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00:00 [MUSIC PLAYING]
00:03 It is very rare in the preseason--
00:04 in fact, I can't remember the last time I saw it--
00:06 that a team starter would play with a backup
00:09 of an offensive line.
00:10 It just doesn't happen.
00:11 So yeah, that would be a tell.
00:13 Now, Todd Ball is their head coach of the Buccaneers.
00:16 He did today announce that it's going to be Baker Mayfield,
00:19 who, by the way, is on a one-year deal.
00:21 So let me just give you some background on Mayfield.
00:24 I can tell you, my reporting on this,
00:26 I had heard at the Combine they were after him.
00:28 They wanted Baker Mayfield.
00:29 It's not a huge deal.
00:31 We'll make $4 million fully guaranteed at signing.
00:33 That's the base salary.
00:34 He's got $4.5 million in incentives,
00:37 which are based on player performance, playing time,
00:39 and if the team makes the playoffs and how well they do.
00:43 And that's $4.5 million, so a total of $8.5 million.
00:46 If you really look at this situation, Mike,
00:48 this is now four teams for Mayfield.
00:51 But one of the reasons why the Bucs and other teams
00:54 were involved-- it was really the Bucs that
00:55 were the strongest on him.
00:57 Remember when he had to play in, what, a Thursday night game
01:00 after being cut by the Panthers very, very quickly?
01:02 He was claimed by the Raiders.
01:03 Did a very good job.
01:04 It was kind of shocking how well he played.
01:06 So he kind of revived himself and his career
01:08 in terms of showing he could be an NFL starter.
01:11 And they're taking a chance here.
01:12 Now, Kyle Trask is their number two.
01:15 He was the second-round pick in 2021.
01:17 Now, the book on him is he was a big guy with a good arm,
01:20 but he's got not great mobility.
01:23 That was a problem for NFL teams.
01:24 That's why he was not a first-round pick
01:26 out of University of Florida.
01:27 He's had improved mobility.
01:29 The arm is good.
01:29 In fact, if you saw him in last week's game against the Jets,
01:33 Mike, his completion percentage was great,
01:35 but not a lot of downfield throws.
01:36 He wasn't really challenging downfield,
01:38 but he was accurate.
01:39 So he'll be the backup this year for them.
01:41 And what, quite frankly, is some change here.
01:44 No more Tom Brady.
01:45 Obviously, he's retired.
01:46 This is going to be a change here.
01:48 This is going to be a complete change.
01:49 And I was with the Panthers last summer,
01:51 and I saw Mayfield practice for two days with the Panthers
01:55 when they were in New England.
01:57 And I'll tell you, he was very inconsistent.
01:59 And that's been the thing for him, Mike.
02:00 He started off well.
02:01 Remember, they made the playoffs in Kevin Stefanski's first year
02:04 with the Browns, and it was kind of downhill from there.
02:07 But I will tell you from behind the scenes,
02:09 this is the guy that players rally around.
02:11 He's a very good leader, but he's
02:13 got to play with more discipline with his feet and his accuracy.
02:15 And that's been the problem with him.
02:17 Mike, it's been his accuracy.
02:18 [MUSIC PLAYING]
02:21 (upbeat music)