Former Bucs QB Shaun King watched a practice years ago with Bucs GM Jason Licht.
One of four quarterbacks to lead the Bucs to the NFC title game, Shaun King is a guy Joe pays attention to because not only are his takes well considered, he’s a lifelong Bucs fan from St. Petersburg.
King hammered the Bucs in December for uninspired play, aka players grabbing a fat Team Glazer check and then playing uninspired ball.
“Everybody on our defense that’s been eligible to get a bag has got a bag, and they be out there like they don’t give a good god damn,” King told The Coach JB Show in December.
“A debacle like that on Thursday Night Football where you’re up 28-14 with everything at stake you just fall on your face? … We made Kyle Pitts look like the reincarnation of prime Tony Gonzalez. Like are you kidding me?”
Ironically, Buccaneers co-owner Joel Glazer thinks the Bucs fought like dogs for Todd Bowles week in and week out. Strange.
Last week, King was back on the The Coach JB Show and weighed in on the Baker Mayfield contract standoff. He was adamant that Mayfield is a “solid” starting quarterback who can make a good argument he deserves a fat bag in a contract extension. Mayfield is scheduled to be a free agent after the 2026 season.
King also said the Bucs can argue Mayfield cost them a playoff berth and needs to prove he’s worthy of top dollar.
“I get both sides of this because I’m objective,” King said. “If you’re Baker, you’re talking about $40 million [salary in 2026]; sh*t, Tua just signed for $50 million. Baker’s way more competent than some of those guys making $50 million. So his agent and him got every right to say, ‘We want an extension at that level.’
“If you’re the Bucs, ‘Baker, you singlehandedly cost us the playoffs last year down the stretch by turning the football over.’ Remember all them games the Bucs lost in the last two minutes because Baker, God damn, was turning the football over?
“So they’re like, ‘We got the ultimate trump card, [the franchise tag]. … … That’s what the Bucs are holding over Baker’s head. ‘We don’t want to give you no big-term extension, push come to shove we’ll put the franchise tag on you not one year, but two.”
Yes, the franchise tag is a major factor in the Mayfield contract negotiations. The Bucs have leverage. However, more and more players seem to have middle-finger leverage.
If Mayfield doesn’t get a contract extension this summer and decides he wants out following the 2026 season, why exactly would the Bucs want to keep him against his will — even if they can? Who would that serve?
Joe expects Mayfield and the Bucs to find common ground soon, even if Rondé Barber does not.