.@AustinHooper18 says forget anything else you've heard, guys love playing with Baker Mayfield. pic.twitter.com/8uCZxkajWx
— Jim Rome (@jimrome) April 6, 2023
Much has been said about new Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield since he left the Cleveland Browns in 2021, but one of his former teammates had a few things to say of his own.
Raiders TE Austin Hooper, who played with Mayfield in Cleveland, made an appearance on Jim Rome’s Show on April 6. Rome brought up Mayfield, and Hooper talked about the narratives surrounding the signal caller and what he thought of their time together with the Browns.
There was lots of talk about Mayfield’s presence in the locker room potentially clashing with the team during his tenure with the Browns, but Hooper disparaged those rumors — in fact, he almost seemed to pinpoint where they came from.
“Everything that came out about him, it was nothing from guys on the team,” Hooper said. “Once decisions were made, certain people within a building had to justify their decision. That’s all I’m gonna say about that… He’s never had any issues with anyone in the locker room. He’s a great teammate, he’s a good dude, always checks in on everyone.”
Hooper also discussed his ability to make his mark when he gets an opportunity, citing his tenure with the Rams, and mentioned that he was happy for Mayfield when he signed with Tampa Bay.
“You’ve seen him. He gets his opportunities, especially with the Rams coming on short notice, getting his opportunity going and succeeding,” Hooper said. “So I mean, I was super happy for him.”
That’s not to say that Hooper denied Baker enjoyed a little trash talk — in fact, he said teammates in the locker room enjoyed it and that it’s far better than other QBs who tend to be what Hooper described as “malaise.”
“He’ll chirp a little bit, but that’s a part of it, and that’s why the guys love him,” Hooper said. “He’s not a robot, he’s a real person. And a lot of, at least a vast majority of the team really appreciated that about him.”
Mayfield isn’t guaranteed to start, but he could have a new opportunity to make his mark when Tampa Bay kicks its season off in the coming months.
