What an exchange between a Buccaneers postseason legend and franchise quarterback Baker Mayfield.
Leonard “Playoff Lenny” Fournette sat down with Mayfield on the 4th and South podcast recently and pleaded with him to stop throwing his body around on the field.
“Get down, bruh,” Fournette told Mayfield. “Look, I understand the attitude you got, but we need you. Get your ass out of bounds.”
Co-host Jarvis Landry, a Mayfield teammate in Cleveland, jumped in to tell Mayfield he respects his situational awareness when he puts himself at risk.
“A lot of it’s like methodical,” Mayfield replied.
“Everything I do is intentional. Sometimes, it might be first down; I might slide late to take a hit. Get the boys going. Let them come over and set the tone. Get’em sparked up. … There’s certain points I can definitely be better about that, and I know that. But every once in a while, guys need a little kick in the ass.”
Pretty stunning admission there from Mayfield that he’ll slide late. It’s one thing to try to stiff arm a defender or lower a shoulder on a run, but sliding late is a very slippery and dangerous slope.
Mayfield needs to find someone else on the offense to assume that role. Pick a lineman to start playing with the fire and edge of former Bucs center Ryan Jensen, for example. Or figure out a way to motivate the team effectively on the sidelines or in the huddle. Or figure out why his veteran offensive teammates need a kick in the ass in the first place.