Bucs QB Baker Mayfield Responds To Criticism Of Tom Brady Comments

Tom Brady clearly raised the bar when joining the Buccaneers four years ago in free agency, creating a "stressful" environment within the locker room as current starting quarterback Baker Mayfield insinuated. Catching wind of the comments, the seven-time Super Bowl champion responded during FOX's live broadcast of Tampa Bay's Week 4 matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Mayfield, of course, was asked to revisit the topic of discussion after Brady clarified that the goal wasn't for Tampa Bay to be a "daycare" throughout his three-year run with the organization, highlighted by the Buccaneers' 31-9 Super Bowl LV win over Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. Hence, it became Mayfield's turn to respond to Brady's comments on Sunday.

"I think a lot of that got taken out of context," Mayfield told reporters after Tampa Bay's 33-16 win over Philadelphia, per team-provided video. "None of it was personal by any means. It's just what he demanded of the guys and that's the aura of Tom Brady and that's what he did to bring a championship here. Talking before the game (with Brady), obviously, he's happy for me and he knows the guys. He knows how much I enjoy throwing to Mike (Evans) and Chris (Godwin) cause he got to do the same. So it's fun to be able to talk about the same experience with a guy like that."

Tampa Bay leaned heavily on Mayfield to improve to 3-1 this season as the 29-year-old threw 30-for-47, totaling 347 passing yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Mayfield was even named Brady's LFG Player of the Game, and although he doesn't command Tampa Bay in the same way Brady did a few years back, Mayfield acknowledges that there's no textbook "right way" to do so.

"He did it his own way and that's why he has seven rings," Mayfield added, per team-provided video. "So not much else needs to be said."