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As the end of the NFL season approaches, a popular topic outside the playoff standings in the AFC and NFC are the gifts that quarterbacks are getting their offensive linemen for protecting them throughout the long campaign.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow probably wins the prize for coolest gift, giving samurai swords to each of his linemen. Swords look impressive mounted on a wall or closed in a glass case. They could create some uncomfortably exciting moments at parties or add a thrill to preparing a meal.
However, Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield may have presented the most wholesome gift to his blockers. Bucs linemen received personalized cookies with their jerseys on them, complete with number and name.
Mayfield also made sure the cookies were accompanied by their best beverage, providing tall mugs of milk. No skim or 2% either. The blockers got whole milk — the good stuff, for anyone who hasn’t drank any in a while.
Perhaps worried about his intake for the day, tackle Tristan Wirfs wondered if he was downing 900 calories. Dared by his teammates to chug it down, he did so. Guessing that the mug was 64 ounces, Wirfs ingested approximately 1,200 calories. Let’s presume he took in over 2,000 calories with the cookies.
Who’s counting during the holidays? Well, maybe professional athletes. Derrick Henry wouldn’t even take a bite of red velvet cake after the Baltimore Ravens‘ Christmas Day win over the Houston Texans.
But offensive linemen have to keep their weight up and the Buccaneers have at least one more game to play in Week 18 versus the New Orleans Saints. Maybe more if the Bucs make the playoffs, which they’re currently in position to do with a win over the Saints.
No, cookies and milk don’t rate that well compared to samurai swords, golf carts, watches, jewelry or cars. But Mayfield is further down the list of NFL QB salaries than Burrow, Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts and Josh Allen. (Not Brock Purdy, but he may have gotten some sponsorship help for the Toyota SUVs he gifted.)
And the Tampa Bay linemen don’t have to pay taxes and insurance for cookies either.