Sports
Seven-Time Super Bowl Champion Tom Brady Slams QB Baker Mayfield Over ‘Stress’ Comments
TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – The tension between NFL legend Tom Brady and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield surfaced following Mayfield’s remarks about Brady’s impact during his tenure with the team.
Mayfield had commented that the seven-time Super Bowl champion “stressed out” his teammates, and Brady did not take kindly to the critique, delivering a sharp response.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers General Manager Jason Licht shared images on his phone with new sports analyst and seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady during the pregame warm-up in Tampa on Sunday, September 29, 2024. (Photo by J Willie David, III / Florida National News)
Brady’s Response:
- “I thought stressful was not having Super Bowl rings.” Brady made it clear that he had no regrets about his leadership style, further adding, “This wasn’t day care. If I was going to have fun, I was going to Disneyland with my kids.”
- He emphasized the seriousness of his approach to the game, stating, “There’s a way to approach this game, and it’s with the right mindset to push teammates.”
Fired Up by Mayfield’s Comments:
- Brady admitted that Mayfield’s words fueled his competitive fire: “It’s still in there. There’s no apologies!”
- Despite the perceived criticism, Brady offered a nod to Mayfield’s recent success, praising his leadership following the Buccaneers’ win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Brady’s return to Tampa was celebrated with a spotlight on him in the booth, displayed on the jumbotron, as the crowd erupted in a standing ovation just two minutes before halftime. Smiling and waving, Brady soaked in the moment, Sunday, September 29, 2024. (Photo by J Willie David, III / Florida National News)
Brady’s Impact on Tampa and Legacy:
- Brady’s leadership, while intense, led the Buccaneers from a mediocre 7-9 team in 2019 to Super Bowl champions in 2020, highlighting the effectiveness of his demanding style.
- Comparisons were drawn between Brady and NBA legend Michael Jordan, both known for pushing their teammates to achieve championship success, despite potentially creating stressful environments.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield pregame warms up ahead of the Buccaneers’ game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Tampa, Florida, Sunday, September 29, 2024. (Photo by J Willie David, III / Florida National News)
Key Takeaways:
- Tom Brady doubled down on his no-nonsense leadership approach, emphasizing that his methods were about achieving results, not coddling teammates.
- Baker Mayfield, who succeeded Brady in 2023, admitted his comments may have been taken out of context but insisted there were no hard feelings.
- Brady, now an NFL analyst, still watches closely and offered Mayfield praise after the Bucs’ recent win, saying, “Great leadership by you today. Keep putting some pressure on those guys to be even better.”
The Buccaneers improved to 3-1 with the win over the Eagles and are in first place in the NFC South.
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J Willie David, III contributed to this report.
sports@FloridaNationalNews.com
Davison scores 26 points, Branham adds 23 and Osceola records 23 steals to open its season with a victory at Silver Spurs Arena.
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — The Osceola Magic opened their season with a record-setting defensive performance, collecting 23 steals and forcing 35 turnovers in a 97-89 victory over the Oklahoma City Blue on Sunday, Nov. 8, at Silver Spurs Arena.
JD Davison scored a game-high 26 points and Malaki Branham added 23 as Osceola established a franchise record for steals and matched its record for opponent turnovers. Osceola Magic
Defense drives the comeback
Oklahoma City led 31-22 after the first quarter and 44-43 at halftime. Osceola pulled even at 70 entering the fourth quarter, then outscored the Blue 27-19 over the final period.
The victory gave Osceola a 1-0 start and dropped Oklahoma City to 0-2. Zhaire Smith led the Blue with 19 points, while Christoph Tilly contributed 13 points and 10 rebounds. gleague.nba.com
Osceola’s defensive pressure helped offset Oklahoma City’s early advantage. The Blue finished just 5 of 29 from 3-point range, shooting 17.2%.
Six Magic players recorded multiple steals, led by Johnell Davis’ career-high six — one short of the franchise record. Davison collected four, Jarron Cumberland had three, and Ace Baldwin Jr., Branham and Mike Sharavjamts each added two.
Malaki Branham leans into his drive while keeping his dribble low as an Oklahoma City Blue defender guards him during the Osceola Magic’s season opener. Photo by Bernie Walls / Florida National News.
Davison and Branham lead the offense
Davison and Branham combined for 49 points, accounting for more than half of Osceola’s scoring.
Au’Diese Toney contributed 14 points in his return to Osceola, including a late 3-pointer that helped secure the victory.
Davis provided another boost off the bench with 11 points and a career-best-tying four assists, complementing his disruptive defensive performance.
Sharavjamts makes professional debut
Sharavjamts posted a team-best plus-12 rating in 24 minutes during his professional debut. Osceola outscored Oklahoma City by 12 points while he was on the floor. Osceola Magic
What’s next for the Osceola Magic?
Following a scheduled road matchup with the Memphis Hustle on Tuesday, Nov. 10, Osceola returns to Silver Spurs Arena to host the Mexico City Capitanes on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 7 p.m. Eastern. Member News
The Magic’s challenge will be to sustain the defensive pressure that helped them overcome an early nine-point deficit in the opener.
NEW YORK CITY, NY (FNN SPORTS) – LIV Golf plans to begin winding down operations Monday, Nov. 9, following five years and more than $5 billion in spending.
Attorney Matthew Williams outlined the league’s plans during a bankruptcy court hearing Thursday, Nov. 5, in New Jersey. The process includes selling its remaining assets.
“We believe the wind down path is the best path,” Williams told the court.
LIV Golf confirmed the decision after a proposed restructuring deal fell through. The league said it will continue considering alternatives during the shutdown process.
TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — On Monday November 2, at the Yuengling Center, the South Florida women’s basketball team opened with a successful debut undernew head coach Kristy Curry.
The Bulls established control early with a 9–0 opening run, taking a 27–12 lead after the first quarter. Furman narrowed the margin before halftime, but South Florida maintained a 46–32 advantage heading into the break.
A dominant third quarter proved decisive, as USF outscored Furman 23–9 to extend its lead to 69–41 entering the fourth.
Balanced Scoring Leads the Bulls
Stefanie Ingram led South Florida with 15 points, followed by Hannah Kohn with 13 and Kendall Puryear with 12 points and nine rebounds.
The Bulls placed six players in double figures, shot 51.6 percent from the field and controlled the boards with a 48–25 rebounding advantage.
A Winning Debut for Kristy Curry
The victory marked Curry’s first win leading South Florida after arriving from Alabama.
Ahead of the season opener, Curry expressed confidence in the program’s potential:
“I’m so excited to be here. I truly think the sky’s the limit at USF.”
— Kristy Curry, USF Head Coach, in pregame remarks published by USF Athletics.
South Florida (1–0) will face Belmont on Friday, November 6, in Nashville, Tennessee.
– Nisey Spruill is a reporter and photojournalist for Florida National News (FNN), covering major news, sports and special events across Florida and nationwide. Contact sports@FloridaNationalNews.com
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