After losing their Week 1 opener to the Cincinnati Bengals, Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were unable to bounce back in Week 2, falling to Deshaun Watson and the Cleveland Browns, 23-19. The game featured an impressive Browns comeback win, with Mayfield having a chance to win but struggling to get his team to the end zone late in the fourth quarter. His second straight loss opened the floodgates for scrutiny over how much the Buccaneers are paying him.
"Baker Mayfield ain't worth that money. I'm just gonna go ahead and say it. He's not worth that money," ex-NFL running back Damien Harris said, now an analyst with CBS Sports.
"That's been the tale of his career. Sometimes he plays like it, but sometimes he doesn't," Harris said. "Why do you guarantee that much money to a quarterback where essentially, every time you're rolling the ball out there, he's a competitor, he's scrappy, but which version of Baker are you gonna get?" More news: Browns HC Todd Monken Has Fiery Clap Back for Mike Tomlin After Bucs Upset "Are you gonna get the hot hand or the cold Baker Mayfield.
That's what we're seeing the past two games," he said on CBS Sports HQ. "He's not living up to the contract." While Harris mentioned problems with the Bucs as a team, including Emeka Egbuka and the run game not showing up, he reiterated that Mayfield is "not playing well." In Sunday's game, Mayfield had a 61.8% completion percentage, finishing with 182 passing yards and one touchdown. He also threw one costly interception, which the Browns converted into a field goal, a difference-maker in the final score.
Harris, a two-time National Champion with Alabama, pointed out that Mayfield cost his team in Week 1 with three turnovers, giving the Bengals points and essentially, the win. "I apologize for being blunt, but he's not worth that kind of money," Harris told his colleagues. In September, ESPN reported that Mayfield signed a three-year, $165 million extension with the Buccaneers.
An 0-2 start to the season certainly doesn't feel like it justifies that sort of deal, but the season just started, giving Mayfield plenty of time to figure things out and maybe lead the Bucs to wins. They'll have a chance to bounce back in Week 3 when they host a 2-0 Minnesota Vikings team on Sunday, Sept. 27, at 4:25 p.m. More news: Dak Prescott Breaks Cowboys Franchise Record Previously Held by Tony Romo For more about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the NFL, visit Newsweek Sports.
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