Lions DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson takes shot at Baker Mayfield
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were already doubted when they made it to the playoffs. Now, their next opponent has given them even more bulletin board material ahead of the NFC Divisional Round.
Detroit Lions cornerback C.J. Gardner-Johnson spoke during media availability on Tuesday, and he was asked about the weapons in Tampa Bay. He spoke highly of them, but he also took a shot at Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield while he was at it.
Here’s what Gardner-Johnson said when asked about Tampa Bay’s wide receiving corps:
“This group probably is one of the better groups we done faced all year, besides that Tampa group. If you give that Tampa group a good quarterback, that’s a great group. Evans, Godwin, (Russell) Gage, that’s a great group. I played against them for real.”
Mayfield has had his ups and downs so far this year (and during his career) to be certain, but anyone would be remiss to call him a bad quarterback. He threw for 28 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in the regular season, and he also just came off a game against the Philadelphia Eagles that saw him throw for 337 yards and three touchdowns with no turnovers.
Of course, Mayfield was asked about the shot by media on Wednesday, and he replied by highlighting a very obvious hole in Gardner-Johnson’s quote — he mentioned a wideout that hasn’t played a snap for the Bucs this year.
“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 snap this year for us. He must be going off the preseason stuff the media was talking about but he didn’t play our first game so I’m excited to see him. I think he’s a really good player.”
Mayfield and Garnder-Johnson will go face-to-face with the opportunity to prove the other wrong on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET when the Lions face off against the Bucs at Ford Field.
