Wilks jabs Baker back for 'cut me in Carolina' take

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- New York Jets antiaircraft coordinator Steve Wilks had 5 days to mull a effect to Baker Mayfield's post-game jab, and his reply didn't disappoint.

Mayfield called retired Wilks past Sunday, saying the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 29-27 triumph implicit the Jets was idiosyncratic for him due to the fact that "their D-coordinator was the 1 that chopped maine successful Carolina."

Asked Friday astir the comment, Wilks started disconnected with praise, saying helium has "a batch of respect for Baker. (He's a) tremendous shot subordinate and he's doing a hellhole of a occupation with those guys down there. So thing truly to accidental beyond that."

Oh, but helium did.

"I don't cognize however agelong you've been doing this," Wilks said to a reporter, "but I'm definite you're rather educated connected it. I don't truly deliberation an interim manager has that overmuch authorization implicit personnel. If that's the case, I would've ne'er gotten escaped of our champion player. Christian McCaffrey."

Wilks was, successful fact, the Panthers' interim manager connected Dec. 5, 2022, erstwhile Mayfield was released. Wilks replaced Matt Rhule, who was fired aft 5 games that season. Wilks was 10 days into his interim station erstwhile the squad traded McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers.

Explaining the Mayfield determination astatine the time, Wilks told reporters, "This is simply a pugnacious business. Sitting successful this seat, it was a pugnacious determination connected my part, but thing I felt similar was the champion determination for the squad moving forward.''

Wilks went connected to accidental it was a communal statement betwixt the 2 sides and that Mayfield had asked for his merchandise aft learning helium wouldn't beryllium the starter oregon backup moving forward. Mayfield, acquired successful a commercialized with the Cleveland Browns, went 1-4 arsenic the Panthers' starter.

Mayfield exacted immoderate revenge connected Sunday, marching the Bucs (3-0) connected a seven-play, 48-yard thrust successful the last 2 minutes to acceptable up Chase McLaughlin's game-winning tract extremity arsenic clip expired.

It was the Jets' 2nd nonaccomplishment connected a tract extremity successful the last 2 minutes.

"We've got to find a mode to finish," said Wilks, adding, "That starts with me, truly putting the guys successful presumption to beryllium successful."

The Jets (0-3) look the Miami Dolphins (0-3) connected Monday nighttime astatine Hard Rock Stadium.