Wasting Mike Evans
December 27th, 2018
Ugly fate?
This is a disgusting thought but if recent history of the Bucs is any indication, it very likely could happen.
One of the more shameful episodes in NFL history is when the Chicago Bears drafted Dick Butkus and Gale Sayers with consecutive picks in the first round of the 1965 draft. No, that was not shameful but did you know that neither Sayers nor Butkus ever snapped a chin strap on in a playoff game?
The Bucs have their own version of Butkus/Sayers shame.
Now in no way is Joe suggesting Gerald McCoy and/or Lavonte David are bound for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But they are both damn good players. And the way things are looking, neither will ever play in a playoff game. At least, not likely with the Bucs.
Just a pathetic waste of talent, man.
Well, if you think about it, this could happen to Mike Evans, too.
If someone with the Bucs organization doesn’t get their head out of their rear end, the very same disgrace could happen to Evans, one of the best wide receivers in the NFL and the best wide receiver the Bucs have ever had, types Jenna Laine of ESPN.
The Bucs are 5-10, marking the fourth time in Evans’ five seasons that the team has suffered double-digit losses. In fact, Tampa Bay has had double-digit losing seasons seven out of the past 10.
If the franchise doesn’t turn things around, Evans’ efforts will all have been a waste beyond personal measures. His ability to be “Mr. Dependable” for everyone from Winston to Ryan Fitzpatrick, Josh McCown and Mike Glennon will be quickly forgotten without more to show for it.
Joe just wants to fastball his mug of Community Coffee through a friggin’ window reading this. You cannot argue Laine is wrong.
Think about it: The Bucs have added how much talent the past couple of years? Yet here we are, right back where the team left off after inept Lovie Smith had two years to wreck it.
And depending on what happens Sunday, the team will be worse off then when Lovie left the building in the dark of the night.
December 27th, 2018 at 8:11 am
Players ply and yes we have crappy coaches over the last decade but bottom line is as you have repeatedly said the bucs are weak minded which includes Lavonte and Geraldine. They are leaders on this teams so by default they are the most weak minded. They demand excellence during the eleven maybe but on game day Geraldine is either silent or dancing or talking about his stats. I have heard Lavonte engages and talking big to teammates though. Even kept Geraldine from crying and running off the field in Chicago. Geraldine was crying on the sidelines last year though. Mike Evans is tough but I have a feeling he and Lavonte will play in the playoffs but Geraldine not here in Tampa. His time is done
December 27th, 2018 at 8:12 am
Just a damn shame. He will go to the hall. Bank it.
December 27th, 2018 at 8:31 am
@Joe … The Bucs have added how much talent the past couple of years, yet here we are, right back where the team left off after inept Lovie Smith had two years to wreck it. And depending on what happens Sunday, the team will be worse off then when Lovie left the building in the dark of the night.”
Great recap Joe. Woe is us. Now for the $64 million question: And whose fault is it that we’re worse off today? We’ve got more than enough scapegoats. IDENTIFY THE CAUSE for a change this time.
December 27th, 2018 at 8:35 am
Who cares what Jenna Laine has to say???? the last interesting thing she said was 20 years ago!!!!
December 27th, 2018 at 8:43 am
Mr Dependable – AKA, “My agent told ESPN to make people forget all the drops” – has a long way to go before we worry he didn’t get his playoff moment. This is a stretch.
December 27th, 2018 at 9:11 am
Reading about this team is depressing
December 27th, 2018 at 9:33 am
Hard to find success that first season when the offensive coordinator took a leave of absence before the season started. If the Bucs win one more game that season they don’t end up drafting Jay-Miss.
2014 was a tank year and everyone knew it. Turns out Lovie Smith had a better season in his last year than Dirk Koetter did with superior talent over the past two seasons. Dirk Koetter has been far more inept as a head coach.
Reality is that there is not as much talent on this team as you think there is. The one fluke year Dirk’s team goes 9-7 the Saints went 7-9. Look how much has changed in two years between the two teams!
December 27th, 2018 at 9:52 am
How does it feel? Ask Joe Thomas….
December 27th, 2018 at 10:02 am
That is on the players and nobody else. If these players were leaders they would round up the posse and win some for the Gipper. Stop blaming coaches.
December 27th, 2018 at 10:23 am
I hope Sloppy cleans up his route running when the new HC/OC comes in.
“After I do my figure 8 pass route, I just raise my hand up and tell Jaboo to throw the ball up so i can do a alley oop dunk”
Street ball Evans
December 27th, 2018 at 10:40 am
It starts and ends in the trenches on offense.
This team has never had anything that consistently resembles a great offensive line in the last 15 years. They’ll have one or two good offensive lineman, but never a strong unit overall.
You cannot hide turds on the o-line in the NFL, and this unit is proof of that. Everybody, including Marpet, has taken a huge step back. D. Smith is average at best, Marpet hasn’t had a chance to settle into a position since his rookie and sophomore years, Jensen is average, our best right guard is playing left guard right now, and Dotson
December 27th, 2018 at 10:55 am
This is what Charlie Campbell of WalterFootball had to say about Licht
When Jason Licht became the Bucs’ general manager, Tampa Bay was the worst team in the NFC South. Five years later, the Bucs still are the worst team in the South because Licht has made many regrettable moves like taking Vita Vea instead of Derwin James, or Vernon Hargreaves instead of Laremy Tunsil or Leonard Floyd. Donovan Smith has been a weakness at left tackle, and the lazy player is entering free agency.
Charley Campbell has the Bucs drafting LT Greg Little
December 27th, 2018 at 11:01 am
Just like with Jameis. Young man with nothing but sh!t coaching since he arrived in the NFL. Do you know what a good offensive HC can do with a WR like Mike? Draw up tons of new, different routes to make him that much better than the second leading receiver in the league.
December 27th, 2018 at 11:12 am
Why these players re-sign with the Bucs
When they know they suck and not going anywhere
December 27th, 2018 at 11:58 am
Paul Gruber, James Wilder, Mark Carrier, Hugh Green, Bruce Hill, Bubba Grimes, Ricky Reynolds, etc….etc….etc… Mike Evans may fall into a long line of great Bucs who wasted their prime years on rotten teams.
December 27th, 2018 at 12:00 pm
LakeLand,
That’s all one needs to know when evaluating Jason Licht. Apart from a five game fluke in 2016, this team hasn’t gotten better. If the Bucs lose on Sunday, Licht’s record will be *WORSE* than Mark Dominick’s record over the same five year span.
I’m sure the usuals around here were saying Dominick brought in a bunch of talent as well, with the highest of praise going towards Darrelle Revis.
December 27th, 2018 at 12:29 pm
How many jump balls does e vans get thrown?
Oh yeah thatsbrightbwe thrownjump balls to Adam Humphries and djax rather than the tallest wr on the team. AND WHY THE HELL HAS JUSTIN WATSON NO BEEN GETTING PLAYINGNTIME???!!!!!
BAD COACHING!
December 27th, 2018 at 12:41 pm
All I’m thinking over here is… Community Coffee… mmmmm very delicious. What blend, Joe?
December 27th, 2018 at 2:16 pm
As much I would say the Lovie years was not lovable, I won’t say he wrecked the the team because he was supposed to have 5 years to build it, except in his own words, the fans shouldn’t have to wait, but his first year he lost his OC. Can only wonder if we kept Lovie and DK as an OC one more year, at least we never have Mike Smith as a DC
December 27th, 2018 at 4:18 pm
THats what happens when you have a crappy qb who can not win and a coach who isn’t in over his head
December 27th, 2018 at 4:19 pm
Is*
December 27th, 2018 at 4:25 pm
anonymous
i agree….
he deserved 1 more year at the very least….players like kwon were developing nicely(marpet, d.smith, sims)….at 6-6 we lost the heart and soul of the team when kwon got suspended….
he had a 4game improvement….dirk regressed by 4games and then we bring him back….now we’ll finish with back to back seasons winning 5games….
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!…#ADIOSDIRK!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!