Heed your own words, sir.
Joe has dived head-first in the “Quarterback” series on Netflix which features Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield.
Joe is going to step off the chronological order here and serve up what Joe thought thus far is the most prophetic line from Mayfield in the series.
The series follows four quarterbacks: Joe Flacco, Cam Ward, Jayden Daniels and Mayfield for a season both at home, at their teams’ facilities and miced up during games and practices.
Joe has gone through three episodes thus far and one Mayfield quote jumped out at Joe in Episode 2. There, Mayfield reflected on the season that cost him his job in Cleveland. He battled a left shoulder injury and Pearl Harbored his season.
Then, Mayfield learned the Browns traded for Deshaun Watson. Mayfield knew his days in Cleveland were limited.
“I dislocated my shoulder,” Mayfield said. “Looking back on it, I probably should have gotten surgery and sat out that year.
“But, as stubborn as I am, I wanted to play.”
Anyone see where Joe is going with this?
We all know Mayfield was beat to hell last year, which Mayfield confirmed in the “Quarterback” series. Joe thinks his various injuries directly had an impact in the Bucs cratering after the bye, losing seven of the final nine games, blowing a 6-2 start and missing out on the playoffs.
So Joe wonders if Mayfield realizes he cost himself untold millions by not following Browns’ medical staff’s advice to have surgery, why Mayfield decided to be — using his own word “stubborn” — and try to gut it out with the Bucs.
Joe has maintained for months had Mayfield sat a game or two, he would have been healthier down the stretch and perhaps the Bucs don’t p!ss on an electric fence in Miami and instead win that came and go to the playoffs?
Remember, the Bucs lost the division title on a three-way tiebreaker.
And if Mayfield was too stubborn to sit a week or two, why didn’t someone with the Bucs be the adult in the room and order Mayfield to sit out if he was dragging the team down.
OK, so you demonstrated you have a big unit and brass balls. How did that measuring stick win the Bucs games down the stretch?
And, for the umpteenth time, if the Bucs didn’t trust backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, then why the hell was he on the roster?
“You better be quick on your feet if you talk trash to me.”
Baker Mayfield, Cam Ward, Jayden Daniels, and Joe Flacco share their approach to trash talking 🗣️
Quarterback Season 3 is now playing. pic.twitter.com/dO3YiwAWmR
— Netflix Sports (@netflixsports) July 14, 2026