Jenna Laine
TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield threw some shade on the Carolina Panthers once more on Wednesday when requested about his time there with now-Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, whom he'll see on Sunday.
Mayfield was requested if he and Darnold “reminisce in regards to the good previous days in Carolina,” the place Mayfield went 1-5 as a starter in 2022 earlier than he was launched that season.
He responded, “Uh, reminisce about what days?”
Then after a protracted pause, he mentioned, “Uh … nope. No, we do not.”
Darnold began 11 video games for Carolina in 2021 and went 4-7. In 2022, the Panthers traded a conditional fifth-round draft choose with the Cleveland Browns for Mayfield, who sustained a excessive ankle sprain in Week 5. Subsequently, PJ Walker took over, began 5 video games and went 2-3.
Mayfield was then benched after his return in Week 11, coinciding along with his departure. Darnold took over in Week 12 and completed the season 4-2.
“Sam and I are actually shut,” Mayfield mentioned. “I am completely satisfied for him — from going a pair completely different locations that weren't nice for us to having a superb alternative elsewhere, it is enjoyable to see. I knew he simply wanted that probability, and he is thriving now. It is good to see, however hopefully not this weekend.”
After a fast stint with the Los Angeles Rams in 2022, Mayfield signed a one-year take care of the Bucs in 2023 value as much as $8.5 million with a base wage of $4 million. He led the group to a 9-8 file and a division title, the place they defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 32-9 within the wild-card spherical of the playoffs.
Mayfield was then rewarded with a three-year deal value $100 million with $40 million assured at signing, and $115 million with incentives. After one other division title (they completed 10-7 in 2024), the Bucs assured him $30 million in 2026.
Darnold's journey has been similar to that of Mayfield, who had been the primary choose within the 2018 NFL draft. Darnold was chosen third that very same yr by the New York Jets. He performed three seasons there and went 13-25 as a starter earlier than the Jets traded him to Carolina in trade for a 2021 sixth-round choose and a 2022 second- and fourth-round choose.
Though Carolina did not pan out for both participant, Mayfield noticed some positives of their time there.
“That entire QB room with PJ Walker, Sam and I — it was enjoyable,” Mayfield mentioned. “[We were] guys which have performed ball, knew we wanted one another in that room … We would simply bounce issues off [each other], have regular soccer conversations, develop and study collectively and go from there.”
The Panthers traded Darnold to the San Francisco 49ers in March 2023 following Jimmy Garoppolo's departure and accidents to Brock Purdy and Trey Lance. Then in 2024, on one other one-year deal — this time with the Minnesota Vikings — Darnold went 14-3, shedding to the Rams 27-9 within the wild card. He then signed a three-year deal this offseason with the Seahawks value $100.5 million and $50 million assured, and like Mayfield this season, has led them to a 3-1 file.
Including to the connections — Walker signed with Mayfield's previous Browns group in 2023 after spending coaching camp with the Chicago Bears. He was then with the Seahawks in coaching camp final season and spent final yr with the CFL's Calgary Stampeders.
As for Mayfield, this wasn't his first shot on the Panthers. After the Bucs victory over the Jets in Week 3, he mentioned, “I beloved it.”
“And in addition their D-coordinator [Steve Wilks] was the one which minimize me in Carolina,” Mayfield mentioned.
Wilks, who had taken over for fired head coach Matt Rhule after 5 video games, praised Mayfield, however then mentioned to a reporter final Friday, “I do not know the way lengthy you've got been doing this however I am certain you are fairly educated on it. I do not actually suppose an interim coach has that a lot authority over personnel. If that is the case, I might've by no means gotten rid of our greatest participant, Christian McCaffrey.”
Mayfield additionally talked about his dismissal in Carolina when the Bucs clinched the NFC South title there in Week 18 of the 2023 season when he mentioned, “Yeah, this room we're standing in proper now was sort of the place I discovered that I wasn't going to be part of the group anymore.”
