Rob Gronkowski, Baker Mayfield Have A Message For Jason Licht
February 8th, 2024
Weighs in on Mike Evans and Bucs.
Joe hasn’t heard (yet) all the Baker Mayfield sitdowns on radio row at the Super Bowl Media Center inside Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas yesterday.
But in two videos Joe has seen of Mayfield on NFL Network and on “Up and Adams,” hosted by Kay Adams seen on FanDuelTV, Mayfield had a common theme. And foot-rubbing former Bucs tight end Rob Gronkowski joined in.
Mike Evans should be a Buccaneer for life.
When Mayfield appeared with Adams, Gronk happened was next to him on the couch. Adams asked Mayfield if he and Evans are a package deal and if he is pushing Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager to sign Evans.
“Hell yeah,” Mayfield told Adams if he wanted Evans as a teammate again.
Gronk then interrupted.
“He’s an absolute beast,” Gronk said of Evans.
“If I am back in Tampa, I would love to have Mike back,” Mayfield added. “The guy deserves to be a Buc for life.”
Adams then turned to Gronk and said, “You love him.”
Gronk did not deny it.
“Mike Evans definitely deserves to be a Buc for life,” Gronk said. “He’s not just one of the best wide receivers — underrated wide receivers. He’s also one of the best guys out there as well.”
Gronk then explained how Evans does a lot of charity work within the city of Tampa and that he doesn’t want his name slapped on it and doesn’t want the gloss for doing it. He does these things out of the kindness of his heart without seeking notoriety.
Adams seems to think Evans is too nice of a guy — that if he were more ornery he’d get more pub.
How sad is it that a guy who is an elite receiver isn’t always thought of as elite because he’s not an ass like Antonio Brown or some other diva receiver/megalomaniac?
.@bakermayfield and @RobGronkowski want Mike Evans to be a Buccaneer for life@heykayadams pic.twitter.com/IA3rsVJj7T
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) February 7, 2024
February 8th, 2024 at 12:20 am
gronk and otton at TE for the bucs in 2024…?
baker to gronk…
one more year from gronk !
February 8th, 2024 at 12:21 am
Mike has been more than great, more like Super Awesome, He’s Real and I really don’t know very many people who went through what Mike did and be who he is.. Thanks Mike, hope you’re a Buc for life as well..
February 8th, 2024 at 12:23 am
Mike is HOF bound and the best Buc’s offensive player ever! Definitely should be a Buc for life!
February 8th, 2024 at 12:48 am
I see Baker has already picked up a new endorsement deal. Hé’s hawking “Advanced Auto Parts” while in Vegas. A few more of these, and the Bucs won’t need to be the “top” offer. 3-5 mill in endorsements would make up the difference nicely.
February 8th, 2024 at 1:00 am
Was at a chipotle or something in Tampa a few years ago, place was packed for lunch, Mike slipped in and paid for everyone’s food and disappeared without any thanks. Dude is great for this community and doesn’t get enough credit for his greatness on and off the field. HOF non diva wide out who should be a Buc for life.
February 8th, 2024 at 1:23 am
To all the Mike Evans skeptics – try mixing alcohol and barbiturates. It might fix your perspective.
February 8th, 2024 at 1:28 am
Jason will figure this out. And Winfield. Yes there will be a can kicked down the road again. Jensen, Gage, no Diva, no Shaq probably, – Greenburg is like the Mike Evans of Cap Wizards. Just does a great job without the notoriety.
February 8th, 2024 at 1:43 am
Remember that Mike Evans was Licht’s first ever draft pick as our GM. Obviously, he sure got that one right. He gets a lot of love and a lot of hate on this site, does Mr. Licht. I hope he pays attention to this site and reads what people around here think of Mike Evans. He might not pay much attention to us here because of the vitriolic nature of many of the negative comments. Joes, does Jason pay attention to you guys? Maybe it is the Glazers we should appeal to.. Whoever the ultimate decision maker is PLEASE find a way to sign Evans again. I think I would throw up at the sight of him in another uniform.
February 8th, 2024 at 2:02 am
HOF
February 8th, 2024 at 5:10 am
When the fun loving Gronk turns serious ,people should listen. Thanks, Gronk for your play here and the attitude you brought.
As for Mike, Nfl.com has a great video of Mike’s best plays of 2023. I would be
happy to be see both Mike and Baker together again. Get er done Jason.
February 8th, 2024 at 5:31 am
If ever an unbreakable bond existed surely Jason Licht and Mike Evans understand that each made the other major NFL stars. Does anyone seriously believe our GM would let his first ever draft pick walk out the door?
Not worried at all
Go Bucs
February 8th, 2024 at 5:57 am
Love Gronk and he is 100% correct. Not only is Mike Evans our heart and soul, he has a phenomenal charity. Mike is the guy that thinks about who he is giving the TD ball to in the end zone. That’s a nice guy!
February 8th, 2024 at 6:21 am
Honey Badger was lucky Evans didn’t go after him after that late hit on Baker like he did to Lattimore. Evans is a class act and will leave shoes that can’t be filled.
February 8th, 2024 at 6:34 am
Letembake
“3-5 mill in endorsements would make up the difference nicely.”
I agree with your sentiment but it’s actually worse/better depending on what you view as simple GREED!!!
According to Sportskeeda a site that tracks athelete’s salaries and net worth, Baker already made more from endorsements last year than from the Bucs.
They have Baker valued at 25 million (approximately) which matches other sites I’ve seen,
They have Baker earning 8.17 million from the Bucs last season.They have him earning 10 million from endorsements and commercials.
Progressive, Hulu, BodyArmor, Panini America, Nike, Leaf Trading Card.
I’m a Baker fan but in truth this was a source of irritation with the Browns. Kid comes out of school, Heisman, #1 overall, he immediately starts earning more outside money than the rest of the team combined! There was a LOT of envy!
I don’t think that would be a problem with the Bucs because Baker has matured and he’s also already won over the team.
Neither Baker NOR ME13 “NEED” anymore $$. It’s America and again I SUPPORT any players right to get as much money as he possibly can.
Two things can be true at the same time. While I support their “right” to earn it again it’s America and I am FREE to not admire it and in fact be saddened by the incredible greed involved.
Perhaps there is a sweet spot here. Maybe Baker takes less but the Glazers actually give MORE by letting Baker designate where millions of CHARITY dollars, from the Glazer foundation will be spent. This helps Baker as it fulfills his charitable obligations. It helps the Bucs because Charity does not count against the Cap.
“To whom much is given, much will be required” (Luke 12:48)
February 8th, 2024 at 6:39 am
BTW Some CPA here can perhaps give us the Tax ramifications if the Glazers augmented Bakers salary with charity millions.
Would those fall under “charitable deducations”?
February 8th, 2024 at 7:27 am
^^^ No. Donations in the name of someone else cannot be deducted by the honorary donee. Theoretically a taxable gift can be made to the othe other person, after which that person can then donate the gift to charity. But obviously that makes no sense, and I’m guessing would run afoul of league rules concerning disguised additional salary. Speaking of that, I always wondered how Brady was able to be indirectly paid during his New England days through his health/nutrition consulting company and not have that count against New England’s cap. Maybe Baker could do that too, lol.
February 8th, 2024 at 7:31 am
You could ask the average football fan who’s had the HOF career, OBJ or Evans? I bet 90% of them would take OBJ because of a catch so many years ago. Evans has the Buc curse. No matter the numbers he puts up no one will think you’re a HOF’er. I’m sure David has explained it to Mike over the years
February 8th, 2024 at 7:42 am
DungyDance
THX for that answer. I agree and if the Glazers did it, it couldn’t come from their foundation as that would tank “their” writeoff.
I appreciate the question about Brady and how HE did it. Perhaps that’s the real situation that should be investigated. How did the Pats and the GOAT figure “compensation” without damaging the CAP.
Licht clearly has connections in Boston from his days with the Pats. He probably knows or could find out just how Brady and the Pats worked out his “compensation” without busting the CAP.
February 8th, 2024 at 7:52 am
I hear ya StPete, imagine being a 3rd-year player on an NCAA team been working your arse off, and here comes another player fresh out of the transfer portal who not only takes your position but now makes 1.5 million while at your university… Then those same rich college kids hit the NFL, while those again at the top are making millions on top of their NFL salaries, from major endorsements. As an outsider looking in, Yes Sir! I can see some player resentment… That unfortunately looks like it will only grow as the NIL money pours into some and is part of that 80’s dread beat of trickle-down economics for the rest…
Joe if you by chance happen to see Miss Adams, could you buy that woman a meal… WOW is she not overly thin? Tell her F45 is available in Vegas and all over the nation… Beautiful woman, but she needs to eat a few more meals. Love those thigh High Boots Kay!!!! Wowza!!!
February 8th, 2024 at 7:55 am
I love it when people determine how much of ANYthing I need. I will be the arbiter of that, tyvm
February 8th, 2024 at 7:57 am
Mike and Baker should be playing for the Bucs for years to come.
Mike may not be appreciated everywhere, but he is appreciated here.
Stpetebuucsfan- Good post.
February 8th, 2024 at 8:26 am
The Glazers know this to be true. Licht F’d up. He gambled and lost. Now he has to pay market for a guy in the prime of his career.
Good for Mike Evans.
But Licht, don’t feel so bad. You’re batting .500. You did not give Diva White a big K and he did not prove it like Mike Evans did.
February 8th, 2024 at 8:39 am
Drama sells and in this digital age drama is the only thing that gets people’s attention.
February 8th, 2024 at 8:45 am
I just hope the Bucs can keep their 5 big FAs and sign a G or C in FA. Then try to fill out their other needs in the draft. This appears to be a good opportunity for the Bucs as a lot of teams are looking for QB, WR and T. These are 3 positions the Bucs probably don’t need.
Big 5 FAs – Winfield Jr, Baker, Evans, LVD, McLaughlin
There are others I would like to see them re-sign at the right price such as Moore, Gholston. Wouldn’t hate seeing Whitehead and SMB come back in the secondary if the money works.
Draft in order – DE/OLB, G or C (assuming they get the other in FA), Big RB, #1 TE, MLB, S, WR. CB depth, DT depth, another MLB, another DE/OLB are lower needs.
February 8th, 2024 at 8:47 am
Worst case if Baker doesn’t work out, you have a pretty full team and only need to swing a deal for a QB via free agency or the draft. Kind of like 2020.
February 8th, 2024 at 8:48 am
Beej
“I love it when people determine how much of ANYthing I need.”
You completely missed the point of my post!!!
“I support their “right” to earn it again it’s America and I am FREE to not admire it”
This is really simple. I can support YOUR right to earn it…how about YOU support my right to have an opinion that you’re beyond greedy if 25 million $$ isn’t enough. Or perhaps your IGNORANCE financially if you can’t make 25 million much less 100 million a figure being scoffed at here, last the rest of your life and enable you to live like a KING!
One more clarification. SB commercials are selling for 7 MILLION for :30 second spots. The league is drowning in $$$. I get that the players are sacrificing their bodies and potentially their future health. I support the NFLPA getting ALL they can from owners who sacrifice NOTHING but some Capital invested.
Where we all get into trouble is arguing from the specific to the general and back again. I’ll bust myself for clarity. Generally I believe the players deserve all they can get, their share of the pie. Individually…specifically…making decisions based TOTALLY on elephant dollars is not something I support. I DO support their right to do so, hopefully they support MY right to think they’re being greedy. Honestly I do not care if they support that right…it’s America and they are free to earn what they can BUT I’m just as free to think what I wish!
The Owners are kings…they get the big $$$ and bennies…the players are princes who are well taken care of…we fans are the serfs. Just keep on pounding at work to turn over massive amounts of disposable income….IF we want to be part of the NFL kingdom.
I’m just speaking on behalf of the serfs.
February 8th, 2024 at 9:07 am
I would love to be awakened by Kay Adams wearing nothing but those boots with the phrase -“C’mon – up and attem baby – I’m horny…”
February 8th, 2024 at 9:39 am
I met Mike once at restaurant just said I enjoy watching you play man! He said Thank you Sir.. made me feel OLD LOL but that’s Mike class act!
February 8th, 2024 at 9:42 am
Beej
Another try here…Nobody is telling you how much of anything you need or want.
All I am saying is just as you are free to get as much of anything and everything, I SUPPORT that right…I hope you support MY right to my opinion.
Sorry Beej if 25 million plus another 75 over three years..100 million is something you feel you NEED…that”s YOUR opinion and need…My opinion would be to feel sorry for you and consider you greedy.
There are plenty of greedy aholes in the world. I do not have to support that greed but AGAIN ..I do support their “right” to be greedy. It’s America!!!
Remember Gordo Gecko who famously said,,”Greed is good”.
February 8th, 2024 at 10:05 am
Dave Pear has made some good comments about getting players signed under the cap in this thread. If the Bucs really want Evans, Mayfield, Winfield and David all signed for 2024 as well as getting Wirfs onto a new deal, Greenberg will figure out a way to “kick the can down the road” by restructuring contracts and make it happen. Heck the Saints have been doing this for what seems an eternity and they always seem to have coin available to sign players, like they did with Carr last year. Only thing which can sabotage the Bucs is if they let someone like Evans or Mayfield go test the FA waters and he gets a number which is way, way over what he should realistically expect (say the ATL offers Mayfield money closer to Daniel Jones coin rather than Geno Smith dollars or Houston offering Evans money on the line of Tyreek Hill or such….. Hopefully the Bucs get this guys signed with a nice hometown discount….
February 8th, 2024 at 11:00 am
Bucs Guy
You just listed 11 picks.
We have 6
Makes no sense!!!!
February 8th, 2024 at 11:14 am
Right on, FtMeyersDave.
February 8th, 2024 at 11:33 am
When you see Mike give the TD catch to a fan, just know, this is the tip of the iceberg for things he does around town. I love that his teammates are sharing this. He does way more than anyone knows. Now the Glazers told him to prove it even though he had proved it for years and he did. Make sure he does not leave! Of course Licht wants his first ever Buc pack to stay. The Glazers probably had to hold off due to the salary mess last year. But this is is this year. If he is not a Buc for life, who will be? What more does someone have to do?
February 8th, 2024 at 12:35 pm
Turk182 is absolutely right! Mike Evans does more for the community that we aren’t even aware of. Great guy!
February 8th, 2024 at 12:39 pm
PREACH
February 8th, 2024 at 1:24 pm
Mike Evans,.. class act,.. great receiver and teammate. Hope we can keep him.
February 8th, 2024 at 1:59 pm
Getting Baker and Evans back as a package deal would be great, but what would it cost and how would it affect the Bucs’ cap situation. We need to rebuild in a lot of other areas especially the defense where we will probably be losing a bunch of veterans. At least the new OC from Kentucky has history with Baker so that should be helpful going forward. Todd Bowles still needs to go. He is mired in 30 year old schemes and thinking. This is a passing league. Let the Mayfield lose. Go Bucs.
February 8th, 2024 at 3:25 pm
stpetebucfan –I get the concept that Baker getting one of those Dak contracts will wreck attempts to re-sign people like Evans, LD and Winfield, which is why Brady never demanded those $55 million contracts like NON Superbowl players Hurts and Dak have. Brady’s NFL income was probably pocket change compared to all the other money-making ventures he is and was involved in. (MOST of which traded off his success on the football field. )
But there’s no way to put a good face on ONE person determining that aNOTHER person has enough ‘stuff’, it also tells me your voting habits
February 8th, 2024 at 4:01 pm
We have been so blessed in recent years to have a couple of greats like Brady and Gronk join our team and help us to a Super Bowl. But I think everyone kind of takes Evans for granted a little bit. He has been a top receiver every year in the league. He is already a bonafide Hall of Famer. We have truly been blessed to watch Mike Evans perform these last 10 years, hopefully he can finish his career here.
February 8th, 2024 at 4:03 pm
Good points by Dave Pear up above. Greenberg is a rainmaker and Mike is what makes this team go. He isn’t going anywhere. I’m confident that Winny, Evans and Baker all wear pewter and red next year. Go Bucs!
February 8th, 2024 at 5:53 pm
Beej
Yes it does tell you my voting habits just as I now know yours. LOL
Here’s an exercise for you. Simply GOOGLE Happiest Countries in the World.
You will find many lists…some will be from NGO’s that you probably consider too “librul”. But Forbes magazine, a VERY conservative business mag whose founder ran for the Presidency as an R will verify the info in the dozens of others. So just google Forbes list of the Happiest Countries in the World.
They’re always the same..Finland #1 Denmark #2 with the U.S. never even breaking the top ten. Why aren’t we happy. Serious question with no snark. I’ll respect your opinion whatever you answer.
As for me I believed in the Declaration of Independence…”Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” We can all disagree about how to “pursue” it but there are facts that illustrate which countries achieve it…and it ain’t us!
February 8th, 2024 at 7:58 pm
Hmm…was just looking up suicide rates by country. We’re 28th highest of 180 countries, Finland is #35. WE WIN! MURRICA!
February 8th, 2024 at 9:01 pm
beeej
Thanks for providing the bright spot. LOL Where does Denmark rank? How about the other dozen countries ahead of the US.
Finns are notoriously a depressed nation. Since I’ve married into a Finnish family and have spent some time on Michgan’s Upper Peninsula may I suggest that living in grey gloomy weather for much of the year “might” be a problem.
I can say seeing folks in the small town of Copper Harbor Michigan in the Spring after their winters gives me reason to believe…
Let’s put it this way. A park ranger at nearby Fort Wilkins wrote a book about it. The Copper Harbor Stare. LMAO
You can believe Gordon Gecko “greed is good” if you wish…I tend to lean to 1 Timothy 6:10, which states: “For the love of money is the root of all evil.”
But more than that I speak from my own personal experience. It’s kind of funny that I’ve quoted the Bible twice now. I haven’t been a “Christian” for a long time now. But I still do believe in the teachings of Christ…just not his followers.
February 8th, 2024 at 11:26 pm
(I just used WIKI) Denmark hanging in there at #103 of 180. (#180 is Barbados, btw, must visit there to see what the BFD is)
February 8th, 2024 at 11:42 pm
Got to get Baker and Mike back. And Joe is right, it’s pretty pathetic that for the most part, you have to be obnoxious as a receiver to really get the attention. The accolades over the years has alluded LVD because of that as well.
February 9th, 2024 at 4:38 am
beeej
Just guessing but perhaps once again it’s the weather in Barbados.
I grew up in Greater Cincinnati. I could deal with the snow and ice, pain in the butt, the cold but it was the lack of sunshine that really got me.
I suspect I have SAD Seasonal Affective Disorder. This is why I live in the Sunshine State! Well the major reason there is a lot I love about Florida.
As they say home is where the heart is and mine is definitely on the West Coast of Florida.