GENERAL MANAGER JASON LICHT & QUARTERBACK BAKER MAYFIELD

(Opening Statement)

Jason Licht: "Well, I guess I can officially say that we've worked out our differences, and I'm very excited about it. [I want to] take a couple minutes first, though, to thank the Glazer family for the resources, support, confidence in not just doing this monumental deal, but [also with] Vita [Vea] and the entire offseason…Just their confidence in us to do these things – they recognize that we have a lot of good players and very good people overall in this organization, and their commitment to letting us retain these players and people…I don't take it for granted. As far as Baker [Mayfield] – [he is] an important piece of this football team, obviously, not just how he plays, but who he is as a person. His wife, Emily, what they do in the community, the whole thing is just outstanding. The players here feed off of his energy, toughness, his style of play, his leadership, but the building feeds off of it too, and so does the city and the fan base. So, it's just an awesome thing. It's a no-brainer to want to have him locked up for as long as we can. One of the things I love the most about Baker is you never have to question or wonder how he feels – we got an example of that last month [laughs]. It's that passion that he has that makes him tick and what he is as a player. We're just so excited that he's going to be here in the future for as long as we can."

(On what changed for Mayfield after setting a deadline for contract negotiations before training camp)

Baker Mayfield: "Yeah, before I get going, too, I just want to thank the Glazers, as well. Obviously, this is the biggest deal in franchise history, so, for me, that doesn't go unnoticed. They've been around the Bucs for a long time. It's important for me to recognize that and thank them for giving me this opportunity. You know, this is life-changing. [Then], also to know that we're able to settle in here and continue to make a difference in the community and also just help this franchise out as much as possible. Jason and his team, 'Greeny' (Assistant General Manager Mike Greenberg), [Vice President of Football Research] Jackie [Davidson], Mike [Biehl], everybody upstairs, they're awesome. It's just been fun to come to work every day. When you have been other places [where] it's not like this and you don't get to have a good relationship with your GM like I do, it's different. You really, really appreciate that. I don't want to take it for granted. So yeah, I just want to say thank you to everybody that has helped make that happen, including my teammates. [There was] a lot of turnover and new people here, but I'm excited for what's to come, and the people that were here the last three years for me have definitely helped in that process as well. I'm excited about that. But yeah, when it comes to the deadline, I told my agent, 'Listen, I'm done talking about it. Unless something really changes, you can bring that to my attention. If you think I actually am willing to agree to it, then bring it to my attention.' Apparently, they engaged in talks last week that I did not know about until Monday [at] about 6 p.m. It caught both of us off guard when we were at dinner, just sitting down to eat, and the agent said, 'Hey, I think I need to give you a call. I need to update you on something.' When something like that comes about…Listen, this is awesome – this is home for me, it's home for us, and I'm really, really thankful."

(On whether T Tristan Wirfs was with him when he learned about the contract agreement)

BM: "Good things happen when number 78 is around. No, so, that was Monday night, and then when I got the official call of agreed to terms, let's go, let's do it, I was actually at a movie theater watching the new release of Cars with all the kiddos and some teammates. That was fun. I stepped away from Lightning McQueen for a second to agree to that."

(On whether the new contract frees him up to play without it being in the back of his mind)

BM: "Yeah, I mean, it's not going to be looming over everybody questioning it day in and day out throughout the weeks. For me, it doesn't change. We didn't make the playoffs last year. I think everybody that was here has a bad taste in their mouth and they're ready to right the ship on that. You know, we believe that we have a really, really good team. We've got to take it one week at a time, but this team is hungry, and that's what I'm most excited about."

(On his excitement about the offense heading into this season)

BM: "It starts with the guys up front. I mean, the unit they have put together, it's one of the best in the league. They're excited to be able to play with each other again. It starts with them. They run the offense, they run the show and [we] go from there. But yeah, the weapons that we have…Chris Godwin looks like the best version of Chris Godwin I've seen and [I'm] really excited about that. Emeka Egbuka taking another step from year one to year two. Bucky [Irving] is healthy. Kenneth Gainwell has been a huge addition for us. Tez Johnson is going to take some steps, Jalen McMillan, Ted Hurst [III], Cade Otton, Payne Durham, Bauer Sharp is another new addition…It's fun to come to work every day when you have weapons like that and to have the familiarity with Zac Robinson in the past and just to see what he's doing, personnel-wise, moving people around. We don't know what we're going to be best at yet, but that's the fun part of when you have weapons like this – what's going to truly be our foundation throughout the season? I don't know. We'll adapt, but we have options."

(On if Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson is good at giving Mayfield answers to the defenses that the team faces)

BM: "Absolutely. I think he learned that going up against [Head Coach] Todd [Bowles'] defense twice a year in the season, that you have to have answers regardless. That became an everyday thing during training camp and the offseason program with him, as well. You never want to line up and have a play called that you're like, 'Well, this isn't going to work.' You want to be able to get out of it or check to a different play and make the guys feel confident. Let them feel like they own it and go from there. Zac does a good job of that as well."

(On if Licht and Mayfield can share some of the exchanges they had during the contract negotiation)

JL: "Some of them aren't safe for work [laughs]. No, I'm kidding. It remained professional through the whole thing. Baker is just a true pro. I think we both knew deep down that, at some point, we'd get something done. We have a great relationship. He's great with everybody here in the organization. Like I said before, we know Baker and we know that he likes to tell you how he feels and that's what we love about him, so that's not going to change. You always kind of like to know where you stand and we have that relationship both ways."

BM: "It's also fun when you learn that somebody is pretty easy to get stirred up [and] you try and take advantage of it."

JL: "Just don't do it on vacation next year."

(On whether Mayfield still has a list of "personal grievances")

BM: "I haven't updated that thing in a long time. There was a time and point where I used a lot of that negative stuff to fuel me, but I found the fire within, and yeah, I go from there. I still have so much to prove. This isn't 'I've made it.' You know, this is life-changing money, this is stuff that, for us, is unbelievable, but it's an opportunity to help the community and to continue to progress and move forward. The main goal is still the Super Bowl, and I don't have one of those."

JL: "I took on a new role this year, too, besides my current role. My role is to piss him off every week [laughs]."

BM: "He's pretty good at it."

(On Licht being able to secure extensions for both Mayfield and NT Vita Vea)

JL: "Yeah, it was great. It was awesome. I'm glad it all worked out, trust me, for many, many reasons. So, we're all very, very excited here. I can't begin to tell you how thrilled we are."

(On what Mayfield still wants to prove)

BM: "A lot of things. I think, when it comes to just being able to finish the season the right way, we've had hot starts and lulls in the middle of the year, [so] being able to put it all together and be consistent. That's not just for me, but for our team. As the leader, I have to do that and I have to demand that of myself every day before I can demand it of my teammates. So, just trying to raise that standard no matter if it's going [well] or [poorly] every single day and go from there and just be more consistent. We started out winning a lot of close ball games, two-minute [drills], last year early on, but didn't make those plays towards the end of the year that we needed to. That goes with consistency."

(On whether Mayfield's new contract changes his mindset as a leader)

BM: "No. I mean, for me, no. A lot of the guys are making jokes, but it's all fun and whatnot. For me, I'm going to lead. It doesn't matter what the contract is. It doesn't matter what the outside thinks. I'm going to lead the best way I can and just be myself and play with fire and passion and try and be the best quarterback on the field."

(On whether there is any vindication for Mayfield having a contract near the top of the quarterback market)

BM:  "No. I mean, the market is the market. It changes each day, each week, each year. It's just, like I said, I'm grateful for it, happy, and looking forward to the season."

(On how excited Mayfield is about Tampa Bay's defense)

BM: "Well, I can tell you I'm happy we're into game plan, getting scout team looks [and] that they're not all out there at once. It's been pretty frustrating throughout the offseason program and camp. They're flying around. [There are] upgrades everywhere between culture, depth up front in the defensive line…We've got some guys that can make truly game-changing plays. [Alex] Anzalone has been an incredible leader – obviously, he got voted a team captain just getting here – he's been an incredible leader with a lot of experience. Josiah Trotter, I've mentioned him a lot, he's an animal – I'm looking forward to seeing what he does. Rueben Bain [Jr.] is just all ball. It's fun to see Rueben go to work. Getting David Walker back healthy…I mean, I'm going to forget guys, but A'Shawn Robinson, 'Nacho' (Rakeem Nuñez-Roches), people that come in and they bring the attitude for us. It's great to see. In the secondary, Zyon [McCollum], 'Tweeze' (Antoine Winfield Jr.), Tykee [Smith], Jacob Parrish, Ayden Garnes. I mean, it's the group of guys that they've put together, and they all feed off that energy together and they play for each other. It's been extremely competitive. I'm excited for those guys to cut it loose."

(On if Mayfield reflects on how far he has come since searching for a team several years ago)

BM: "I think, for me, it's not about just taking time to enjoy that – it's realizing that I have an unbelievable opportunity to continue to lead this building. For me, that's working even harder and trying to push this group even harder. I don't think there's been a moment where I'm like, 'OK, I've made it.' For me, it's not like that, or I probably should retire. There's still a lot of hunger, a lot of drive, and I need to continue that way."

(On what he enjoys most about Tampa Bay and the community)

BM:  "Just the love and support. I think from the first time that we started our foundation and had an event, just seeing the support that the whole community has for each other, whether it's baseball, hockey, the football community, and just the fans in general. They're truly passionate fans. They love this area. They're really proud of being from here. The support you feel is real. Just to continue to expand on that and grow this community to be the best possible in the country, it's a fun feeling."

(On what it means to Mayfield to be able to share this moment with his wife and daughter)

BM: "It's awesome. I mean, God has blessed us in many, many ways, but this is a [really] surreal moment. ['Koko'] (Mayfield's daughter) can't even sit still now [but], just to be able to enjoy it…She'll look back on some of these pictures later on in life, but for me, it's kind of one of those pinch-me things. It's just fun. To be able to watch her grow up here, it's even more fun."

HEAD COACH TODD BOWLES

(On QB Baker Mayfield signing a three-year contract extension)

"Obviously, I'm happy for him. He means a lot to our team and everything he's done in the past. Our work was normal. You know, he went about business the right way, the normal way, and we haven't changed anything from today to yesterday when he got paid, and he's not going to change anything. So, I'm proud of him for being a professional, happy for him that he got his contract, and we move on to Cincinnati."

(On whether the contract and injury guarantees will affect the way Mayfield plays)

"I think he's played like this his whole life, so I don't think it's any different for him."

(On Mayfield's extension getting done after contract talks had been put on hold)

"I mean, business gets done when it gets done, regardless of profession. I don't think it does anything for him, the way he prepares and the way he gets ready to play. It does great for him financially off the field and for his family, so you can say that part about it, but I don't think it's going to change him one bit."

(On Bowles' reaction to Mayfield's extension)

"I was very happy for him – very happy for him."

(On the challenge of facing the Cincinnati Bengals offense)

"[It's a] big challenge, huge challenge. I mean, those guys have been together for a long time in that offense. [Joe] Burrow and [Ja'Marr] Chase have been together since college, so they've been doing it for a long time. [They are] very precise, know each other very well – not just those two, but [Tee] Higgins and the rest of the guys as well, [Chase] Brown, the rest of the team, very good chemistry there, very good chemistry there. We've just got to line up and be very sound at what we do, and we've got to make plays."

(On the challenge Cincinnati's defensive tackles present for the interior offensive line)

"They're strong, they're very disruptive, and we know that's going to be a challenge. It's probably going to be like that every week. You don't get [any] days off in this league come Sunday, so we've got to prepare the right way, and we've got to fight them, and we've got to rise to the challenge."

(On the status of WR Emeka Egbuka, WR Jalen McMillan and RB Sean Tucker)

"Sean did not practice today. Emeka did a good job practicing today, and Jalen ran around as well."

(On the progress Egbuka and McMillan have made toward Sunday)

"[They're] still making progress. I mean, we've got two more days to go. I think they're making good progress, though."

(On how Egbuka and McMillan responded physically after Monday's practice)

"They were good."

(On his comfort level with WR Ted Hurst III playing a significant role)

"Yeah, I am. He's gotten a lot of reps over the preseason with those guys out, so he came a long way."

(On Defensive Line Coach Marcus West's work with the defensive line)

"He's a great communicator. You know, he's a very high-energy guy. When he finishes practice, he's sweating just as much as the D-line is because he sprints everywhere he goes. I guess that's the youth in him right now, but it's something that we needed. It's something that they needed. It's a great chemistry, the way he teaches. You can't sit in the meeting rooms and see him, but he does a heck of a job engaging those guys and getting feedback and making them understand the picture that he sees. He's done a great job."

(On preparing the cornerbacks to face Cincinnati wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins)

"Obviously their strengths are the biggest thing, but, you know, Zyon [McCollum] and [Jacob] Parrish have strengths as well. It's easy to talk about them, hard to stop them. That's what I say every week – easy to talk about them, hard to stop them. We have to play our game. We can't get so caught up in who they are as opposed to worrying about executing our scheme."

(On CB Zyon McCollum's progress throughout training camp as he worked with Cornerbacks Coach Rashad Johnson)

"Not just Rashad, but I think he's teaching himself as well, understanding what he needs to work on in the offseason. That's the first part of becoming a full-time pro, and I think he did a good job at that. Rashad has tweaked some of the individual periods for him specifically to do certain things, and his [back]pedal and his shuffle and those type of things to help him get better. I think he's seeing film better. It takes a while to learn how to watch film. I think he's learning how to watch film and understanding how to use his strengths, so I think that's been a good job by him and Rashad."

(On LB Josiah Trotter earning a starting role)

"He had a heck of a preseason. He came in and he played ball. Not only just playing ball, he's very intelligent. He understood the scheme and he rarely made mistakes. When you get that kind of ball player that puts it all together that early, you couldn't deny him from playing."

(On whether NT Vita Vea will be on a snap count in Week 1)

"He's ready to go. I don't think he ever plays the full game. We'll take him out at some point, and we'll see what the weather is that way and see how long drives go, and we'll measure it that way."

(On disguising coverages against QB Joe Burrow)

"He is outstanding at seeing what you're in. We have to do a heck of a job disguising and not trying to let him see what we're in, and that's the cat-and-mouse game of it. Obviously, he's seen every coverage and every pressure known to man. It becomes execution between them and us, so we've got to be able to execute whether we disguise or whether we blow our disguise. We've still got to be ready to execute. He's outstanding at it."

(On where practice squad CB Sean Murphy-Bunting would line up if he were to see game action)

"Right now, he's an outside corner first. I know he can play inside. When he gets the tweaks of the outside down, then we'll start moving him inside and giving him some safety reps as well."

(On his level of confidence in the team's depth at outside linebacker)

"I feel like I don't have reserves for the first time. I feel like all five of them can play if need be on first, second down, and third down as well. All of them are good pass rushers in their own right and have special things they do. 'Mo' (Al-Quadin Muhammad) has been outstanding, bringing him in. He can do a lot of things for us. Every time you put 'Nelly' (Anthony Nelson) in, he makes plays. David [Walker] coming on after being out with the knee last year and showing what he can do in the preseason…Obviously, [he needs to] get the scheme down a little bit more, but there'll be some packages for him this year as well. All three of them can go in and play and you feel comfortable about it."

(On if he feels the team is as healthy as he can remember at the start of a season)

"That I can remember? Yeah."

(On what Bowles earned during the final year of his playing career)

"My last year, I think I was at about $275,000, maybe over $300,000, $400,000? I remember my first year, it was $70,000. I [got] $8,500 to sign."

LINEBACKER ALEX ANZALONE

(On how the defense is preparing to go up against Cincinnati Bengals QB Jow Burrow)

"Yeah, I feel like anytime you go against a veteran quarterback that's been there, done that, there's an element of disguise and what you have to do defensively to prepare for him and get him to think a little bit post-snap. He's obviously one of the best in the league at doing that."

(On what he's seen from LB Josiah Trotter during the preseason)

"I think that the biggest thing for him is consistency. We do have a defense that does put a lot on a guy like him. At the linebacker position we do different things and he's stepped up to the plate, and now we just have to see where he takes it. Now the real fun starts."

(On what it means to be a captain his first year in Tampa Bay)

"Yeah, anytime you get that honor, it's huge honor and blessing. The way I go about my things…You don't want to be, excuse my language, you don't want to be the [jerk] that walks in here and kind of inserts himself. I did it my way and [I] lead by example, do the right things, speak up when something needs to be said. A lot of that has to do with playing linebacker, but at the same time that's who I am. It's an honor to be in the position."

(On how if there is still season-opener excitement as he enters his tenth season)

"I don't get butterflies. I think just a little more excitement at this point, just playing so many games. I think you envision yourself making plays the night before and more of that than necessarily butterflies. It definitely gets the blood flowing, gets the juices flowing."

(On what he thinks makes a quarterback elite from his perspective as a veteran linebacker)

"Yeah, I think the number one thing is decision-making accuracy. As a defender, if a quarterback is very accurate and knows where to go with the ball, I think that makes it hard to cover. It makes it hard to do certain things. Then you throw in the dynamic of being able to extend plays and that's what really makes a quarterback difficult to play against."

GUARD BEN BREDESON

(On how he feels about the offensive line being healthy going into the season after dealing with so many injuries last season)

"Obviously, very excited that we're all back. Last year, [wasn't] how we drew it up. I don't think we played one game with everybody healthy. We lost Cody [Mauch] early, and then guys are in and out. We're just really excited. It's been a great fall camp so far. Going into Week 1 with everybody healthy, everybody clicking and ready to go…It's good to have everybody back out there."

(On how he feels about QB Baker Mayfield signing his contract extension)

"Obviously, extremely ecstatic for him. He's earned it. As we all see, [he's a] phenomenal leader, phenomenal teammate [and a] great friend. [I] can't say enough good things about him. [I'm] just really happy for him."

(On if Mayfield's new contract extension changes the dynamic in the locker room)

"I don't know. I mean, we're obviously really excited for him, really happy for him, we're happy he's going to be here for a while. Never once did he change who he was. It was never a distraction, nothing like that. We love the guy. We play hard for him no matter what. We're just happy to see him get his deal."

(On what about Mayfield's mentality makes him a good leader)

"I mean, he's a catalyst out there. We see him and he brings energy and it brings everyone else up. [He] makes you want to play harder for him. [He] makes you want to play harder with him. If he's going to put his body on the line for us and lower his shoulder and do that, we have to match that every single play. He's a blast to play with and a blast to block for, I'll say that."

(On RB Bucky Irving's ability to run the ball)

"Yeah, he's able to make us right sometimes. Playing offensive line as a group, you want to block every single play perfectly and have the back hit the hole like it's drawn on paper, but it's not always like that. Bucky is a phenomenal athlete where he is able to make a guy miss or set up a block for us and, like you said, sometimes he's cutting it out the backside where the ball is technically not supposed to go, but he's making great plays and has that speed to be able to get out there. He provides a nice extra element for us and just like I was talking about Baker [Mayfield], he makes our running game very exciting."

-BUCCANEERS-