The Tampa Bay Buccaneers certainly benefited this season from a weak NFC South division, but Baker Mayfield was more than capable at quarterback during the Bucs’ 5-1 finish to the year. When you add a playoff win into that equation, Mayfield’s play probably deserved some respect.
He just didn’t get that from the Lions’ C.J. Gardner-Johnson.
Ahead of Sunday’s NFC divisional round matchup between the Bucs and Lions, Gardner-Johnson took a shot at Mayfield in his comments to reporters. He said of the Bucs offense and downplayed Mayfield, via The Detroit Free Press:
“If you give that Tampa group a good quarterback, that’s a great group. Evans, Godwin, (Russell) Gage, that’s a great group. I played against them for real.”
But in doing so, Gardner-Johnson kind of told on himself in terms of his actual familiarity with the Bucs offense. And on Wednesday, Mayfield had no issue pointing that out.
Full quote from Baker Mayfield on Gardner Johnson’s comments that the #Bucs would be a good group with good QB.
“I mean, I don't think he's really watched film because he mentioned Russell Gage. You know, we love Russell, but he hasn’t played a snap this year for us. He must be… pic.twitter.com/MYh9SUSaZH
— JC Allen (@JCAllenNFL) January 17, 2024
Mayfield said that he didn’t really think Gardner-Johnson had been watching film on the Bucs because he would have known that Russell Gage didn’t play a snap this season if he had.
Fans also had thoughts on the game-week media exchange between the two players.
This was how Twitter reacted
Please fuel our fire even more baby!! Woooooo! https://t.co/sJQmfxX5Vz
— Tyler Mone (@Mone2525) January 17, 2024
Oh this is gonna be a fun game. https://t.co/7QlbFqi6yA
— Brandon Maki (@BrandonMaki_) January 17, 2024
yeah we getting a baker masterclass on Sunday https://t.co/SelomkD2AE
— willy (@L0SINIT) January 17, 2024
Baker Mayfield offering advice to @CGJXXIII on how he does his job seems like a very bad idea for Baker Mayfield https://t.co/CB7fZhfAxA
— Josh Mansour (@joshmansour) January 17, 2024
Baker you about to get cooked https://t.co/mP88OESVLr
— 2nd Round Saint #1 Lion Digital Lion (@DatLionsGuy) January 17, 2024
Bucs lose by 30 https://t.co/PcZ0rHOgTP
— Mike Cain (@Broncosmikecain) January 17, 2024
bro who got Baker mad its OVER https://t.co/fCOSLpka12 pic.twitter.com/nccvBmGkOf
— ess (@pinkyfanboy) January 17, 2024
CGJ just jinxed themselves. Absolute class from Baker Mayfield. You don't want this bucs team with an even bigger chip on their shoulders. Look out!! https://t.co/rosKt98CQ2
— Eddie Larew (@WaHooLaRoo91) January 17, 2024
baker legacy game will be sunday https://t.co/ILkOsRWcWm
— that blonde from nashville, esq. (@thehaileemurphy) January 17, 2024
Baker is about to go for 400 yards and 5 tds on Sunday https://t.co/yQkJI3hXca
— Landon (@ousoftball886k1) January 17, 2024
Lions win one playoff game in 3 decades and suddenly get cocky?
It’s certainly a way to go… https://t.co/6Yn5FTxqPs
— BuccaneerMick (@BuccaneerMick) January 17, 2024
Oh there is a fire under Baker, we are getting a generational performance on Sunday https://t.co/XAbzuPd8YZ
— CFBKnights (@CFBKnights) January 17, 2024
