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Baker Mayfield Is “Boiling Over” Ahead of Saints Showdown – YaYa Diaby Spills the Harsh Truth

TAMPA – Two years have passed, but the wound still bleeds.

Every time the word “Saints” comes up, Baker Mayfield’s eyes go dark. This isn’t the normal divisional dislike – this is personal hatred, forged on that December afternoon in 2023 when Nathan Shepherd drove his knee into Baker’s ribs and Tyrann Mathieu deliberately stepped on his already-torn ankle. The result? The Bucs nearly lost the NFC South crown because of a humiliating 6–9 defeat.

“I feel it every single day,” outside linebacker YaYa Diaby told local reporters on Wednesday, his eyes blazing. “Every time Baker walks into the meeting room, he brings up those dirty hits. He doesn’t need anyone to remind him – he reminds himself. And when he does, everybody hears the fire in his voice.”

Diaby isn’t exaggerating. Several players in the locker room say Mayfield still keeps the clip of those two late hits on his personal iPad – replaying them over and over every time the Bucs prepare for the Saints. “He told us: ‘This isn’t football. This is personal,’” a team source told ESPN. “Baker doesn’t forget, and he doesn’t forgive. He’s just waiting for the day he gets to answer back on the field.”

This Sunday’s game at Caesars Superdome will be Mayfield’s fifth meeting with the Saints since the incident. His record against New Orleans since 2023? 3–1, 9 TDs, 1 INT, and an average of 28 points per game for Tampa Bay. But this time feels different. With the Bucs sitting at 6–6 and desperately needing a win to stay alive in the playoff race, Mayfield has turned the entire week into his own personal crusade.

“He hates them more than I hate getting held without a flag,” Diaby said with a booming laugh – though his eyes stayed deadly serious. “I’ve never seen Baker this ‘on fire.’ He’s yelling in meetings, slamming tables, telling us: ‘We’re not just playing football – we’re collecting a debt.’ I believe him 100%. That Superdome is about to be hotter than hell.”

While the Saints limp in with a shredded offense after injuries to Derek Carr and Chris Olave, Mayfield enters with his arsenal fully loaded: Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan returning, Bucky Irving healthy, and a red-hot YaYa Diaby leading the team in sacks. All they needed was a final spark – and that spark has been burning for 730 days.

On Sunday, the stage is set for the perfect revenge.

Baker Mayfield doesn’t just want to win. He wants the Saints to remember the price of playing dirty with him.

And according to YaYa Diaby, the entire city of Tampa Bay is marching into that battle with him – smiling wide, hearts on fire.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Icon Ronde Barber Wins Lawsuit After Charity Misused Donations for At-Risk Youth — Team Protects His Legacy
Tampa Bay, Florida – January, 2026Ronde Barber has always been more than just a player for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Over his 16-season career, Barber became the heart and soul of the franchise, leading Tampa Bay's defense with unmatched toughness, leadership, and a deep commitment to his community. As a Hall of Famer, 5-time Pro Bowler, and key figure in the Bucs' Super Bowl XXXVII victory, Barber has built a legacy on and off the field. However, a charity connected to his foundation, Ronde Barber Charities, faced legal action after it was discovered that donations intended for at-risk youth, children’s education programs, and support for underprivileged families in the Tampa Bay area were misappropriated. Barber immediately took legal action to defend the vulnerable families who trusted his integrity and commitment to helping those in need. Auditors found that less than 40 percent of the funds raised actually reached the children, far below the promised 80 percent. The rest was buried behind inflated salaries for executives, excessive operational fees, and personal luxuries unrelated to any charitable mission. Barber was deeply disturbed that vulnerable children in his hometown had been betrayed. “I built my career around protecting others, whether on the field or in my community,” Barber stated. “When someone exploits the trust of those in need, I’ll fight to make it right.” He filed a lawsuit for misappropriation of charitable funds, determined to restore the money and faith of the community he spent so much of his life uplifting. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers stood by Barber throughout the process, offering support, helping gather evidence, and ensuring that the truth was exposed in the courtroom. The organization made it clear that their legends, in every form, will never fight alone. The court ruling was a resounding victory for Barber. The charity was ordered to pay $2.1 million in restitution, its executives were banned from nonprofit management for at least ten years, and all remaining funds were directed back to children’s programs and at-risk youth in the Tampa Bay area immediately. Barber refused to accept a single dollar for himself. Every cent recovered will go directly to supporting children’s education, youth mentorship programs, and the community-driven initiatives Barber had championed throughout his Hall of Fame career. With a Super Bowl ring, 5 Pro Bowls, 3 First-Team All-Pro selections, 47 interceptions (franchise leader), and an NFL record for sacks by a cornerback (28), Barber has already cemented his place as one of the greatest defensive backs in NFL history. Now, his greatest legacy might be his fight to protect the most vulnerable in his community. Barber’s message to the people of Tampa Bay was loud and clear: “I played for touchdowns, big plays, and championships, but I’ve always served a greater purpose. If someone steals from our kids, they answer to me — and they answer to this community.” His words remind us that his loyalty goes deeper than his 92-yard pick-six that sealed Super Bowl XXXVII. Tampa Bay celebrates more than a courtroom victory tonight — they celebrate a protector who continues to fight for the next generation, long after stepping off the field. Ronde Barber remains the heart and shield of Tampa Bay — forever a Buccaneer, forever family.