Todd Bowles Nails Why Mike Evans Is Elite
December 4th, 2023
Perfect Mike Evans description.
No, Todd Bowles is not an offensive guy. Far from it. So maybe Bowles got this from the way his noggin is wired as a defensive guru.
After Mike Evans hit two career milestones and put the Bucs on his back in yesterday’s desperately needed win, Bowles summed up in a few sentences what makes Evans so good.
“He’s been like this for 10 years now,” Bowles said. “Over 60 catches 10 years in a row, over 1,000 yards 10 years in a row.
“You know he’s getting the ball and everybody’s trying to stop him – he makes plays over and over. It’s a credit to him, his work ethic, the way he approaches the game, unbelievable.”
Joe has never read or heard a better summation of why Evans is elite.
Since Vincent Jackson’s glorious career began to fade with the Bucs nine years ago, has there been one defensive coordinator who told his players when preparing for the Bucs, “Hey, don’t worry about ’13.’ He won’t hurt us.” Of course not.
For more than a couple of seasons, Evans was the Bucs’ lone serious weapon. So it’s obvious teams were trying to take him out.
Yet they couldn’t.
When Evans is eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame five years after he retires, whichever Hall of Fame selector is representing the Tampa Bay market at the time need only read Bowles’ statement about Evans.
When defenses craft gameplans to stop a player and can’t, and this continues for a decade of excellence, that player belongs in the Hall of Fame.
December 4th, 2023 at 6:06 am
First ballot hall of Famer! Hopefully Ira can make the presentation in the early 2030s…..
December 4th, 2023 at 6:36 am
Yeah? Where was he last summer when Evans wanted to be respected and renewed? FU Licht. You gambled and lost.
Get the full pay, Mike Evans. Make them pay.
December 4th, 2023 at 6:37 am
Yeah? Where was he last summer when Evans wanted to be respected and renewed? FU Licht. You gambled and lost.
Get the full pay, Mike Evans. Make them pay.
December 4th, 2023 at 6:40 am
Only player on the team thats any good maybe Winfield also the rest of the team is vastly overrated. Bowles is celebrating because they squeaked by the worse team in the nfl. They could just as easily lose the next three.
December 4th, 2023 at 7:05 am
Mike was so open on many of his targets, unfortunately Baker is too late and can’t hit a deep ball. What a shame Mike doesn’t get to play in an offence that gets him the ball on time. Those replays showing how open he was on that fluttering softball Mayfield threw that MIke had to wait for while the DB recovered and broke it up.
Mike should have had 250 yards if he had an accurate passer getting him the ball.
December 4th, 2023 at 7:06 am
Way to piss on the party Ken. Congrats ME13. Well done.
December 4th, 2023 at 7:16 am
Congrats, Mike! You earned a 23-25 million over the next threes seasons regardless of your age. I’d resign for a minimum of 4 years. Would liketo see five years and due to everything he’s been for the organization and fans who cares his play starts declining in year three. He can transition to a slot posession receiver like Larry Fitz. He’s gonna play high level ball well into hi s 30’s. Don’t miss out. Take care of the Buc legend the RIGHT way Glazers. We know Licht already wants too.
December 4th, 2023 at 7:34 am
Two people wanted new deals this offseason
One has taken the filed and proven to everyone why he will be paid with the best of them
The other one….hahahahahaha – enjoy bouncing around the league the rest of your career, keep your bag packed Diva White!!!!
December 4th, 2023 at 7:44 am
He’s going to get paid with the Bucs. There was no money this offseason. Brady’s money comes off this year n a free more. They will sign him in the offseason sure it’s already been talked about
December 4th, 2023 at 7:52 am
Don’t need Bowles to state the obvious.
December 4th, 2023 at 7:58 am
Consummate Professional and the best offensive player to ever wear a Bucs jersey-Thanks Mike.
December 4th, 2023 at 8:02 am
No one disrespected Mike smh, Bucs didn’t have the money to pay him this year, simple as that.
December 4th, 2023 at 8:12 am
Mike the bucs always have the money they just push it down the road. They could have signed him and started the new contract in 2024. Thats Mikes reward for being a team player hes adjusted his contract almost every year to benefit the team. If I was him I would ask for top dollar looks like Godwin is a shell of the player he once was zero catches yesterday.
December 4th, 2023 at 8:14 am
nice game by ME yesterday. congrats on the accomplishment.
December 4th, 2023 at 8:27 am
He’s a great #2. Young was throwing to far less. Mike drops more critical passes than he makes. Can you name two great WR’s on KC, Green Bay, Ravens, Seattle, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Atl etc? Bucs should be better than they are. The ME13 1000 yd seasons is getting old how about win games other than a 1-11 dumpster fire by 3 points thanks to a piss poor call by an interim coach on 4th &1.
Capt. Smith stated in a previous post, that’s an example of playing for a 1sr round QB. That QB has NO weapons at all. Use Lawrence, Burrows, Stroud, Hebert, Lamar etc. You ain’t going anywhere with Baker and certainly not the man that handed Brady his first losing season Toilet Bowls.
December 4th, 2023 at 8:29 am
That may be the biggest reason someone goes to the Hall of Fame… that they get all the attention and still succeed.
Take Shaq Barrett… led the league in sacks one year, when he’s got Suh and JPP there to divert attention. Make him the only star on the line, and he disappears. A very good player, maybe even a great player… but not elite.
Evans is.
December 4th, 2023 at 8:31 am
@Allbuccedup – I’m as big a fan of Mike as anyone but he did no favors restructuring his contract. Im surprised fans still don’t understand that restructuring does nothing but give the player the money earlier and allows the team to spread the cap hit over a longer period of time. It’s like an interest feee loan. Teams don’t even have to get the players permission to restructure.
Even still PAY THE MAN.
December 4th, 2023 at 8:41 am
Y’all crying about Mayfield who got Mike to 1000 yards in 12 games when Brady could barely get him there in 17 games. Evans is averaging nearly 17 yards per catch while Brady had him at a career worst 12.3 yards per catch last season. Quit you’re crying. Brady hasn’t been Brady in two years and Trask has proven he’s trash. Mayfield might not be the answer but he’s far from being the biggest concern on the team.
December 4th, 2023 at 8:46 am
That might be the first intelligent thing I’ve ever heard Todd say unfortunately you don’t have to be a football coach to realize that Mike is a stud. #FireTodd
December 4th, 2023 at 8:47 am
@NE Fan you should be a man of your word and get out of here fool. You should be the one to talk about greatness fatigue. Mikes tied with Moss and only behind Rice for most 1000 yard seasons ever in one’s career. He’s the only one to have 10 straight to start his career. That’s impressive. Even more so when you consider the Bucs teams has been bad more than half his career. Yet he produces regardless of who the coach, QB or whoever is trying to stop him on the other side is.
December 4th, 2023 at 9:15 am
NE Douche- GTFOH!
December 4th, 2023 at 9:52 am
Mayfield is terrible and if you can’t see that you are just a homer that doesn’t understand football.
December 4th, 2023 at 10:05 am
Mayfield is solid and one of our Top-3-4 players on offense.
If you can’t see that, you are a blind hater and have no objectivity.
December 4th, 2023 at 10:09 am
Brandon Says:
December 4th, 2023 at 8:41 am
Y’all crying about Mayfield who got Mike to 1000 yards in 12 games when Brady could barely get him there in 17 games
Sure if you drive 80 you’ll always get there faster than 60.
One guy went through progressions and got it to the open receiver. One guy only has the mental aptitude to look at the first choice and then check it down.
As many receptions to Evans compared to the other receivers you would think it’s Bryce Young throwing to Theilen.
One route with a broken coverage on a wet field is the only thing keeping the Bum from being 4-8 and in the same boat as the Giants or Jets.
December 4th, 2023 at 10:12 am
Brandon, did you ever consider the FACT that Brady spreads the ball around and has his entire career? How was Godwin while Brady was in Tampa compared to now with noodle arm Mayfield who apparently can’t throw in the rain. Ya compare him to a guy that had 6 rings playing in increment weather. As for Evan’s, new the teams in 2023 he would be the number 1 WR? As you run through those names I’ll be none are in contention. I am not saying he’s not good but great is over the top and he is and will never be a Randy Moss, that’s just a stupid statement. Brady did him a favor giving him his 1000 yds from 2020 on, he really didn’t earn them especially last season. Godwin is better but Baker needs a 6’5″ wr because anyone smaller he cannot see. FYI, ME13’s SB appearance was anti-climatic at best, thank God for a few bad PI calls.
December 4th, 2023 at 10:12 am
@Erik Hesson – Mayfield objectively is a below average QB. He doesn’t make reads, short arms throws and misses wide open receivers every game. When he misses he either short arms it or he just throws the ball where it doesn’t belong.
Combine that with bad coaching and you get the enigma that is the Bucs offense the past two seasons.
December 4th, 2023 at 11:05 am
@NE Fam
What is stupid you being here in this site giving stupid comments on the Bucs, this is a free country and everybody can give his opinions, You give opinions on the Bucs and is ok, and I give opinions on you…You are dumb, and get out of your Mom’s basement and stop being a troll.
And by the way, are your Pats doing any good?
Get a life bro!!!
December 4th, 2023 at 11:31 am
ME13 leads the league in drawing PI over the last 10 seasons. Wonder Why? Perhaps corners are over matched and have to consistently hold and grab the receiver , and why? Because that receiver is a superior athlete with precise route running skills. ME13 will have his bust in Canton and you earn those when you are GREAT. I really do not care where you go NE , just make it somewhere else.
December 4th, 2023 at 11:59 am
I gotta hand it to Jameis Winston for making sure Evans got at least 1000 yards back in 2017 or else we wouldn’t be having this conversation about Mike Evans’ historic feat. Evans finished the 2017 season with 1001 yards.
America’s Turnover Machine is still a bust, but he played a big role in Mike Evans’ Hall of Fame career.
December 4th, 2023 at 12:45 pm
ZZ@ Obviously the zz stands for snoozing. I am not sure where you live but you canNOT speak freely any longer in this country. If you do hope no one is video taping your conversation. Damn, Joe monitors every post I make. I’m not sure why there are far more derogatory statements made on this site not tied to me. Yes Evan’s will or should be a HOF but be honest, you can’t put him the category of the best that played the game. Force feeding him a thousand yards every season is all well and fine but it is also at the expense of guys like Godwin and his predecessors and is it always the best option for the team? In Sundays case yes but other games not so much. He’s a lousy route runner and has trouble recognizing where he should be on the field when breaking routes. That’s MY opinion. To answer your question, yes Patriots offense is worst.than the Bucs and like the Bucs the coaching staff should be blown up.
December 4th, 2023 at 12:46 pm
Godwin has been getting paid 20 mil while Evans is getting 16.5 mil. With that in mind, how much is Evans worth now that his contract is soon to be up?
Hint: much more than 20 mil.
December 4th, 2023 at 12:56 pm
With Brady, Evans had to share the ball with Godwin, Gronk, and AB. It was difficult for him to have a monster season.
With Mayfield, there is a stronger connection as Evans excel more with hotshot gunslinger. However, it’s almost a miracle how good Evans doing since many of Mayfields throws are often off and short. I can’t see Evans choosing to stay in Tampa with let’s say Houston or KC.
Houston has a hotshot QB on a rookie contract. They can pay Evans the 25mil or more that he’ll likely get.
Mahomes has looked ordinary as they don’t have a deep threat and Kelce is getting old. Evans could give a discount at say 21 mil to play with the best QB in the league, with the best offensive coach, and a chance for SBs.
December 4th, 2023 at 1:35 pm
BabyGronk@ I have to disagree with Mahomes, he relies on receivers to break their routes and scramble to get open, that’s not Evan’s. Hebert, Goff, Smith, Lamar, Burrows, Qb’s like those Evan’s would be a good fit.
December 4th, 2023 at 1:42 pm
FYI, you all make it sound like Evan’s had slugs throwing to him. 5 with Jamais, 3 with Brady and 1 with Baker. 2 #1 draft picks and the best that ever played. Godwin would be one of the best WR’s in the league if he were on KC.
December 4th, 2023 at 2:38 pm
@ NE Fam
Mike Evans has been the most consistent and best offensive weapon we have had on this team for the last 10 years and your great wisdom is to poop on him….
Really?
I get the frustration but its misplaced, Mike doesn’t coach, play defense, play QB, OL, or running back. I would argue that all of these have been worse than mike evans in the last 10 years with a few exceptions…Arians, Brady, 2020 defense. Your assessment is off sir!
December 4th, 2023 at 9:34 pm
NE Fam – what Randy Moss were you watching that wasn’t force fed the ball… and why not?! That is what you do when you have HOF, elite playmakers who literally do something positive 90% of the time they get the chance.