After Tom Brady responded to Baker Mayfield’s remarks on a recent podcast, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback sought to clear up any misunderstandings following his team’s 33-16 win on Sunday. Mayfield, the former No. 1 overall pick, explained to reporters that his comments were not meant to disrespect the seven-time Super Bowl champion, and he believes they were taken out of context.
“I think a lot of that got taken out of context, and none of it was personal by any means,” Mayfield clarified. “It’s just about what he demanded of the guys. That’s the aura of Tom Brady. That’s what he did to bring a championship here.”
Mayfield went on to emphasize his admiration for Brady and how their shared experience playing with star receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin is something they’ve bonded over. “Nothing personal,” he reiterated. “We talked before the game, and he’s obviously happy for me. He knows the guys, and he knows how much I enjoy throwing to Mike and Chris because he got to do the same. It’s fun to be able to talk about that experience with a guy like that.”
The controversy stemmed from Mayfield’s appearance on the “Casa de Klub” podcast before Tampa Bay’s Week 4 matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles. During the interview, Mayfield discussed the differences between his own approach to the game and Brady’s during their respective tenures with the Buccaneers.
“The building was a little bit different with Tom in there,” Mayfield said on the podcast. “Obviously, Tom’s playing style is different. He had everybody dialed in. It was a high-strung environment, so I think a lot of people were pretty stressed out. They wanted me to come in, be myself, and bring the joy back to football for guys who weren’t having as much fun.”
Brady, who was calling the game for FOX Sports, caught wind of Mayfield’s remarks and addressed them during the broadcast. In typical Brady fashion, he responded with a sharp but humorous comment: “I thought stressful was not having Super Bowl rings,” Brady said. “There was a mindset of a champion that I took to work every day. This wasn’t daycare. If I wanted to have fun, I was going to go to Disneyland with my kids.”
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Mayfield took the response in stride, even laughing about it during his postgame press conference. “Like I said, some things got taken out of context,” he remarked with a smile. “He did it his own way, and that’s why he has seven rings. Not much else needs to be said.”
Despite the brief back-and-forth, it’s clear Mayfield has a great deal of respect for Brady’s legacy and the high standards he brought to the Buccaneers organization.
With Mayfield leading Tampa Bay to an early-season victory, he’s focused on making his own mark while acknowledging the different paths that have brought success to both him and his legendary predecessor.
