Baker Mayfield contract row exposes Bucs' leadership void, says McCoy

Stopping just shy of going scorched earth, the quarterback said he and his agent have not been "presented with an offer that's appealing whatsoever."

The two-year offer on the table was what he called "the most disappointing part," a point former Tampa great Gerald McCoy agrees with.

The six-time Pro Bowler joined NFL Network, available to NFL Game Pass subscribers on DAZN, to explain why he understands Mayfield's frustration.

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McCoy rues lack of Bucs' leadership

Mayfield's outburst is the latest chapter in a bumpy start to training camp, made worse when defensive tackle Vita Vea, also aggrieved that his contract talks have not progressed to his satisfaction, requested a trade.

Vea's request comes hot on the heels of the retirement of long-time linebacker Lavonte David and the departure of veteran wideout Mike Evans to the San Francisco 49ers.

The whole situation has McCoy concerned about a leadership void.

“When you think about a great team, or teams in general, if you want to be great, you need leaders, OK?

"Baker Mayfield is for sure that; Vita for sure is that. Lavonte David was that, no longer here. Mike Evans was that, no longer here.”

McCoy: Mayfield is a franchise quarterback

Beyond needing a satisfied Mayfield to help bring the locker room together, McCoy suggested the Bucs are overlooking what it means to have a player of his talent guiding the offense.

“When you think about Baker as a quarterback, as a franchise guy, I understand his frustration. Because Baker said, ‘I think I’m a franchise guy. They’ve told me I’m a franchise guy.’

"Well, if the team tells you you’re a franchise guy, and then they came to you with two years, that’s not the message they’re sending.

"Because a franchise guy - you want to get him stamped and in for a long time. Not eight, nine, ten years, but at least four, maybe five years, even three! But two years, that’s not sending the right message.”

McCoy went on to all but pin the Buccaneers' lack of postseason success on the subpar quarterbacks he played alongside before Tom Brady delivered Tampa a championship.

And that point, he says, needs to be factored in, stressing, "Buccaneers, I know this is going to suck to hear, but we haven’t had a lot of franchise quarterbacks."

One way or another, Mayfield has committed to leading the Buccaneers onto the field when Tampa Bay take on the Bengals in Week 1, but it would certainly make McCoy and many Bucs fans more comfortable if he did so while feeling appreciated.

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