Dianna Russini On Mike Evans: “I Still Believe He’ll Stay”
March 3rd, 2024
Intel from Indianapolis.
A respected NFL insider who, unfortunately for her, was ice-cold dead wrong about the Bucs, believes everything will work out for Mike Evans and the pewter pirates.
Dianna Russini of The Athletic was prowling all over Indianapolis last week talking to NFL sources near and far, sober and drunk. She is confident that Evans, the best receiver in Bucs history, will indeed test the open market when the free agency dinner bell rings a week from Wednesday (after two days of legal tampering).
In the end, Russini thinks Evans will still be wearing pewter and red this fall.
[W]ide receiver Mike Evans plans to hit free agency for the first time in his career. The Bucs and Evans are still in discussions, but he wants to explore his options. This doesn’t mean his time in Tampa is over, but Evans wants to hear from all interested teams. This is his first chance to be courted. I still believe he’ll stay with the team that drafted him.
Well, there is reason to hold your breath. All it takes is one team with a bunch of zeros on a check.
From what Joe was told from a very reliable, trusted NFL source last week, Houston will not make a play for Evans. So in Joe’s eyes, that leaves perhaps Kansas City as the lone team for which Evans desires to play — a star quarterback and a team with legit Super Bowl chances and aspirations.
Maybe a reunion with Todd Monken in Baltimore would interest Evans? Joe doesn’t think Carolina will be a reasonable suitor as they will likely be two years away from possibly turning things around.
March 3rd, 2024 at 9:38 am
Not one of these opinions on Evans make any difference, including mine….
March 3rd, 2024 at 9:41 am
Evans will not sign unless Mayfield is signed first.
March 3rd, 2024 at 9:41 am
All the Bucs need to do is find an “elite” QB and the deal can get done.
March 3rd, 2024 at 9:52 am
These articles always give me less confidence that he will be back, because these media heads do get it wrong so often. Mayfield is the closest thing to elite the Bucs are gonna find this off-season. Better get it done.
March 3rd, 2024 at 9:58 am
Marine Buc.
Quick, Go find one. Post us again when you get back with him!
March 3rd, 2024 at 10:00 am
He doesn’t want to go anywhere and have to uproot his family in a strange town. The Bucs got the $$. Baker first will put pressure on Evans to sign. Ever been to KC during the winter months? Yuk
March 3rd, 2024 at 10:07 am
Mike and his agent have made it clear. Sign Mayfield, or they arent coming back.
Not gonna play with any rookie, noodle armed Backup, or Qb on skid row( Wilson).
Sign Mayfield, or hes outta here. Thats just smart for Evans. With Mayfield and a few Linemen- we are legit contenders. Without Mayfield. Bucs suck.
And no, traskovites. Mike has seen Trask every day in Practice. Obviously, he doesnt consider him an option as an NFL QB.
March 3rd, 2024 at 10:13 am
I don’t think Mike intends to leave but all reports indicate he is definitely going to free agency. Once there if KC or Houston could rustle up the cash somehow ( KC being a longer shot) they would make compelling cases.
KC offers an unparalleled opportunity to be part of history being a key piece in a threepeat
and Houston has the pitch of making him a home town legend in a much bigger market.
March 3rd, 2024 at 10:16 am
I can already hear the idiots if ME leaves, “it is because Bucs signed Mayfield”. Even though Evans said he wants Mayfield back.
March 3rd, 2024 at 10:20 am
Capt.Tim Says: “And no, traskovites. Mike has seen Trask every day in Practice. Obviously, he doesnt consider him an option as an NFL QB.”
And know this how? Mike told you? Or did you get it from all those FSU forums you visit?
March 3rd, 2024 at 10:21 am
Capt.Tim = FSU.Tim
March 3rd, 2024 at 10:27 am
I think the comments made by Mikes agent elimates teams like the Commanders, Panthers, Titans, and Pats. Mike isn’t going to be strictly a bag chaser. He wants his money obviously but he also values winning and keeping his 1K season streak going. I cant blame him either. For his first six seasons all he knew was losing. He got a taste of winning for 4 years now and doesn’t want to go back to losing. He’s going to end up signing with a team like the Chiefs, Texans, Ravens, Lions, or Bucs
March 3rd, 2024 at 10:28 am
Mike is holding this team back…….move on!
March 3rd, 2024 at 10:35 am
Don’t sleep on the 49ers. ME would fit real nice in Aiyuks spots if Lynch decides to trade him away…
March 3rd, 2024 at 10:38 am
Why would KC pay Evans when they wouldn’t pay T. Hill? They won’t. Watched all those young cheap, fast receivers at the combine. In with the new, out with the old. Evans is in for a rude awakening being a 31 year old receiver looking for his last big pay day with a draft full of young talent.
March 3rd, 2024 at 10:39 am
He won’t sign with Kansas City – he’d have to put up with the miserable winters, the deeply annoying and unoriginal tomahawk chant, and having a squirrel as the team mascot.
March 3rd, 2024 at 10:50 am
Capt.Tim Says:
And no, traskovites. Mike has seen Trask every day in Practice. Obviously, he doesnt consider him an option as an NFL QB.
——————————————————————————
Trask is not an “elite” QB and lacks experience playing in regular season games, but there is ZERO evidence that Evan’s opinion of Trask is how you characterized it.
March 3rd, 2024 at 10:51 am
“Mike is holding this team back…….move on!”
Yes the leading receiver on this team that was tied for the most TD catches in the league is holding this team back lmao
“He won’t sign with Kansas City – he’d have to put up with the miserable winters, the deeply annoying and unoriginal tomahawk chant, and having a squirrel as the team”
We all know fan chants and mascots are the top priorities for FA’s when deciding their next team
March 3rd, 2024 at 11:01 am
Do not sleep on the Colts entering the Evans sweepstakes.
March 3rd, 2024 at 11:01 am
Sign Mike…….Winfield….David….draft and free agency for everything else.
March 3rd, 2024 at 11:05 am
1776.
Easy. Even though Mike has seen AND PRACTICED with Mayfield every day, he has NEVER ONCE mentioned that Trask is talented. That Trask could be a starter. Mike constantly talks about Mayfield. Mike has ade it clear that if the Bucs dont sign Mayfield- hes not coming back. He never mentions coming back for Trask. He never once has said” No Trask, Then Im not coming back!”
NFL players dont talk bad about their teammates in the press. Other players wont like it. Their PR handlers wouldn’t allow it. But they are Encouraged totalk good about their teammates. Yet Mike Evans never talks about how Great Trask is.
Of course, what does Mike EVans know about QBs? Apparently, not as much as a bunch of overweight, Never played Football, Never seen trask practice, traskovites. They believe Trask will have a hall of fame career!
Why? Because he had a mediocre careerat the university of Florida.
How powerful Joe has become! Joe wrote that Trask outplayed Mayfield in training camp one day, and launched a dozen Traskovites into believing Trask is a hall of famer- being intentional supressed by the Buccaneer conspirators.
One line. Trask outplayed Mayfield one day in Training camp- and a dozen of the clueless have been flooding your post everyday with Trask love!
Genius!!!
If the Bucs draft another guy from a local college, should we all brace ourselves for a year of hero worship for the Kid?
I hope its not a lid from UF! 1776, David, Marine,and the rest of the traskovites must be exhausted!! They’ve carried that torch for 9 Months!
March 3rd, 2024 at 11:19 am
“We all know fan chants and mascots are the top priorities for FA’s when deciding their next team”
You are hereby banned from using sarcasm until you can competently detect it yourself.
March 3rd, 2024 at 11:19 am
Let Mike go to Free agency, find his market value,and pay him that amount.
League isnt kind to aging WRs. Alot of great Young WRs enter the League every year. Its a young mans game, playing WR.
Do not let Mayfield go into Free Agency. Teams desperate for a QB will go to insane lengths to get one. Years go by, without a good young QB coming into the league. Look at the year we drafted Jameis. Top picks QBs. All QBs were BUST.
A desperate team might offer something insane to appease their fanbase. Fans know. If you dont have a QB- then you SUCK. Its that simple.
Sign Mayfield for 5 years at 40 mil a year. Guarantee most of it. Keep him here. Give hi security. Evans, Winfield, etc can go get a price in FA. Sign them to that.
Safeties are a low value position also. Then they know the Bucs didnt lowball them.
March 3rd, 2024 at 11:21 am
Capt……Mayfield’s just not very good and therefore isn’t worth the cap money. Licht failed on Trask obviously. You guys need to stop trying to make your points by Personal attacks. I say Mayfield was not consistent. You try to prove me wrong. He was inconsistent to the very last game. Show me he wasn’t without childish name calling and insults. I’m waiting
March 3rd, 2024 at 11:26 am
ME will be back.
All the teams that have the money will not get him 1000.
And I’m not buying the take on the Panthers or ravens.
And not the Chiefs either, they have to pay up for Chris Jones and lajarius Sneed.
Finishing as a Buc!
March 3rd, 2024 at 11:30 am
Buffalo
March 3rd, 2024 at 11:34 am
I think his FA market value is less than he may realize ; given his age and how many great WRs tend to come out each year from the draft. In general it seems every year we see a deep WR talent pool vs positions like OT / DT / DE where it’s much thinner . We don’t need to over pay and if someone wants to do that it is what it is. This draft like most all is heavy at WR and we’d get a comp pick and cap space to sign an impact player at DE / O line.
Hoping we keep him tho but Baker is such a higher priority imo.
March 3rd, 2024 at 12:04 pm
@ Since76
“You guys need to stop trying to make your points by Personal attacks.”
Good luck with this one. Anyone who has a below average IQ are incapable of using facts and logic to debate – they have no choice. It’s much easier to attack someone you don’t even know.
Hi Tony…
March 3rd, 2024 at 1:14 pm
I love Evans, but is signing him to a big deal at the tail end of his career a smart move? I think he can probably still produce for a couple more seasons, and is no doubt a HOF player, but a big contract right now is paying for past performance. Take the emotions out of the decision and consider the salary allocations on this roster right now. Chris Godwin has a 2024 base salary of $20 million and a $27+ million cap hit. It’s an absolutely horrible contract to have on the books right now
This team needs more quality depth developing at the recieving positions, not two players, one aging and one who’s knee is gone, eating up more than 20% of the salary cap.
This league is about who’s #3 and #4 reciever can feast on other teams #3 and #4 corners. As Bucs fans, we should know this full well.
March 3rd, 2024 at 2:03 pm
I would find it hard to believe that Evans doesn’t already know what teams are interested and what those offers to him would be. If the Bucs lose him it’s all tied to last year when the Bucs didn’t extend him.
March 3rd, 2024 at 2:11 pm
Brady took much less than market value to play for the Bucs so they could bring in Gronk, AB, etc.. Now Baker and Evans want to break the bank. But for being in the sorriest division, Bucs would not have made the playoffs the last 2 yrs. I hope they both walk and Bucs can concentrate on the trenches. Neither one is worth what they are seeking. Bucs need to think long term.
March 3rd, 2024 at 2:14 pm
Yep, I love how Capt Tim got challenged and wrote a book as a reply.
And Baker Fan is already making excuses NUST IN CASE Mayfield doesn’t come back. Opinions will ALWAYS be exactly that. Opinions.
What we haven’t ACTUALLY done is play Devils Advocate and TALK about what rhe Bucs do if Mayfield chases money?
Trade up for McCarthy? Stand pat for Penix? Pick up Jacoby Brisset? Roll with Kyle Trask? Regardless of what the Baker fans WANT, what would you do as a Bucs fan if he leaves? Have you even considered it, or will you just leave when he does?
Personally, Id take Penix, especially after clearing medicals at the combine. Another question, would the Bucs dare tag Evans? Im not sure he doesnt sit out if they do? Just what the Bucs need is turmoil.
March 3rd, 2024 at 2:45 pm
Great receiver loved him from the beginning but dam it Mike you gotta catch the dam important balls thrown to you!!! Game changing playoff balls were dropped! That’s not you Mike.
March 3rd, 2024 at 3:16 pm
Billybucco
2 paragraphs is a book?
March 3rd, 2024 at 7:55 pm
I’m just not going to worry about it. I’m sure the Bucs have put a substantial offer in front of him. If some team comes in and guarantees him 80 million dollars with 27-28 million avg. salary per year, I will say Thanks Mike, more power to ya, but we can’t cripple our cap with that plus a giant contract for Mayfield. I hope it doesn’t come to that.
March 3rd, 2024 at 9:13 pm
You make alot crap up Capt. Like you are Mike’s agent and yea it was a book!
March 3rd, 2024 at 11:19 pm
For the last time , KC did NOT pay Tyreek Hill the $ he was asking, and they aren’t going to pay Evans $30 mil when they can draft a WR or trade for one cheaper and younger. They have a policy on paying players big bucks when they are 30 or older. Evans is going to be back with our Bucs. He’s just doing the same thing that a lot of players have done when they are a free agent for the first time in their careers, see how many teams want them. It could really help the Bucs if he goes out and teams throw $20 mil at him instead of $30 .. I JUST read that Justin Jefferson is getting ready to sign for $30 mil a year ! He’s only 23 or 24 years old. Evans is not going to leave and the Bucs won’t let him leave. They will match any offer made to him. They know if he did leave, it would be their fault, and the seats at Ray-Jay would have a lot less Bucs fans in the seats. People are blowing this way out of Proportion , the same media people who never gave Evans any credit for his achievements, are now blowing him up like he’s the best WR in the NFL ( He is in my book) but you get my meaning. He will never leave our Bucs for a few million dollars. If the Bucs are within the other offers, he will sign up to be a Buc for life.
March 3rd, 2024 at 11:29 pm
Capt. Tim – Agree with everything you said. I wrote a similar post, but it’s being flagged for moderation. KC will not pay Evans $25-$30 mil … Evidence of this is they didn’t pay Tyreek Hill 2 years ago because they don’t pay big money for older players. They let Hill and Jalen Ramsey go . They have a QB taking up 1/5 of their salary cap , and others who they need to resign. They will draft a WR. Evans will be back. And it might be for a lot less than he thought. Justin Jefferson is getting ready to sign for $30 mil a year and he’s 7 years younger than Evans. Evans might hurt himself by testing the market.
March 3rd, 2024 at 11:32 pm
Well , I just typed 2 post and both of them were flagged and are waiting for moderation. Captain Tim , I agree with everything you said. Evans will be back
March 3rd, 2024 at 11:35 pm
Thank you for wasting my time Joe. I get all 3 of my posts flagged ?
March 3rd, 2024 at 11:36 pm
I didn’t say anything wrong in any of them. I said something similar to Captain Tims .