Another Tip Of The Hat To Jason Licht
June 3rd, 2024
Outmaneuvered star player.
Now Joe doesn’t want to type something like how Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht got over on Mike Evans. It’s not like the two are adversaries.
But in retrospect, Licht sure looks smart for how he handled the re-signing of Evans, who also happens to be the very first draft pick Licht made. That’s how you lead off your career!
Licht signed Evans to a two-year deal worth some $41 million in March. Good scratch for Evans.
However, in the past two weeks or so, receivers are getting paid right and left. Even Jaylen Waddle, who Joe isn’t sure is better than Chris Godwin much less Evans, got a new three-year deal worth just north of $28 million a year.
Speaking on his podcast “GM Shuffle,” former Bill Walsh, Al Davis and Bill Belicheat coffee fetcher Michael Lombardi believes Evans jumped the gun.
“I think to me, if you are Mike Evans, you signed a deal way too early,” Lombardi said. “I mean Mike Evans is at $20 million. He signed a deal way too early.”
Lombardi’s co-host, Femi Abebefe fully agreed.
“Yeah, that’s a bargain for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers,” Abebefe said. “Especially for a receiver who is as accomplished as Mike Evans. He’s putting together quite the career with 1,000 yards receiver every single year.”
Yeah, Evans may have signed too early but Joe isn’t sure what the Bucs would have done otherwise. If the Bucs slapped Evans with the franchise tag, then what about Antoine Winfield? The Bucs bought themselves extra time to re-sign Winfield by tagging him.
Teams cannot franchise tag two players in a year.
Evans wanted a fair deal, which he got. He knows the money the Bucs saved by not signing him to, let’s say, a $25 million a year contract, could be used to help keep other starters and bring in others.
At the end of the day, Evans wants to win maybe as much as he wants to get paid.
A month ago, “this Joe” didn’t think the Bucs would pay Chris Godwin another contract worth $20 million a year. Godwin is a free agent after the 2024 season.
The way receivers’ salaries are skyrocketing, Joe has softened his stance about Godwin potentially leaving in 2025. If Waddle is worth $28 million a year, Godwin is certainly worth $20 million, perhaps more.
June 3rd, 2024 at 7:18 am
Well..Waddle isn’t worth 28 million. However. as pointed out on this site more than once, dudes getting overpaid this year will be considered bargains two years from now.
June 3rd, 2024 at 7:24 am
So happy that Evans is the righteous guy he is and stayed. We are so lucky to have him. His wife had a lot to do with it too. Hats off to her along with Licht and Evans. It all benefits the team. Agreed, Godwin is worth $20 mil.
June 3rd, 2024 at 7:34 am
Signed too early? He was a free agent lol. He was either going to resign before free agency or sign in the first few days of free agency. I feel like some of these analyst don’t really think their positions. Just the typical reactionary that dominates the media field
June 3rd, 2024 at 7:49 am
Meh, Mike looks like he’s been pretty good with his money his entire career from what I say. Grew a family, like has a place in FL & Tampa, and this is not his first big pay day, so I get what Lombardi is saying, but also realize Lombardi would likely squeeze a penny out of pig sh*t to make a dollar.
June 3rd, 2024 at 7:56 am
Exactly
He didn’t sign too EARLY. He signed right on time but for way less.
The cool part about this, is I doubt regardless of the season Godwin has, he isn’t gonna DEMAND more money than Mike Evans.
Im starting to agree that having 2 $20+ Million receivers will be the way of the future. With the salary cap increase, big money players will move from the current 6 or so, to around 8. When you start thinking about the Cowboys for instance, their salary for their top 3 guys is gonna double from about 70 to 140 just for Prescott, Parsons and Lamb. Ranking the Cowgirls 6 is just biased and dumb. Their lead rusher is Elliot LMAO. Talk about a team going NOWHERE.
We have a 2 year window right now, where I see us having the ability to win another SB. With the cap increase next year, players are gonna want to play in Tampa again, and the Bucs will finally bring the n players the Media thinks will put them over the top. Especially after they win the Division handily this year.
June 3rd, 2024 at 7:57 am
In the NFL, you’re going to spend your available cap space. It’s less about how much each player is making and more about how you’re managing your cap space.
Licht is creating teams without holes. He’s not investing so much in any one player so the Bucs can put 22 or more quality starters on the field … BUT he’s spending enough money to put a handful of great players in the mix.
June 3rd, 2024 at 8:00 am
When the unforced errors/drops are factored in I’d say ME got a great deal.
June 3rd, 2024 at 8:32 am
This JL slurping is getting to be nauseating
June 3rd, 2024 at 8:45 am
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
DoooshLaRue Says:
June 3rd, 2024 at 8:00 am
When the unforced errors/drops are factored in I’d say ME got a great deal.
Dooshy must be in the sauce again. Here are the facts Dooshy.
Nacua-13 Drops
Tyreek-12 Drops
Davante Adams-8 Drops
Diggs-8 Drops
Ra St. Brown-8 Drops
ME13 is tied with Travis Kelce at 7 drops. At least put in a small amount of research before you blurt out your nonsense DOOSHY.
June 3rd, 2024 at 8:50 am
Yay to BucsFan with the drop data facts! We did get a deal with Evans. Not to shabby to be tied with Travis Kelce at 7 drops. So lucky to have Evans!
June 3rd, 2024 at 9:34 am
When you get to the multi-millions with players……for them, it depends more on how they manage their money over the years….not so much as missing a couple of million on their contract.
Ask AB what it’s like to not manage your money…..
June 3rd, 2024 at 10:14 am
So let Joe get this straight: The Bucs are a better team without Evans? The Bucs should have let Evans walk because he drops a few balls? But he still led the league in touchdown catches.
So Evans sucks like Travis Kelce, yet Kelce has been the favorite target of the game’s best quarterback and with that lousy tight end dropping passes the Chiefs have won three of the last four Super Bowls.
When your production far outweighs your mistakes, folks tend to overlook the mistakes.
June 3rd, 2024 at 11:02 am
I understand why Joe would want to maintain good relations with One Buc Palace but I don’t understand the Licht-worship – the beginning of Licht’s tenure was marked by mediocrity and draft picks like Jameis – then Brady arrives and shakes the organization by its lapels to straighten it out and voila Super Bowl – Arians and Licht just had to sip bourbon and smoke cigars after the phone call to # 12 – now the Bucs are reverting to the mean – the division titles in the NFC South are participation trophies – the latest of the 3 brief periods of Buc Nation success ended with the pass to Cooper Kupp – FYI : 1) Doug Williams era 2) Dungy era 3) Brady era – currently the Bucs have a fairly complete team but they’re not dangerous – the sooner Licht and Bowles retire, the sooner the Bucs can chase another SB – come at me !
June 3rd, 2024 at 11:53 am
I agree with production outweighing mistakes. I was screaming at Evans for dropping all those catchable balls, but then he got those touchdown passes and all was forgiven. If we could only get a tank of a runner like we used to have 28 years ago. Go Bucs.
June 3rd, 2024 at 12:00 pm
The market might be high priced for all these receivers but anyone who would turn down a 20 million dollar a year job is a fool to me.
June 3rd, 2024 at 12:06 pm
Bucs Fan is correct.
June 3rd, 2024 at 1:40 pm
Justin a Jefferson just signed for $140 mil. $110mil guaranteed. $35 mil a year.
Evan’s has to be kicking himself for re-signing too quickly.
June 3rd, 2024 at 2:27 pm
Drafting Jameis is not a reflection on Licht. We needed a QB and it was either Mariota of Jameis. Both ended up being terrible.
June 3rd, 2024 at 4:22 pm
As long as this doesn’t start to get into Evans’ head and become an issue for him this season… (which I don’t think it will)
June 3rd, 2024 at 6:32 pm
the division titles in the NFC South are participation trophies
*****************************************************************
Three division titles during a rebuild is the stuff of legend! Go take your Viagra then F your self. 🙂
June 3rd, 2024 at 6:33 pm
Notlichtfan – so you’re not a fan of Licht?
June 3rd, 2024 at 7:38 pm
unbelievable Says:
June 3rd, 2024 at 4:22 pm
As long as this doesn’t start to get into Evans’ head and become an issue for him this season… (which I don’t think it will)
__________
I think it will affect him negatively. He’ll let it get to him and then lose focus……. He’s really good at losing focus.
To those other posters talking about how few drops he had, please, watch those 7 drops again.
Most were ridiculously easy catches.
I’m not faulting him for dropping a tough or contested ball, I’m referring to his lack of focus at times.
It’s always been an issue with him along with his lack of TRUE maturity.
Do I think we’re better without him Joe.
No, I don’t.
He’s a very good WR.
Some of you guys though…….any criticism of a star player throws you into a real tizzy.
June 3rd, 2024 at 8:06 pm
When you are a high volume receiver, you’re just going to have more drops. The more targets you have the more opportunities for a drop. Look at that list… Every one of those guys see A LOT of balls come their way, & they produce. I get frustrated too, with the obvious wide-open, coulda-shoulda, walk into the end zone ones. It sucks, but it happens. It makes me think WOW, just think what his numbers (and Baker’s) coulda been had he held onto the balls. Be thankful that we have him. There WILL come a day, when you wish we did. Hopefully, he will one day retire as a Buc. He still has at least another good contract left in him, if he remains healthy, etc. That is IF he wants to chase the $$$$ at the end of his career. If the Bucs really stink it up this season & he wants to play for a contender moving forwards, then at least, we are in great shape to move him… We should be able to get a great return given his contract, especially!
June 3rd, 2024 at 8:59 pm
Evans took a team-friendly deal. Hopefully, for him, it translates into wins and he’s happy, in the end. Dumping all the money on a handful of players doesn’t create depth. Licht is doing a good job managing the cap. Hopefully it translates into W’s.
June 3rd, 2024 at 10:31 pm
Rumors are popping up about deals to trade Godwin. It all depends on what he and his wife want in my uninformed opinion. I do get that our shiny new WR has similar talents to Godwin and why we drafted him.
Go Bucs!!!
June 4th, 2024 at 5:02 am
Mike Evans has been my favorite player since he has been on the Bucs. He was my favorite at A&M when he helped JM shine.
Some of the drops in my opinion were not easy catches because they seemed to be a surprise that they were being thrown to him. I don’t blame him for all seven. Evans will not allow anything in his head. He and his wife made the decision to stay with the Bucs. Thankfully! He is the heart and soul. Go Bucs!
June 4th, 2024 at 6:57 am
Idiots with no actual legit topics on their miniscule brains.
Duh…Ok…. lets bash some Bucs! Everones doin it!
Go Bucs!
June 4th, 2024 at 9:41 am
Notalichtfan says well why u on this site then only a traitor wud show up on this site with a seriously stupid post name like u r’s what a moron u r family must b proud
June 4th, 2024 at 5:55 pm
I wish all you Baker fans would leave this site because you’re here only because of Baker Mayfield not the bucs.
June 4th, 2024 at 5:58 pm
I remember a guy named Youngbuc who said he was a bucs fan and I told him the only reason why he was on this site was because of Brady not the bucs. And every since Brady left he’s been gone and now it’s the same thing for Baker Mayfield once he leaves a lot of these people will be gone .
June 5th, 2024 at 11:44 am
Mike has just been nothing short of amazing. His entire career on the field, he’s an absolute class act off the field, he’s renegotiated new deals multiple times to free up money for the team to sign other players, and to keep players on the team. I feel the team got a great deal, and Mike still gets paid.
“Too early?” what is that even supposed to mean? Did they want/expect Mike to drag this out, make teams enter a bidding war that Mike knew the Bucs wouldn’t be able to last long at? Of course they did! Media LOVES the drama angle. Except Mike didn’t play that, because I feel Mike wanted to be here, full stop.
Mike might be the greatest Buc to step foot on Ray Jay, and for that, for all he’s done, I’m ecstatic that he’s staying here. So, if all that is what is meant by “too early,” then I’m glad it’s too damn early.
June 6th, 2024 at 3:11 pm
There are some players who want to live and play in Florida. They make a life here. Their kids grew up here. They understand math and the business side of football. They make a team friendly deal, because they want another Lombardi. It takes a team to win, and major players have to tighten their belts to allow other quality players to play here. When the locker room gets it, we will advance. AB and DW did not get it. Negativity ripples through the locker room. Sometimes agents are the culprits, because they don’t get it. I hope the rookies get it quick.
June 8th, 2024 at 4:40 pm
Otardsaint – really, just, like, fall off of an overpass or something.