Peter King Toasts Baker Mayfield JoeBucsFan.com

Re-sign him, Jason Licht.

That’s the directive for the Bucs’ personnel shot-caller from no less an authority than dishwasher etiquette-instructing, redshirt-quarterback-annoyed, anti-public-pot-smoking, cognac-splurging, clock-shopping, Olympics-flag-football-frowning, Concrete Mixer-spilling, Mother Jones-reading, airport-pianist-listening, Twitter-revolting, Purdue-basketball-confused, combine-fatigued, Bavarian-pretzel-chomping, teeth-brushing, haircut-fascinated, Circa-bewildered, elf-rattled, green-lawns-frowning, soggy-socks-wearing, Daylight-Savings-Time-scared, crossword-puzzle-puzzled, Elon-Musk-peeved, Barstool-Sports-triggered, almond-milk-sipping, hot-dog-eating-contest-protesting, mock-draft-scowling, L.L.-Bean-wearing, tennis fans’ advocate, Second Amendment abolitionist, Mike-Florio-arguing, parrot-insensitive, chewing-with-his-mouth-open, soup-gulping, California-train-romancing, anti-football proliferation, outhouse-admiring, airline-napping, steerage-flying, Yogi Berra-worshiping, urinal-picture-taking, video-game-playing, Taylor-Swift-listening, pickpocket-thwarting, Bucs-uniform-frowning, Allie LaForce-smitten, Big-Ten-Network-hating, pedestrian-bumping, olive oil-lapping, popcorn-munching, coffee-slurping, fried-chicken-eating, oatmeal-loving, circle-jerking, craft-beer-chugging, cricket-watching, scone-loathing, college football-naïve, baseball-box-score-reading, NPR-honk, filthy-hotel-staying, fight-instigating, barista-training, Budweiser-tolerant, baseball-scorecard-keeping, pasta-feasting, vomit-dodging scrooge, Kay-Adams-following, Coors-Light-souring, pineapple-upside-down-cake-eating social activist and NFL insider Peter King, of NBC Sports fame.

In his weekly (unless it’s Christmas or the summer when he cannot otherwise be bothered) missive for Pro Football Talk, King praised the quarterback he scoffed about when he signed with the Bucs, Baker Mayfield. King also toasted Mayfield and said he deserves a new deal in Tampa.

Back in the spring, King believed Mayfield’s signing was nothing more than a bridge, a one-year gap-filler for the Bucs until they could draft one of the covey of quarterbacks expected to be selected in April’s draft.

Alas, Mayfield surprised many with his season, leading the Bucs to a franchise-best third-straight division title. Now, King doesn’t believe Mayfield is a bridge.

Joe strongly believes Mayfield should get “Comeback Player of the Year.” But Joe knows how the folks who vote for that award are wired and think (click on King’s column for evidence). So Joe believes that Denny Damar Hamlin of Buffalo will get the award. Hey, it’s a tremendous story that Hamlin rose from the dead on a football field to continue his career.

Great story. Only Hamlin’s story is a human interest story, not a football story. Dude has two tackles all season — two! As world-renowned JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman would say, “Comeback from what?”

No, Mayfield is much more deserving of the award.

Has Mayfield earned a new pact with the Bucs? Of course. That still wouldn’t stop Joe from drafting, say, Michael Penix or Bo Nix. Mayfield’s career has been a roller coaster.

Joe has no issue with a rookie quarterback sitting like Jordan Love and others have done. If Mayfield continues to ball out, then that young QB becomes an awesome trade chip.