“You Gotta Ride This One Out”
July 3rd, 2023
There’s been chatter that the Bucs and the greatest receiver in Tampa Bay history, Mike Evans, are discussing a fat contract extension.
There also is buzz that Evans could be gone quickly if Halloween approaches and the Bucs stink and are hungry to stockpike draft picks for a rookie QB in 2024.
Of course, both scenarios could play out.
In the event the Bucs have a miserable start and Team Glazer orders a Code Caleb, Evans likely would command more in a trade if he’s locked up for the next four years. This year’s trade deadline is the afternoon of Oct. 31.
Just thinking of this makes Joe ill. Losing is painful and losing a living legend like Evans would be a punch in the gut because he remains a damn good player.
Greg Jennings was a standout receiver for seven years in Green Bay. Like most thinking people, he’s a Mike Evans fan and he said Evans is too consistent for the Bucs not to cling to him for years to come.
“You gotta ride this one out,” Jennings said in his role as a The33rdTeam.com analyst. “Because he’s shown you everything of who he is and what he is in this league. It’s just a matter of now making sure, ensuring that he has somebody under center that can just allow him to be Mike Evans.”
Joe agrees with Jennings. Evans is excellent and would be a great asset for any Tampa Bay quarterback, rookie, veteran, etc. And as a teammate and a community member, Evans is exactly the guy you keep, not trade.
However, the presence of stud receiver Chris Godwin could complicate a future Bucs decision. He’s a forever-Tampa-Bay kind of guy, too, and three years younger than Evans.
Joe sure hopes everything plays out well and Evans can finish his career in Tampa and then run a go-route directly into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
“He’s still Mike Evans, man. He still can make plays,” Jennings said.
July 3rd, 2023 at 1:55 pm
Evans will stay. Letting Mike get away would be a mistake that would take years to recover from.
July 3rd, 2023 at 1:58 pm
Whatever’s best for the team at the time.
No emotion.
July 3rd, 2023 at 2:04 pm
Love to see Mike finish his career in Tampa. If they move him, I hope they send him to a team with a stud QB and pass-heavy offense.
July 3rd, 2023 at 2:10 pm
Haha he’s not leaving Joe stop being a drama queen he’ll have a new 3-4year contract by training camp and then afterwards he’ll be on 1 year deals until he retires. Mike is the new Larry fitz. Under appreciated and under rated but just a pros pro.
July 3rd, 2023 at 2:17 pm
Mike Evans,
He is what his record says he is;
One of the elite of all time.
July 3rd, 2023 at 3:08 pm
Somebody’s gotta sell tickets and jerseys
July 3rd, 2023 at 3:10 pm
Mike Evans should be a Buc for life. LaVonte David too
July 3rd, 2023 at 3:24 pm
This is why you give Mike a QB that is HUNGRY to be great. NOT a QB who is clinging to his NFL dream.
July 3rd, 2023 at 3:52 pm
“there is also buzz…”. If you can’t give us a source then why say anything? What’s the point?
July 3rd, 2023 at 6:04 pm
Buddha
You know “Many people are saying”
😁😂😂
July 3rd, 2023 at 6:09 pm
Evans will be a 1st Ballot HOfer.
Hopefully Big Mike will be a Buccaneer his entire career and it would be awesome if Ira were still around in about 9 years to stand up in front of the Hall voters and say – “Mike Evans – the only receiver in NFL history to gain over 1000 yards in every single one of his 13 seasons” – and then sit down……
July 3rd, 2023 at 6:11 pm
BTW, that pic might be the most ICONIC pic in FRANCISE History….
If ever I knew what love was, I certainly do after viewing that PIC… 100%
July 3rd, 2023 at 6:23 pm
Get what we can while we can..
July 3rd, 2023 at 10:12 pm
I still can’t understand why people keep bringing this up all offseason. If I were guessing Jason Licht’s position on this idea, I’d say he absolutely would not consider it. This organization is about keeping its best players. I don’t see Licht interested in roster tear downs even if things went south this year. There’s too much talent, and you just don’t sell it off unless you’re going full rebuild. There is ZERO reason to do that.
July 3rd, 2023 at 11:02 pm
Joe!! When have you ever known Licht to trade one of our veteran players? It never happened and never will. He’s too loyal for that. Even players he knew we would lose in free agency, he didn’t trade but let them play their contracts out to get good paydays. Non story
July 4th, 2023 at 5:59 am
Wow the retirees are really turning up the heat on the look at me front.
Geez …thats just plain sleazy.
Go Bucs!
July 4th, 2023 at 3:26 pm
Evans will retire as a Buc.
I’ve said this since day 1.
(I think Godwin will too, but slightly less confident about that)
July 4th, 2023 at 7:48 pm
Tom Brady came to the Bucs because of Mike Evans, so you might say Mike is the guy who enabled us to win the Superbowl. Keep him around here whatever it takes, this franchise owes this guy a lot more than just his salary.
July 5th, 2023 at 11:15 am
Id trade Ira to not let Evans go.
LOL
Sorry Sage………
July 5th, 2023 at 12:43 pm
How much shat will the Joe’s eat if Caleb is a flop?