Mayfield figured out Vikings' hand signals in Bucs' Week 1 victory

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White revealed that quarterback Baker Mayfield decoded the Minnesota Vikings' defensive hand signals in Week 1, ESPN's Jenna Laine reports.

In an interview, White recounted Mayfield running into the locker room at halftime and saying, "I know all these signals. If they do this, they're going to Cover-2, they do this, they're going to Cover-3. Every time I alert this, they drop and they do this signal, they drop him back to this."

The running back continued, "And I'm like, 'wow, that's amazing.' I mean, I know certain coverages, but I don't know a lot like that."

Sign stealing is not illegal in the NFL. Mayfield didn't violate any rules by figuring out the Vikings' hand signals. The veteran signal-caller believes that he provided an edge for first-year offensive coordinator Dave Canales. He also complimented Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, despite figuring out his play calls.

"It took us a little bit to adjust but you try to find every advantage possible to win," he said.

Mayfield, who is from Austin, Texas, denied any similarity to the tactics of a team from his home state.

"Listen, I know I'm in Tampa, but I'm a Texas Rangers fan, not a Houston Astros fan, so we're not gonna get into that," Mayfield said Wednesday in regards to the Astros' 2017 sign-stealing scandal.

The 2018 first overall pick finished the contest by completing 21 of 34 pass attempts for 173 yards and two touchdowns in a 20-17 victory over Minnesota.

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