Before Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews became an NFL star, he caught passes from Baker Mayfield in Oklahoma.

Andrews, a three-time Pro Bowler and 2021 All-Pro, enjoyed a productive three-year career with the Sooners, and Mayfield was his quarterback for the vast majority of that time. His best season came in 2017, when he caught 62 passes for 958 yards (second on the team behind former Raven Marquise “Hollywood” Brown) and eight touchdowns. He was perhaps Mayfield’s favorite target when the quarterback won the Heisman Trophy that season.

The former college teammates have faced off quite a few times in the NFL, with Mayfield spending his first four seasons with the rival Cleveland Browns. But now he’s preparing to face the Ravens for the first time as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and he couldn’t resist poking fun at his good friend.

“Even though Mark and I are best friends, he and I don’t talk during the season. He’s a lunatic. He can’t exactly separate friendship and football. He struggles with that from year to year, so there are a few months where we are friends again. It hurts my feelings. The man was at my wedding, won’t talk to me. It hurts my feelings.

‘He’s changed. He has a very serious girlfriend. Some people think he has gone soft. I’m not one of those people, but people mumble. There are whispers.”

Now in his second season with the Bucs, Mayfield is in the midst of a career renaissance. Through six games, the former No. 1 overall pick has completed 70.9 percent of his passes for 1,489 yards, a career-high 15 touchdowns and five interceptions. Considering what he went through before arriving in Tampa Bay, it’s remarkable to see him blossom again.

Meanwhile, Andrews has been relatively quiet this season with just 13 receptions for 186 yards and one touchdown, which resulted in last week’s win over the Washington Commanders. Despite not getting the ball as much, Andrews has settled into his new role and is still helping the Ravens win, albeit in a slightly different way.

The Ravens travel to play the Bucs on Monday Night Football in a 4-2 team matchup, and it’s safe to assume these two will have more fun interactions soon.

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