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Baker Mayfield’s encouraging message to Bryce Young after his benching

Posted on by angelo
Baker Mayfield’s encouraging message to Bryce Young after his benching

Panthers quarterback Bryce Young’s story is “far, far from over” after he was benched Monday amid an 0-2 start to the season.

That’s according to current Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, a former first-overall pick like Young who had a tough early season in his NFL tenure — which included a stint in Carolina — before enjoying a career resurgence in Tampa Bay.

“The quarterback role is tough, especially for young players, when you’re not surrounded by pieces, you don’t have the opportunity to succeed, and so a lot of times players may have the talent, they may have the brains, but they don’t have the opportunity or the right fit,” Mayfield told reporters Wednesday.

Baker Mayfield said Wednesday that the story of Panthers QB Bryce Young (pictured) is “far, far from over.” AP

“I mean, I’m sitting here right now in a lot better shape than I’ve been in other places, and that’s not to knock other teams, but it’s about the pieces around you coaches. For Bryce, I can understand that, getting that confidence back, and he’ll get it. His story is far, far from over.”

Mayfield, who was selected first overall by the Browns in 2018, was traded to Carolina in the summer of 2022 after Cleveland acquired his replacement in Deshaun Watson earlier this year.

He joined former Jet Sam Darnold — another first-round pick who is now healthy with the Vikings — and played seven games for the Panthers.

Baker Mayfield played for the Panthers in 2022 after a trade from the Browns. Getty Images
The quarterback is in his second season in Tampa Bay. Getty Images

Mayfield was released in late 2022 and played five games with the Rams before signing with the Buccaneers in free agency last March.

After leading the Buccaneers to a 9-8 regular season record and a surprising playoff run, Mayfield was handed a three-year, $100 million contract this spring.

He and the Bucs have had a strong start to the season (2-0) while their NFC South rivals, the Panthers, remain winless after two straight losses.

Bryce Young with Panthers coach Dave Canales on September 15, 2024. Getty Images
Young was left on the bench in favour of veteran Andy Dalton (right). Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

Young, the No. 1 pick in last year’s NFL draft, will now play the No. 2 quarterback role behind veteran Andy Dalton, Panthers coach Dave Canales confirmed Monday.

“It’s something that happened after I saw the film, I watched it, I had an idea, I started working to talk to the guys that we make decisions with. There’s definitely a lot of parties involved in that,” said Canales, who worked with Mayfield a season ago as the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator.

“Ultimately, I make that decision, and my primary responsibility is to help the Panthers win. So I think this decision gives us the best chance to do that this week.”

Young and his inner circle were “very shocked” by the decision, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, while prominent sports figures blasted the Panthers over the move, including LeBron James.

Young is 2-16 in a season-plus in Carolina, completing 70.9 percent of his passes for 3,122 yards, 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.