Mayfield, Bucs agree to $165M, 3-year extension

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have agreed on a $165 million, three-year contract extension, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press.Mayfield revived his career in Tampa Bay after replacing Tom Brady in 2023. He was entering the final season of his three-year, $100 million deal with the Bucs.Mayfield, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft by Cleveland, made the Pro Bowl in each of his first two seasons in Tampa while leading the Bucs to consecutive NFC South titles. He was a MVP candidate through the first half of last season when the team started 6-2, but struggled with injuries and tailed off.Mayfield had set a deadline for getting a new contract by the start of training camp, and felt "disrespected" when he didn't get it.Now, it's done."I've been pretty up front and honest about my feelings about Tampa, it being home for our family, raising kids here," Mayfield said in July. "We love it here. I wanted a deal done and set the deadline and told them it was going to be all ball after that, and I did mean that."The Buccaneers, who open the season on the road against Cincinnati, will try to bounce back from an 8-9 record that caused them to miss the playoffs. The Bucs are the consensus betting favorites to win the NFC South.Donald ruled out of Rams' opener LOS ANGELES — Aaron Donald won't play in the Los Angeles Rams' season opener against the 49ers in Melbourne, Australia, delaying the three-time Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year's return to the field after ending his retirement last month."I think he'll be ready to go sooner rather than later. But we're making a decision that we think is best for him and for our team," coach Sean McVay said Tuesday.The 35-year-old Donald rejoined the Rams in August after two seasons away from the team, and the eight-time first team All-Pro has been working his way back into game shape. But with a 16-hour flight on deck ahead of the game, which will take place Friday morning local time at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, McVay decided the prudent decision was to keep Donald at home and allow him to continue his preparations. Rookie QBs sit SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The Raiders' Francisco Mendoza is the first quarterback taken No. 1 overall to start his career on the bench since Baker Mayfield in 2018, with the last six since then earning Week 1 starts. Mayfield came in as a reserve for Cleveland in Week 3 that season and made his first start the following week. When Mendoza does it remains to be seen.But with Mendoza and No. 13 pick Ty Simpson of the Rams starting the season as reserves, this marks just the second time in the last 19 seasons that no rookie quarterback will start the season opener. It also happened in 2022, when Kenny Pickett was the only QB taken in the first round when he went 20th to Pittsburgh.Super Bowl rematch The 2026 season will start the same way the last season ended seven months ago.The defending champion Seattle Seahawks will open the season at home Wednesday against the New England Patriots in just the third Super Bowl rematch ever in Week 1. The Seahawks won the title with a 29-13 win Feb. 8 at Levi's Stadium.This will be just the second time the NFL starts on a Wednesday. The other came in 2012 when the Dallas Cowboys visited the New York Giants. The game was moved from its usual Thursday spot that year because President Barack Obama was set to speak that night at the Democratic National Convention.