{"id":258524,"date":"2026-08-19T02:50:21","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T02:50:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/19\/were-gonna-shock-a-lot-of-people-baker-mayfield-sends-clear-message-to-people-rooting-against-bucs-in-2026\/"},"modified":"2026-08-19T02:50:21","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T02:50:21","slug":"were-gonna-shock-a-lot-of-people-baker-mayfield-sends-clear-message-to-people-rooting-against-bucs-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/19\/were-gonna-shock-a-lot-of-people-baker-mayfield-sends-clear-message-to-people-rooting-against-bucs-in-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cWe\u2019re gonna shock a lot of people\u201d: Baker Mayfield sends clear message to people rooting against Bucs in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"article-content\" data-postid=\"5206421\" data-slug-id=\"2824418\">\n<div class=\"vidazoo-player-container\">\n<span class=\"vidazoo-close-btn  hidden \"><br \/>\n<img data-lazy=\"\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/cmc-predictor\/v2\/cross-icon.png?w=40\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" alt=\"close\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Baker Mayfield has a stern warning for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers&#8217; detractors ahead of the 2026 season.<\/p>\n<p>2025 marked the first time the quarterback had a losing record as the starter for the NFC South franchise, which missed the playoffs after being dethroned as divisional champions by the Carolina Panthers. Afterward, long-time stalwarts <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/nfl\/lavonte-david\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">Lavonte David<\/a> (retired) and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/nfl\/mike-evans\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">Mike Evans<\/a> (joined the San Francisco 49ers in free agency) left.<\/p>\n<p><template id=\"template__newsletter-inline-banner-form-combo-widget\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"wrapper\">\n<p><img id=\"subscribe-img\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\nThanks for the submission!\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/template><\/p>\n<p>This has led to doubts about the Buccaneers&#8217; ability to contend in an increasingly competitive division. However, Mayfield showed defiant confidence during his media availability in Wednesday&#8217;s practice:<\/p>\n<p><template id=\"also-read-articles-template\"><\/p>\n<p><\/template><\/p>\n<p><template id=\"bets-today-poll\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"preview-card-holder bets-today-poll\">\n<p><span class=\"date\"\/> \u2022 <span class=\"time\"\/><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/template><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cI think we\u2019re gonna shock a lot of people this year. &#8230; Everybody\u2019s picking us probably to have a losing record, so we\u2019ll see.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"bottom-tagline top\" data-tab=\"top\">\n<p>Looking to predict NFL playoff Scenarios? Try our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/nfl\/nfl-playoff-predictor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\" class=\"bottom_tagline_link\" data-tab=\"top\">NFL Playoff Predictor<\/a> for real-time simulations and stay ahead of the game!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>That attitude stems from the presence and emergence of new and potentially important faces within the team.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/nfl\/emeka-egbuka\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">Emeka Egbuka<\/a> is now firmly the WR1 after nearly hitting quadruple-digit yards as a rookie. The offensive line is arguably the most talented in franchise history, with star left tackle Tristan Wirfs complemented by Ben Bredeson, Graham Barton, Cody Mauch and Luke Goedeke.<\/p>\n<p>The defense has also undergone a reconstitution, headlined by edge rusher Al-Quadin Mohammad, who has joined after registering a career-high 11 sacks off the Detroit Lions&#8217; bench in 2025. Off-ball linebacker has seen the biggest upgrade, however, with former divisional rivals Alex Anzalone and Christian Rozeboom joining <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/nfl\/sirvocea-dennis\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">SirVocea Dennis<\/a> and rookie <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/college-football\/josiah-trotter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">Josiah Trotter<\/a>.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<p><strong>ALSO READ: <\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/nfl\/news-perfect-destination-him-mike-florio-envisions-baker-mayfield-showing-middle-finger-bucs-6-500-000-000-team\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">\u201cPerfect destination for him\u201d: Mike Florio envisions Baker Mayfield showing &#8220;middle finger&#8221; to Bucs for $6,500,000,000 team<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>ALSO READ: <\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/nfl\/news-he-s-talented-enough-win-big-colin-cowherd-makes-feelings-known-baker-mayfield-turning-reported-100m-buccaneers-offer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">&#8220;He&#8217;s not talented enough to win big&#8221;: Colin Cowherd makes feelings known on Baker Mayfield after turning down reported $100M+ Buccaneers offer<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h2>Baker Mayfield praises new Buccaneers additions Kenneth Gainwell, Josiah Trotter<\/h2>\n<p>Speaking of Josiah Trotter, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/nfl\/baker-mayfield\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">Baker Mayfield<\/a> had some positive words about him during the same media availability:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;He&#8217;s an animal. He&#8217;s not a rookie. He&#8217;s physical, he&#8217;s aggressive. He talks s***. &#8230; We needed guys like that on the defense.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>He also raved about running back and team newcomer Kenneth Gainwell:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve just been completely overwhelmed with the amount of talent that he has. &#8230; He was a slot receiver at Memphis, and it explains why he&#8217;s so smooth running routes. And just his run game, he stays true to his tracks. He reads his blocks really, really well. I thought he&#8217;s been a huge addition for us.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The Buccaneers open their 2026 season at the Cincinnati Bengals on September 13. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. ET on Fox.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-post-rating-widget\">\n<p><template id=\"post-rating-feedback-modal-template\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-feedback-box\">\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-content\">\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-data\">\n<p>Why did you not like this content?<\/p>\n<p><textarea id=\"dislike-feedback-text\" rows=\"4\" placeholder=\"Please type your feedback...\"\/>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n<button class=\"close\">Cancel<\/button><br \/>\n<button class=\"submit\">Submit<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/template><\/p>\n<div class=\"post-rating-widget-parent hidden\">\n<div class=\"rating-parent-container\">\n<div class=\"rating-content-holder\">\n<p>Was this article helpful?<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-rating-action-container\">\n<div class=\"like-container\">\n<button class=\"post-rating-like-button post-rating-button\" data-action=\"like\" title=\"like article\"><br \/>\n<img class=\"post-like-image post-rating-image\" data-lazy=\"\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/like-articles\/upvote-icon-grey.svg\" height=\"20\" width=\"20\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"like selected\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dislike-container\">\n<button class=\"post-rating-dislike-button post-rating-button\" data-action=\"dislike\" title=\"dislike article\"><br \/>\n<img class=\"post-dis-like-image post-rating-image\" data-lazy=\"\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/like-articles\/upvote-icon-grey.svg\" height=\"20\" width=\"20\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"avatar selected\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\nThank You for feedback\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n<span class=\"publisher-name\">Edited by Andre Castillo<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/nfl\/news-baker-mayfield-sends-clear-message-people-rooting-bucs-2026\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Baker Mayfield has a stern warning for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers&#8217; detractors ahead of the 2026 season. 2025 marked the first time the quarterback had a losing record as the starter for the NFC South franchise, which missed the playoffs after being dethroned as divisional champions by the Carolina Panthers. Afterward, long-time stalwarts Lavonte David [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":258525,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6806],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-258524","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-gossip"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/258524","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=258524"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/258524\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/258525"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=258524"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=258524"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=258524"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}