New Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield has the rare honor of possibly filling the shoes of perhaps the greatest to ever play at this position.
As Mayfield battles with Kyle Trask for the Bucs’ starting quarterback role, the winner will not only get the top spot on the depth chart. They’ll also have the enormous task of following eventual Hall of Famer Tom Brady.
Speaking with The Athletic’s Mike Jones, Mayfield talked about the unique circumstances of his new job and what it’s like possibly taking the reins from Brady’s spot on the roster.
Mayfield has had his struggles in the NFL, but he’s clearly self-aware enough to know that he’s certainly a different quarterback from the guy he may replace.
“I’ve always been myself. That’s kind of why people either love or hate me,” Mayfield told The Athletic with a laugh. “So I do it my own way. And I enjoy doing it. I have fun while I’m doing it. … I respect (Brady) completely, but I’m not going to ever try and be him. I’m not built like him. I don’t play like him. So just, yeah, try to be the best version of myself.”
Y’know, good for Mayfield for just telling it like it is.
Nobody is really built like Brady in the NFL when you think about it since it’s a singular talent, but perhaps Mayfield will etch his own path out for a possible comeback in Tampa.