Tom Brady's high-strung environment caused stress for the Buccaneers, according to Baker Mayfield.
Last season, Tampa Bay welcomed Mayfield.
Baker Mayfield has led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to play well for the second consecutive season, almost as well as they did under Tom Brady. Mayfield claims to bring a drastically different vibe to the team than the one Brady brought from 2020-22.
On the "Casa De Klub podcast this week, Mayfield disclosed what he learned about the atmosphere and locker room culture when Brady was present.
With Tom in the building, the atmosphere was different," Mayfield stated. "His playing style was unique, and it created a tense environment. As a result, everyone seemed stressed out.
"The Bucs wanted me to come in and bring joy back to football for their players who weren't having as much fun. They just asked me to be myself. As a player, I couldn't ask for much more than that."
Brady was known for being a perfectionist throughout his career, a trait he developed while playing for the New England Patriots under strict head coach Bill Belichick. Even in his later years, Brady struggled to sleep after making a mistake in a game, even if it was a win, according to ESPN.
Some of Brady's teammates have expressed differing opinions about Brady's involvement.
In an interview with NBC Sports in September 2023, former Buccaneers tight end Kyle Rudolph stated that Tom Brady always maintained a positive attitude.
Despite having the right to act like an a--hole at times, Tom never did. Despite the challenges he faced off the field, he remained positive and never let the negativity from his personal life affect his performance on the field.
"My experience with Tom was remarkable. He treated everyone with the same respect, regardless of their status or position. This was evident in his interactions with the Glazer family, the Bucs owners, as well as the janitor at 6:30 at night when he was the last player in the building."
Tampa Bay's starter, Mayfield, has led the team to a 2-0 start after a playoff victory last year. The Buccaneers have played so well lately they landed in the top five in Planet Chronicle Digital's latest NFL power rankings.
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