a really good year.”

The most important thing is that 49ers coach Kyle Shahanan survived his car crash and should make a full recovery after suffering a broken hand, broken nose, three broken ribs, a gash above his eye requiring 40 stitches, and a significant concussion that currently limits his coaching duties as the 49ers begin training camp.

But if everything is on the up and up, that Shanahan caused an accident by fumbling with his phone and otherwise everything is OK, why are the 49ers and Palo Alto, Calif., police acting like they have something to hide?

The accident occurred July 14. Shanahan and the team provided minimal (if any) details to media, and the reporters who did get an inkling that something was amiss were asked not to report anything out of privacy.

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On July 25, the 49ers released a statement on the first day of camp that Shanahan had an accident and would be limited in his football duties. Shanahan only fessed up to being at fault for the accident days later when the media began pinning it on the other driver because of a clerical error by police. The Palo Alto police are refusing to release the 911 call, accident report, or bodycam video to the public.

The lack of transparency only creates further suspicion that something is awry.

Shanahan wasn’t the only coach to have deeds go unnoticed over the summer. The Commanders fired tight ends coach Ben Steele on Monday after it went unreported that he was arrested in Virginia on June 7 for suspicion of driving while intoxicated. Steele had been on leave since then, including during the team’s minicamp in June. Former Patriots wideout Wes Welker took over the job.

The Vikings also announced a three-week suspension for defensive backs coach Gerald Alexander after a guilty plea earlier this month connected to an arrest in April for driving while intoxicated. Rams third-year guard Justin Dedich may be the latest player to hurt himself in a fireworks accident, as Sean McVay said he “had a hand accident around the Fourth of July, and so that’s kind of what’s keeping him out for now.”

Five teams enter training camp with quarterback situations that aren’t totally settled, and each is handling it a little differently.

The Raiders clearly view Fernando Mendoza as the future after drafting him No. 1, but are desperately trying to take it slow. First-year coach Klint Kubiak said on the first day, “When we go out to practice tomorrow, Kirk Cousins is the starting quarterback. He’s the guy, and he’s going to get a ton of reps.”

Mendoza said he’s embracing the “follower role,” and seems OK with sitting and learning. But the reality is that, other than Patrick Mahomes, almost all highly drafted rookie QBs become the starter by mid-October at the latest, so the Raiders better get Mendoza ready.

The Cardinals ended talk of a QB battle by giving Jacoby Brissett a new contract worth $15.5 million, with upside to $21 million, making him the clear starter over Gardner Minshew. Brissett is still the lowest-paid veteran starting quarterback, but getting a $10 million raise from such a tight-fisted organization is a win. Of course, if and when the Cardinals have a terrible start to the season, they will likely give rookie Carson Beck a shot.

The Falcons are putting their competition on hold, with Michael Penix (ACL) not yet cleared for team drills and Tua Tagovailoa missing early camp practices with a tight back. Undrafted rookie Jack Strand has been taking first-team reps, and the Falcons signed veteran backup Cooper Rush. Tagovailoa is the favorite to win the job and should return soon, but that injury is concerning.

The Vikings have an “open” competition between Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy, with both players getting first-team reps. Coach Kevin O’Connell acknowledged it can’t last too long, as the starter will need to get more work to get ready for Week 1.

The Browns also have a competition between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, with Dillon Gabriel running a distant third. Browns GM Andrew Berry said his team doesn’t have a timetable for announcing a starter, “and we’ll let it play out and figure it out as we go.”

Expect Murray and Watson to win the starting jobs, as it seems the Vikings and Browns are mostly trying to see how McCarthy and Sanders respond to the competition and opportunity. It’s also a lot easier for each team to start with the veteran and later turn to the youngster, instead of the other way around.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino created a revolt across the soccer world when news broke of a plan to create a subsidiary and sell minority stakes in FIFA tournaments to private equity investors to generate an additional $20 million each for all 211 nations.

“The FIFA Fast Forward Program is a one-off development … and would be financed by external investment without ceding control or altering FIFA’s governance structure in any way,” said FIFA in a statement.

It sounds like Infantino learned a thing sitting in those NFL owners suites all summer. Ever since NFL owners voted in August 2024 to allow private equity investment in their teams, several have used PE firms as their personal ATM, selling off small chunks of the team for large infusions of cash.

That includes Robert Kraft, who has a close relationship with Infantino and the Kushner family that would be buying into FIFA. Kraft sold 8 percent of the Patriots to private equity in September, raising about $720 million.

Infantino’s private equity gambit infuriated the European and North American soccer federations for over-commercializing the sport and giving too much influence to investors. It also caused one of his top advisors to resign, with Carlos Cordeiro calling it “a bad deal for the long-term future of the game.”

The difference with the NFL is that the game already has been over-commercialized, businessmen already have too much influence, and everyone has mostly accepted it.

The Bills have a lot of “new” this year — new coach Joe Brady, new Highmark Stadium opening across the street from the old one, and new, all-gray “Nickel City” alternate uniforms inspired by the Buffalo Nickel, replete with a new helmet logo.

The reaction has not been overly kind, and Josh Allen has heard it.

“And stop hating on the jerseys, guys,” he said unprompted toward the end of his first press conference at training camp.

Allen wants the fan base to embrace the wave of new-ness.

“I enjoy [the uniforms]. I think it’s very symbolic of what we want to do and what we want to be,” he said. “I understand people want the old jerseys and the old helmets, and all that. But at some point, too, we are moving forward. We have to move forward and do something new. And that’s what we’re doing.”

The 49ers better have plenty of Icy-Hot on hand this season. They could feasibly start a lineup with five skill players age 30 or older — receivers Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel, tight end George Kittle, running back Christian McCaffrey, and fullback Kyle Juszczyk — a feat that hasn’t been done since the 2004 Buccaneers, per the Associated Press. Samuel’s signing last week is probably a bad sign for 2024 first-round pick Ricky Pearsall, who is dealing with yet another injury (knee swelling) and may need season-ending surgery . . . Owner David Tepper isn’t mincing words after his Panthers made the playoffs last year at 8-9. “I said last year going into the year, we weren’t a playoff team, we were a team that could get to the playoffs. This year, we are a playoff team.” Perhaps coach Dave Canales is on notice, but I think it’s more intended for QB Bryce Young, who might be facing a make-or-break season . . . Watching Matt Ryan give a long speech to the Falcons rookie class during orientation, then watching him throw footballs during practice drills last week to help out the coaching staff, is the type of all-in commitment Raiders owner Mark Davis probably thought he was getting from Brady when he sold him a chunk of the team and gave him power . . . One big change in Pittsburgh is that new coach Mike McCarthy won’t do live tackling at all this training camp, unlike his predecessor, Mike Tomlin. “The footwork’s the priority,” McCarthy said . . . Best wishes to former Packers running back Ahman Green, who announced last week he has early onset Parkinson’s disease. His news comes on the heels of former running back Chris Johnson announcing he has ALS . . . The Broncos sold a chunk of single-game tickets for just $23 on Thursday, limiting households to four and one game, with no exchanges, refunds, resales, or transfers . . . The best feature of the Bills’ new stadium: A floor-to-ceiling replica of a broken folding table in the concourse . . . Rams QB Matthew Stafford was a worthy MVP last year, but the 99 rating in Madden is a bit much for someone who has elite weapons, elite coaching, and plays indoors. For that matter, Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s 99 rating is too high, given how Christian Gonzalez erased him in the Super Bowl . . . When former receiver Plaxico Burress got out of jail in 2011, he signed with the Jets for one season. He’s not sure which he enjoyed less. “They’re both kind of similar,” Burress said on The Joint Venture Show with Lil’ Wayne and Craig Carton. “When I walked into prison my first day, I was like, ‘Damn, man, you are a [expletive] loser. And I had the same damn feeling every day I walked through the door with the Jets [who went 8-8 that year].”

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