The Buccaneers aren’t hiding how they feel about Baker Mayfield.
Guard Cody Mauch called Mayfield a franchise quarterback and said the quarterback’s contract situation won’t spill over onto the field. Mauch pointed to Mayfield’s mindset as the reason Tampa Bay isn’t worried about any distraction.
“It sucks to see him go through this and whatnot, but it’s not going to change his mentality, the way he plays,” Mauch said, via Abby DiSalvo of the Tampa Bay Times. “He’s talked a lot about it, but he’s just going to go and play ball.”
Mauch said the team has already shifted its focus to the season and not the negotiation.
“The biggest thing we took away from it is that we’re playing ball now,” Mauch added. “He’s not worried about contract stuff.
It’s all about the 2026 Bucs. It’s unfortunate, but he’s gonna go ball out and it’s gonna get made right.
No doubt in my mind he’s gonna do that and get even more money, so it’s gonna work out better for him in the end.”
In Atlanta, Tua Tagovailoa said his ramp-up to training camp is being handled carefully as he deals with occasional tightness in his back. He described the issue as something the team is treating as a precaution early in camp.
“I think just right now, it’s just a precaution thing early on in camp and then we’ll work through that,” Tagovailoa said. “I feel great right now.
Like I said, it feels good to be out there with the guys, be able to throw, continue to hear the plays, get in the huddle with the guys. All of that.”
Falcons HC Kevin Stefanski said he wants Tagovailoa to keep getting acclimated before being pushed too hard, especially given his injury history.
“I don’t know that he’s full yet,” Stefanski said at a press conference. “Got in there in a few of the slower jog-through periods.
He’s getting better every single day. I think he’ll remain on that trajectory, so really confident that he’ll be out there soon.”
In New Orleans, Saints HC Kellen Moore talked about Chris Olave’s new contract during his training camp press conference on Friday. Moore said the deal reflects both what Olave has already handled in his career and what lies ahead.
“Just awesome for what he’s gone through in his career, the success he’s had, also the things he’s had to navigate,” Moore said. “At the end of the day, when everyone is shooting for the same goal, it’s a matter of time before it gets figured out.
Sometimes the business part takes a little precedence, which is fine. And I think everyone’s really, really excited for where this thing’s going.”
In Other News...
Falcons Camp Battle Is Heating Up At Two Crucial Positions
The Falcons have settled into a steady training camp rhythm with four straight morning practices before their first off day arrives on the weekend, and the early work has already started to clarify where the real battles are taking shape. At quarterback, Jack Strand and Cooper Rush have been the most visible players in 11-on-11 periods, while a handful of rookies, including Avieon Terrell, Harold Perkins and Kendal Daniels, are also trying to force their way into meaningful roles.
Kevin Stefanski has made it clear that this stretch is about competition, and the Falcons are treating camp like a proving ground rather than a formality. The quarterback rotation has become one storyline to watch, but the more intriguing thread may be how quickly the rookies can push themselves into the picture on defense, especially with those first-team opportunities beginning to circulate and the depth chart still very much in motion. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Are Sending A Clear Message With Michael Penix Jr
Patrick Mahomes and Daniel Jones are already back to full contact in their respective training camps, which only sharpens the spotlight on Michael Penix Jr. as the Falcons move through their own offseason work. Atlanta has handled Penix with patience since his prior injury, and the setup around him suggests the team is more focused on the long view than on forcing a quick return.
The Falcons have also added Tua Tagovailoa for quarterback depth, a move that helps them absorb the early part of camp without rushing Penix into anything he is not ready for. For a team trying to build stability at the position, the message is fairly clear: Atlanta wants Penix healthy first, and the rest of the quarterback room can help carry the load until he gets there. [Read more 🡒]
James Pearce Jr.'s Situation Leaves Falcons With One Big Camp Concern
James Pearce Jr. is still on the field with the Falcons at training camp, giving Atlanta a chance to see how the edge rusher fits into the front seven while the team waits to learn what comes next. The offseason arrest and the possibility of an NFL suspension under the leagues personal conduct policy have created a layer of uncertainty around a player the Falcons were counting on to help bolster their pass rush.
For now, head coach Kevin Stefanski has spoken positively about Pearces progress in camp, which at least gives Atlanta a reason to feel encouraged on the football side even as the off-field situation hangs over the roster. The Falcons do have other players with starting experience to lean on if Pearce is unavailable, but any absence would still complicate a position group the team wanted to keep deep and disruptive. [Read more 🡒]