Carolina Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield is beginning to make some believers out of folks. And one of those folks just so happens to be Skip Bayless.
The man fellow “Undisputed” co-host Shannon Sharpe affectionately knows as “SKIIIIUUP” took to his podcast, The Skip Bayless Show, to speak on the Panthers and their new starting quarterback. He thinks that Mayfield, just as he’s done throughout his football career, is ready to win people over on this latest journey.
“When those lowly Carolina Panthers showed some interest in Baker Mayfield, would you believe he sacrificed a good bit of his salary to get back to being what he’s best at? A walk-on,” Bayless said emphatically (as he often does.) “He walked on and won the starting job at Texas Tech as a freshman. Then he walked on and won the Heisman at Oklahoma. And now he has walked on and won the starting job from the incumbent Sam Darnold in Carolina.”
That job was won this past Monday, when the team officially announced Mayfield as their guy over Darnold. Mayfield would respond in kind—completing nine of his 15 throws for 89 yards and two touchdowns in an encouraging preseason finale just four days later.
Bayless went on to say that he believes Mayfield can help snap Carolina’s four-year postseason drought.
“I love this team’s chances—chances of being a wildcard team,” he added. “I believe the Carolina Panthers are destined to make the playoffs this year because Baker Mayfield is back to doing what he does best—shocking the world. I believe Baker will lead—operative word, lead—the Panthers to a playoff berth. I now believe the Carolina Panthers have a humbled adult at quarterback.”
Whatever they have at quarterback in Mayfield, the Panthers also arguably have their best roster since that last playoff push in 2017. So, as Skip passionately asserted, there’s a chance . . .
