New Buccaneers wide receiver Sterling Shepard never expected to get a call from Tampa Bay during the offseason, and it might not have happened if not for quarterback and former Oklahoma teammate Baker Mayfield.
The Buccaneers gained depth and experience by signing Sterling Shepard, and if he can replicate the play he had before his serious knee injury, it could be a bargain for the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay. Perhaps no one is more excited about reuniting with Shepard, who helped the Sooners win the Big 12 championship in 2015, than Baker Mayfield.
Baker Mayfield helped Sterling Shepard come to Tampa
Mayfield has shown he can be a good recruiter while also playing quarterback. In a conversation with NFL Insider Josina Anderson Shepherd recounted the conversations that led up to his visit to Tampa. Anderson said he was “astonished” by what Shepherd had to say on the phone.
Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield – Photo courtesy of USA Today
“I can’t help but laugh right now. I didn’t expect this,” Shepard told Anderson. “Three days ago, Baker (Mayfield) texted me, ‘How are you doing?’ And I was like, ‘I’m feeling great. How’s the baby?’ And he was like, ‘The baby is doing great.’ And then he asked me, ‘Hey, do you think we can have another one?’ And I was like, ‘I have to juggle my family. I missed all the other opportunities. But I was just kind of thinking about it every day when I was outside running and lifting weights.'”
“Plus, I was playing golf with Saquon[Barkley]and he told me to stop messing around because I can still play,” Baker said. “Well, get your agent in touch, because I know people were bringing up your name around here the other day, so my agent contacted him. The Buccaneers said they wanted me on a plane the next day. Joe, I laced up my cleats and I went and worked out like I’d been running routes my whole life, and the rest is history.”
I just got off the phone with someone new. #Buccaneers WR Sterling Shepard surprised by the sudden turn of events:
“I can’t help but laugh at this. I never expected this. Three days ago, Baker (Mayfield) texted me, ‘How are you feeling?’ And I was like, ‘I’m feeling great. … pic.twitter.com/slr9GLMJjw
— Josina Anderson (@JosinaAnderson) June 6, 2024
Sterling Shepard is in a ‘really good situation’
Sterling Shepard and Baker Mayfield were a great pairing at Oklahoma during their lone season together, with Shepard recording 86 catches for 1,288 yards and 11 touchdowns as a team, while Mayfield got the lion’s share of the credit for his success, as he finished with 3,700 passing yards and 36 touchdowns.
Buccaneers WR Sterling Shepard – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Shepard probably won’t be the focal point of the Buccaneers’ offense with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and others handling that role, but that doesn’t mean he can’t contribute to Tampa’s success — this is a team that has made the postseason four years in a row and won its division at least three years in a row, after all. New York Post, Shepard said he was in the right place.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Sheppard said. “It’s a new scene. I can’t say I wanted to experience it. I always wanted to be with the Giants, but I’m not mad. It’s a really good situation. They have a really good football team, a really talented football team. And I get to reunite with my son and play a little bit with him. I’m really looking forward to it. I still get to play the sport I love and get a fresh start in a way. I want to help this team in any way I can and show what I can offer.”
The Buccaneers take on the Giants in Week 12. Will it be a revenge match for Shepard? We’ll find out as the schedule gets closer.
“That certainly felt right,” Shepherd said. “It’s going to be very exciting, but honestly, I’m in a completely different mindset right now. I’m just trying to take it one day at a time and show what I can offer. I’m not thinking that far ahead. I wish I could, believe me, but I’m more focused now than I’ve ever been.”
