“Tampa Is My Home”
March 9th, 2024
Bucs WR Mike Evans.
Mike Evans admitted it. He dreamed of what could happen with the rest of the NFL drooling over the chance to sign the future Hall of Fame receiver.
But in the end, he knew where his heart was. It was in Tampa.
While Evans confessed yesterday at a press conference at One Buc Palace celebrating his new two-year pact with the Bucs that he dreamed of what may have been. His heart wasn’t in it.
But it took a suggestion from his wife for Evans to quit dreaming and go with his heart.
“I was eating dinner with my wife, Ashli, and she hadn’t said anything up until the process [started],” Evans explained. “I obviously wanted to be a Buccaneer, and there were some things that we were working through.
“When you’ve played for one team for so long, you obviously think about what it would be like playing somewhere else. I have a lot of friends on other teams. It was a cool dream, but Tampa is my home – it’s where I’ve always wanted to be.
“We got a great deal – my agents got a great deal done with Jason [Licht]. I couldn’t pass up on it. I look forward to being a [Buccaneer] for life.”
Evans also noted that last season, he became very, very popular with players from the other side of the line of scrimmage. Teams and players knew Evans was in the final year of his contract and Evans said a bunch of players were trying out sales pitches to get Evans to flip to their teams this offseason.
The pull of the Bucs and the Tampa Bay area was too strong.
March 9th, 2024 at 8:05 am
Lol, I doubt one of those players from the other side included Lattimore.
March 9th, 2024 at 8:07 am
Nice to hear. Also, Mike’s assessment of Mayfield and Trask (see below) means he did not have to wait to see if Mayfield is returning.
“They both have big arms. They’re both very mobile. So they’re similar in that regard. Obviously, they’re a little different in size. But they have a similar play style. Really good NFL quarterbacks.” – Mike Evans
March 9th, 2024 at 8:07 am
I want Baker back.
But don’t want to pay him over 30 million if we can get any of the other competent quarterbacks available on the free agent market for less than 30 million.
Mike seems to have the same feeling:
“But I know I can play with whoever is at quarterback. Obviously, I hope it’s Baker.’’
He gets it is a business and Baker only has so much value to each team. If there is a team that wants to break the bank for Baker so, be it.
If we can get Baker for 25 to 30 million per year great.
So glad that ME is a Buc for life or so it seems!
March 9th, 2024 at 8:08 am
Amen Mike
Explain that to your QB.
Even Steve Young said settle in there and make a career out of it.
I guess he didn’t like that advice.
March 9th, 2024 at 8:13 am
RIP to Vincent Jackson first and foremost.
I remember watching Mike play against my Auburn Tigers and thinking, “wow, he looks like a Vincent Jackson clone!”
So when we drafted Mike Evans, I thought it was destiny.
I know it’s not cool anymore to talk about God in our country.
But for me? Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson was a bond created by God.
I cried the day Vincent Jackson died. He was a great man.
Gone but not forgotten.
God bless Mike Evans and the soul of Vincent Jackson.
Fun fact: what is Bo Jackson’s legal name?
Vincent Jackson.
Vincent Jackson was #83.
Bo Jackson was drafted in 1983.
I was born in 1983. And the first Auburn game I attended as a boy was on Bo Jackson’s jersey retirement game.
I believe in the Cool God. The Happy God. The Underdogg God. The God of the Underdogg. The God of Love.
FYI my Tampa friends. The Satanists in DC are winning.
It’s time for a Godly Revolution. Not dogmatic.
But Godly and Loving.
FAMILY!
Forget. About. Me. I. Love. You.
It sounds like Love and Sacrifice to me.
Sounds like Jesus’s Team to me!
Go Bucs!
March 9th, 2024 at 8:17 am
Have you guys watched Michael Pratts tape? Even Spencer Rattler has turned heads with his football IQ and change of pace on throws. Regardless of whether Mayfield comes back, I think one of those 2 in the 3rd would be worth the gamble. I really like Pratts arm motion. It seems effortless when he throws the ball. These young QBs are perfecting the quick motion pass without the huge windup. Not losing velocity either. Makes the future exciting.
March 9th, 2024 at 8:28 am
Teacherman777.
It is ok to talk about God. I think most people would accept your right to do so. I would just ask that you not label people who have a different belief system then you with negative or explosive political phrases.
You did not on this occasion so all love.
I will be surprised now, if someone including one of the Joes, does not tell us exactly how they think America should be or why it is a worse place now and blame it on one of the political parties.
March 9th, 2024 at 8:32 am
Possibly the greatest Buc ever…..everything you hope for when you draft a guy. Class act off the field as well, glad we got him for another two yrs.
March 9th, 2024 at 8:42 am
I’ll leave God out of the equation as long as you ask your president to quit eating fried chicken at Black peoples houses.
March 9th, 2024 at 8:43 am
@Geno711
Mike Evans is 100% correct when he says “But I know I can play with whoever is at quarterback. Obviously, I hope it’s Baker.’’ He played with backup level QB’s his first six seasons and produced at a WR1 level. Baker is just an average QB and he’s the 2nd best QB he ever played with in his career.
I was watching Mike’s 2023 highlights yesterday and Baker under threw a lot of deep throws to him where Mile had to make an adjustment or the throw prevented the play from being a bigger play. A lot of these plays he was wide open where most starting caliber QB’s would be able to hit him. He’s the ultimate bail out guy too on jump balls with his height and vert. A true difference maker that will elevate the play of any QB he played with.
And I loved his accountability in the press conference when he said he left a lot of meat on the bone this past season with some of his drops. Fox Sports had him at 7 in the regular season so some posters here overblown his drop numbers but in their defense some of those drops were big plays/TD’s. Still an amazing player, coming off an All-Pro season, and a future HOFer
March 9th, 2024 at 9:14 am
Teacher man…
1st Amendment.
This is not a Christian nation, it’s a nation where you are free to be a Christian if you so choose. Or not, if you choose.
If that’s YOUR hobby, good for YOU.
It is and never was intended to be affiliated with government in any way.
March 9th, 2024 at 9:47 am
Our Constitution was made for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other other – John Adams
Seems Baker’s agent is leveraging other teams’ interest to up the Bucs’ ante-
Hopefully, he signs soon.
March 9th, 2024 at 9:50 am
Jmarkbuc, while I agree this is not a Christian nation by design, it is a spiritually based one. “All men (and women) are created equal”. Inalienable rights come from ‘God’. Whether one’s religion is Christian, Judaism, Muslim, Hindu or Atheism, ‘the truth will make you free.’
March 9th, 2024 at 10:14 am
teacherman777,
You know what is not cool? Speaking as if every one of those parents, and students in school ever need to have a God reference to learn reading, writing, and arithmetic.
In my shallow level of education AA. I did learn that the Pilgrims, the Quakers, the Protestants, as well as several other colonialist groups with “persecuted religions” left their homes in Europe and came to the shores of America for,
their freedom from persecution from the “Establishment Catholic” church. This was why in creating our Constitution they created the “separation of Church and State clause”. As to not put ANY religion above the voices of “We the People”.
God if there is any should not be attached to any law-making, we have already and are currently experiencing an “Anoited President and canidate from God” who has broken 6-7 of the 10 commandments created by GOD and shared through Mosses.
Let our children learn the truth in school behind almost all religions, that they are good moral compasses, for learning ways of doing the right thing in their religious context.
And before you go off and tell me I am going to hell. No, I’ve been saved in Catholic, Baptist, and Methodist houses of worship. I am just not convinced that the “god” we read about in red in the scriptures allows all the continuous pain and suffering to the children of his “flock”…
Back to Mr. Buccaneer Mike Evans. Welcome back, Mike!! I’m extremely excited you and your spouse worked it all out between yourselves that a stay in Tampa is in both of your best interests. I am looking forward to several more 1000 + yard seasons from #13.
GO!!!!!BUCS!!!!!
March 9th, 2024 at 10:18 am
I’ve got a good feeling about a QB draft pick this year. Mikey Mike can help get him up to speed properly.
But let me ask- what does Mike need to cement his NFL legacy? What’s his realm of possibilities?
March 9th, 2024 at 10:33 am
777: FYI my Tampa friends. The Satanists in DC are winning.
It’s time for a Godly Revolution. Not dogmatic.
But Godly and Loving”
Calling politicians in DC Satanists is a little harsh for a “loving” post. IMHO the loudest “Godly” people are often those that harbor “un-Godly” feelings under the skin.
Besides, what is this “Godly” stuff doing on a football blog with beer and “skin” ads? Maybe inappropriate?
March 9th, 2024 at 10:37 am
Teacherman, appreciate your perspective and heart for sharing.
God is love indeed. Blessings to all.
Go Bucs!!!
March 9th, 2024 at 10:45 am
He only stayed so he can retire a buc and that won’t be too much longer getting old nobody else wanted him lol 😂 are any of the bucs
March 9th, 2024 at 11:12 am
i’m hoping mike plays 4-5 more years…or more…
so the front office needs to start working on extension asap…
like right now lol 🙂
March 9th, 2024 at 11:13 am
let’s get the man signed to a 10 year deal…costco membership included !
March 9th, 2024 at 11:47 am
Go MIKE!
Now, let’s get Baker signed.
America is Great because we ALL HAVE THE RIGHT(1st AMENDMENT) to believe whatever we want to believe. No one has the right to push their belief’s on anyone else. Keep your fake burning place to yourself.
It does not belong here.
GO BUCS!
March 9th, 2024 at 12:08 pm
By the way
I’m also a hard core secularist.
I don’t think religion should play any role in government or education.
But also, pushing transgender stuff on kids is also unacceptable.
And yes, for sure. There are some Satanists in DC.
It’s not a new thing.
And it’s funny how no one mentioned Vincent Jackson.
Instead, they wanted to attack me.
The 1st Amendment is beautiful. Secularism should exist everywhere.
And freedom of speech should exist everywhere.
How did our government and media handle freedom of speech during Covid?
Oh yea. They censored Harvard doctors online.
Read the Twitter Files.
And Bohemian grove is real. So is child sacrifice and satanism.
It goes all the way to Babylonia. Many cultures practiced satanic child sacrifice.
Study anthropology.
March 9th, 2024 at 1:20 pm
LOL all theses strings and violins and even wrapping God into Evans?
All because a millionairie signed to work with billionaires at a top price for his position?
Meanwhile the guy that won’t leave a $10 per hour job because he works with the homelss won’t get a write up even at the back of the classified sections. Tha tells you everything wrong with community. You worship the rich and famous for sigging another multi tens of millions contract and ignore the real heroes.
Mike followed the cash . Thats not to say he doesn’t love beign a buc. However I’ll need to see him shave 5million off that salary and still sign withth bucs to give him the sainthood some of you are trying to spin.
March 9th, 2024 at 1:36 pm
I just want to say I am 69 years old and I’ve been a bucs since they started here in Tampa. I have seen a lot of players leave, however I’m glad is staying with the Bucs. I hope we can keep Baker Mayfield. I understand football is a business and ownership has to make tough decisions. I pray we can get another another chance for NFL championship. Take God bless. Go Bucs!
March 9th, 2024 at 1:39 pm
Nice discussion.
However, it’s being discussed within the confines of a false paradigm.
Our Creator doesn’t back countries, sorry.
Can you pledge you allegiance to a man made country and still love our Creator “… with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,” and “your neighbor as yourself.”
Pledging to both a country and to God would make one half hearted, would it not?
God established ancient Israel because a nation was needed as a vehicle for the Messiah. It fulfilled that purpose, just like the law of Moses fulfilled it’s purpose.
Both are no longer needed and nobody is bound by them; except many make themselves bound by them by, means of deception.
But, “You will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free”
Jesus instituted new arrangements, otherwise, the Samaritans & Gentiles could not have become Christians.
Israel does not exist anymore. All the records were destroyed when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the temple. Man made another country called by the same name, but it’s a counterfeit.
Who has a counterfeit for just about everything our Creator has purposed? Don’t be duped. It’s the one who “…. disguises himself as an angel of light.”
Your salvation won’t come from man or any of the counterfeits out there.
Here’s the point:
“Don’t put your trust in human leaders. Don’t trust in people who can’t save you.”
Another version would be:
“Do not place your trust in princes, in mortal men who have no power to save.”
Also:
“This is what Yahweh says: Cursed is the person who trusts humans, who makes flesh and blood his strength and whose heart turns away from Yahweh.”
^^mtn^^
March 9th, 2024 at 1:50 pm
He signed a good 2-year deal. What happens after 2 years? If he keeps his streak of 1,000 yard seasons alive, will he retire? (he’ll own the record coincidentally). Or will he listen to his body, performance and stick around?
It will be an interesting scenario, but for now we get to enjoy 2 more seasons of the best receiver we’ve ever had and probably will ever have again.
PS to the religious comments: Atheists aren’t necessarily “satanists”. Jesus taught tolerance but hyper-religious ppl have to be the most intolerant mofos out there. Good grief
March 9th, 2024 at 2:01 pm
@Glass Half Full Guy
Optimism, yes!
Mike may want to go for most 1000 yrd seasons too.
Think Rice has 14
^^mtnman^^
Since ’76
March 9th, 2024 at 2:41 pm
this contract seems way to tradeable. does anyone else think that? feels like licht and evans had a talk that said “look,we want u here but we know u want to compete for a championship. we’re gonna try and keep baker and win the south but we need u on board to help lure baker back”. “ if he leaves or just plains sucks then by deadline we will trade u to the chiefs”. the only way mike stays is if we win. he knows he doesn’t nesscessarily start the season on the team that’s in position for the super bowl.
March 9th, 2024 at 3:07 pm
^^mtn^^ Says:
March 9th, 2024 at 1:39 pm
Nice discussion.
However, it’s being discussed within the confines of a false paradigm.
Going to skip getting into a non related discussion on religion on this site but….welll said and sound. I agreed almost very line. As long as we don’t get into Baker hatin and bucs we would probably enjoy each others company. 🙂
March 9th, 2024 at 3:40 pm
Love it when a team can keep a guy like that. There’s so much turnover that it feels like you’re rooting for a uniform, which i dont want to do. Back in the day I loved seeing Butkus with the Bears, Barry Sanders with the Lions, Marino with the Dolphins. Didn’t follow any of those teams but sure did like watching those guys. Oh, almost forgot John Riggins. The Diesel
March 9th, 2024 at 3:51 pm
Tony Marks, glad to see Big Mike return. That ups the odds they can make a run for the Big Bowl. The OLine needs a road grader in the middle, add in a short down bull at RB and the offense is set after they sign Baker. The D needs a true edge rusher and a strong safety, and they’re set. Everybody likes doing comps of present players to past; I’m thinking Baker is not so much Farve but a lot like Snake Stabler
March 9th, 2024 at 4:05 pm
@Tony marks
Cool, thanks.
Of course we would.
Nobody truly hates Baker, they just wants the Bucs to remain competitive & get back to the SB.
Just think folks get emotionally tied up when it comes to the NFL and are quick to categorize/ label others to get their point across.
That and it’s just bustin’ chops & laughin’. 😀
Cheap entertainment
^^mtn^^
Since ’76
March 9th, 2024 at 4:45 pm
Brady came here because he liked the OL and the weapons. We have weapons. We need to fortify the the QL, the RBs, and everything on the defense. We have too many holes to fill. We shouldn’t mortgage the future by signing Mayfield to a huge contract. Keep building around the solid core of players that we have. Leave god out of it. God doesn’t care. Neither does Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, or the Tooth Fairy. Mike Evans has a home, and home is where the heart is. He deserves another SB ring. He can get another one with Trask and the four or five other players that the Bucs could afford without signing Mayfield to a huge contract.
March 9th, 2024 at 5:43 pm
Oh brother… religious lunacy has entered the chat.
March 9th, 2024 at 6:00 pm
Mike Evans is tried and true stud. A bucs icon already. A terry bradshaw. A george brett. A generational icon! Good job mike! You da man!
March 9th, 2024 at 6:11 pm
Best draft pick ever by Tampa, and the best player this franchise has ever had. Brady came to Tampa because of Mike. So, thanks for the SB Mike!
March 9th, 2024 at 7:17 pm
^^mtn^^ Says:
Nobody truly hates Baker, they just wants the Bucs to remain competitive & get back to the SB.
See? You just lost your salvation again by fibbing about no one hating Baker . He who endures to the end shall be saved. Love rejoiceth in the truth
March 9th, 2024 at 8:16 pm
Seems the Bucs should hire Ashli Dotson and Mariah DelPerico to the management office.
We could use some Kali in this religious thread… women rock!
March 9th, 2024 at 9:43 pm
Women do rock, but why would they want to work for the Bucs too?
^^mtn^^
since ’76
March 9th, 2024 at 9:57 pm
“T. McGee Says:
March 9th, 2024 at 5:43 pm
Oh brother… religious lunacy has entered the chat.”
Oh brother where art thou?