The Detroit Lions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are getting a little tense before their NFC Divisional game on Sunday.
The Buccaneers’ wide receiver group was praised by Lions defensive back CJ Gardner-Johnson, but he did so while clearly aiming a jab at QB Baker Mayfield.
According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, Gardner-Johnson stated, “This group probably is one of the better groups we done faced all year, aside from that Tampa group,” as the Lions were getting ready to play the Los Angeles Rams. “Tampa is a great team if you give them a good quarterback.” That’s a fantastic group: Russell Gage, Chris Godwin, and Mike Evans. I actually competed against them.
In Week 6, the Lions did face the Buccaneers; however, Gardner-Johnson was sidelined by an injury. So did Gage, who hasn’t played a snap this year due to a season-ending knee injury he sustained in the preseason.
When Mayfield responded to Gardner-Johnson’s offensive remark, he did not hesitate to make that clear.
#Bucs Baker Mayfield on comments by Lions CB Chauncey Gardner Johnson that Bucs receivers are a good group that would be great with a good QB.
“I mean, I don't think he's really watched film because he mentioned Russell Gage. You know, we love Russell, but he hasn’t played a…— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) January 17, 2024
As he brought up Russell Gage, I doubt he has actually seen a movie. Although we adore Russell, he hasn’t contributed much this season, Mayfield remarked. “I’m happy to see him, but I think he may be off the preseason stuff the media was talking about because he didn’t participate in our opening game. He’s a pretty decent player, in my opinion.
Mayfield has no incentive to take the bait, and he didn’t actually take it. He already has the Buccaneers where few anticipated them to be, and he intends to continue disproving those who disbelieve him. Besides, his comrades will happily take up the fight for him because they love him so much.
