Mike Evans, One Tough Hombre
October 5th, 2020
Big ups for Bucs’ big receiver.
Joe has written many times that Bucs star receiver Mike Evans is on a Hall of Fame path.
What Joe hasn’t typed much about Evans is how tough the guy is. He’s a throwback.
Maybe that’s Evans’ anti-diva personality, a rarity in the NFL. But unless Evans can’t walk, he’s going to find a way onto the field.
As we all know, Evans fought to get onto the field to open the season in New Orleans. He clearly wasn’t 100 percent nursing a hamstring injury. Afterwards, Evans was asked about his injury and playing through it. Evans waved off the question saying everyone plays hurt in the NFL.
Evans was just getting back into shape prior to yesterday’s game when he blew out an ankle halfway through the first quarter. He had it taped up and went back out there. His touchdown where he jumped in the back of the end zone must have been really painful as Evans struggled to get back to the Bucs bench after the play.
But Evans hung in and grinded it out.
Bucco Bruce Arians spoke this afternoon about what a warrior Evans is.
“He’s as tough as they get,” Arians said of Evans. “He was really playing on a leg and a half. We will see where he is this week.
“But Mike is tough. The one thing is, he loves to play. And he’s going to give you everything he’s got.”
As you likely read in Arians’ quotes, he’s not ready to declare Evans active for Thursday’s game, or inactive. It’s a wait-and-see approach.
Joe would be surprised if Evans practices at all this week, whether he plays Thursday in Chicago or not. (Yes, Joe realizes practices are only walk-throughs this week.)
And Joe would not be surprised if Evans gets an early night off provided the Bucs have a two-score lead in the second half — to start the healing process of a long week off between a Thursday night game and the Packers 10 days later.
October 5th, 2020 at 1:23 pm
ME13 is one tough cookie. Thought he might get tossed for his antics on Sunday, luckily Jensen was there to carry him off.
October 5th, 2020 at 1:23 pm
Would they dare play without both Evans and Godwin? Imagine what it would do to team confidence to get a W Thursday without either.
October 5th, 2020 at 1:26 pm
Brad I would LOVE to see that.
October 5th, 2020 at 1:30 pm
Why would anyione expect for any NFL head coach to make a definitive statement of a player’s health the morning after a game, unless it involves broken bones or connective tissue?
Until required by the league.
October 5th, 2020 at 1:34 pm
Good job for the team. I was Impressed at the maturity of our team and yes I am proud of the team’s progress. They beat 3 struggling franchises that resemble somewhat of our past but there are those dissatisfied Buc fans who want to see how well the team does against REAL contenders THEN we will see and compare ourselves as far as progress. Here is what I saw today, I saw a 10 million dollar error in Gronk. He’s a great guy but that 10 million just took a fly out the window. Keshawn great hands but once he hit the line he’s done. If he doesn’t have the skills from the outset then why didn’t you just get a QB in the draft?
We really do not have anything to back this team up and to build for the future otherwise, you are going to need another veteran. If it were me calling the shots I would trade whoever the number one pick is in the 2021 draft and give em 3 picks to get Justin Lawrence or Justin Fields next year. I know it sounds like a lot to give up but the Bucs need a QB for the future and we do not have one. Brady played good today I was hoping he would get the 6th TD but we couldn’t get it. The errors on offense should now begin to clear up as they become more equated with the game plans each week. Now Brate is going to have to step up and Arians and BL simply need more TE usage and our RBs are in bad shape although RoJo is doing better his avg. is going up it seems. RoJo is missing more explosiveness. If he can somehow manage to become more physical at the point of contact that should help him. Evans, what can I say he’s a beast playing hurt and still doin it. Overall it was a good game but we should have blown em out of the water is all I am saying.
GO BUCS!!
October 5th, 2020 at 1:34 pm
Evans will play in Chicago. They’d have to amputate all his limbs for him to not be out there.
October 5th, 2020 at 1:35 pm
Mike Evans is awesome! The only thing he needs to improve on is his temper. Opposing defensive backs know they can hook him into a penalty. Every year he takes the bait.
October 5th, 2020 at 1:37 pm
Gbo was actually funny that it was Jensen of all people helping restrain Evans so he didn’t punch someone and get ejected. Guess he knows from experience… It’s like C’mon bro I’m pissed off too but we need ya out there
October 5th, 2020 at 1:39 pm
What’s up with Tyler Johnson? Dude played most of the snaps but was a ghost out there.
Starting to look like a bust.
October 5th, 2020 at 1:47 pm
Tbbuc3…I wouldn’t go so far as call him a bust on week 4 on his rookie season, and his pre season was close to cero………. Lets be patience…….Lets the chip fall
October 5th, 2020 at 1:49 pm
That’s a little harsh. He was only on the field for 25 snaps. Kid was hurt most of training camp and for a rookie to not have any offseason and virtually no training camp, he’s way behind the eight ball. It’s almost a wasted year for the guy.
Ke’shawn Vaughn finally made a play yesterday and he was hurt/sick less than Johnson. There is a reason those guys were not top picks.
October 5th, 2020 at 1:49 pm
Tbbucs3…I wouldn’t go so far as calling him a bust on week 4 of his rookie year and with no preseason whatsoever due to injury and covid…..Lets be patience, and let the chips fall……
October 5th, 2020 at 2:01 pm
he is my favourite player. ironically enough joe – his unsportsmanlike penalty may have sparked the comeback haha. we got pushed back 15 yards and were already going to punt so it gave pinion more room and then we downed it within the 10 yard line. next play was the fumble and then the comeback was on. we werent moving the ball at all and even that touchdown to mike we were lucky to get. he needs to keep his cool in games but that one may have actually helped us haha.
October 5th, 2020 at 2:06 pm
mike displayed a champion type mind set gutting it out like that….
the culture has changed…
GO BUCS!!!!!
October 5th, 2020 at 2:11 pm
The ideal situation would be this-
ME plays and has an impact, the Bucs are up big by halftime.
He gets the rest of the night off and 10 days until the next game.
Any word on Godwin?
October 5th, 2020 at 2:14 pm
13 is a beast. Hopefully he will be healthy when the Bucs make the playoffs.
October 5th, 2020 at 2:32 pm
Mike Evans played much bigger on one leg than Keenan Allen against our secondary was getting worked by practice squad all day.
October 5th, 2020 at 2:35 pm
Not only is he tough, but he’s a class act. Always a team guy. Go Bucs!
October 5th, 2020 at 2:59 pm
You know what? Bucs vs Pats Superbowl would be epic. Never know, anything is possible.
October 5th, 2020 at 3:19 pm
A 5th round pick is a bust after being active for two of the Bucs first four games?
SMH
October 5th, 2020 at 3:56 pm
Calling TJ a bust when he’s been targeted exactly 1 time is a tad bit premature….
You must have been the one who called Scotty a bust last year.
October 5th, 2020 at 3:57 pm
People in here are being harsh.
Watch more then one single carry from Vaughn before you make your decision. also Tyler Johnson is a fifth round rookie that was hurt all of camp. What do you expect?
October 5th, 2020 at 4:10 pm
Evans is a total beast! Always has been.
The best Bucs receiver ever, by far.
I wasn’t happy with the PF penalty he created yesterday, but it’s a game of passion and he’s very passionate about his craft.
Dude is a very talented, hard-nosed player… he’s a grown man out there doing his thing.
He’s tall and lean and he’ll get rocked every now and then but who wouldn’t?
Can y’all remember the last time you just fell and hit the floor without trying to catch a ball or worry about someone coming in to knock your block off?
Big Mike wants to win games, period! I love his business like style and he’s clearly been a great influence on Chris “the God” Godwin.
We’re blessed to have this man as or #1 franchise WR.
What’s extra special is the Bucs are heading into an October Thursday night game at 3-1, with two games of cushion over .500 and a QB who will throw to the towel boy if he’s open.
GREAT start to the season and I trust they’ll keep the pressure on.
Let’s go!!
October 5th, 2020 at 4:34 pm
Evans is all the above that has been stated! He only needs to control that temper . Those outburst will cosg you dearly in the post season !
October 5th, 2020 at 4:36 pm
The turning point of yesterday was when he went after the Charger DB. Some people want to complain about the 15 yards, but I loved it.
Mike Evans is right up there with the toughest SOBs to ever play in Tampa.
October 5th, 2020 at 5:05 pm
Correct on Tyler Johnson. Give him a chance. Rhonde Barber anyone?
And by the way, he was a 5th round pick – if he busts this year – not thrilled –
But count your blessings for Wirfs and Winfield.
October 5th, 2020 at 5:12 pm
At first I was peeved at the Unecessary Roughness penalty, then I realized that its impact was minimal…
I mean, in reality, it just made the punt easier. I suspect that Evans knew that before he went off.
October 5th, 2020 at 5:22 pm
Love ME13‘S game. Do not love the after the whistle tho. 6 years of crying for penalties and the jaw-jacking. You’re a beast! Just act like it and let the play do the talking and STFU and ball out Mike!
October 5th, 2020 at 5:23 pm
cainishere tl;dr
October 5th, 2020 at 5:37 pm
1st off, anyone notice when Mike was NOT on the field? Me too, it wasn’t pretty, especially sans Godwin. Mike is an elite WR, has been since he got here. Yeah, the after the whistle stuff is a little much but I can live with that.
canishere- I disagree on Gronk. The money shouldn’t keep you up at night, the Glazers can afford it. Besides, NOBODY expected big production early on anyways. He and Brady are “just” missing each other on that seam route. I promise you that we will see that play as a game-changer here in the near future.
He came here as a veteran leader, blocker, and play-maker. When they get in sync, watch out!
It’s clear who Brady does have chemistry with. Remember, he’s trying to learn our guys too.
October 5th, 2020 at 5:39 pm
Like I said, have to eat crow. This isn’t close to Jameis 2.0. This is Tompa Bay 1.0 and things are looking up. Just have to see how this team performs against better teams. I will say that the Chargers have the makings of a good team but are missing a few pieces. One of those missing pieces is not Herbert at QB. He will be a very good QB in this league.
October 5th, 2020 at 6:02 pm
EVANS IS THE MAN!!!
That’s all there is to SAY
DROP MIC
October 5th, 2020 at 6:06 pm
Mike is a top 7 receiver in the league. He gets hurt a lot, but he does show guts. He has an occasional drop. His top end speed is not elite, but he has heart baby! I also like him with a 50/50 ball. He has a great chance to cement his place in the HOF under this QB.
As for Tyler Johnson, it is a wasted year for him. He’s gonna be ok.
October 5th, 2020 at 6:19 pm
I just wish he would stop making the “THROW A FLAG!!!” Motion after every incompletion. It comes across as weak and whiney and that is the opposite of what he truly is. A beast.
October 5th, 2020 at 8:59 pm
I grew a lot of respect for Mike yesterday. He always had the talent but that was another level. That was man out there. A champion. An alpha. You could see every play what he was going through and he still produced.
October 6th, 2020 at 2:21 am
Let’s not forget Josh Rosen was a very high draft pick and was put into two horrible situations. Who knows what he could become?
October 6th, 2020 at 8:18 am
That flag for unsportsmanlike was gross. I’d rather watch Godwin any day. Evans is a talent, but he’s a diva.
October 6th, 2020 at 5:06 pm
I don’t understand how Tampa Bay as a football franchise in thee NFL.
As a team , we can beat anyone who steps onto the field with us. Brady has been lights out , defense is steeping up to make the big plays . Give this team just a little more time? , or don’t and continue the winning and crying .. This is the change we needed and it may not have come easily . But I do believe that we make a deep playoff run hell yeah, but will fall victim in the NFC championship game. Goo Buccs
@tommbrady12
October 6th, 2020 at 10:29 pm
Mike is easily our best “homegrown” offensive player ever and one of my favorite Buccaneers of all time. I know that he flies off the handle every now and then, but outside of that, I don’t think that you could ask more of a dude on or off the field.