“That’s Good Karma”
January 7th, 2025
Proud of Bucs organization.
Joe already thought of this but it sparked another element that could pay off for the Bucs come free agency.
Yesterday a lot of the hollering shows on TV picked up on Mike Evans’ extending his streak of 1,000-yard receiving seasons. Equally important, per ex-players Darius Butler and Pat McAfee, players noticed that too.
Most know that Bucs coach Todd Bowles gave offensive coordinator Liam Coen and Baker Mayfield the green light Sunday to throw to Mike Evans so he could reach the 1,000-yard receiving plateau, even though the Bucs led by 8 points and could take a knee to win the division and go to the playoffs.
At the time of that play, the Stinking Panthers and Dixie Chicks had gone to overtime so no one on the field knew Atlanta would lose.
Evans not only extended the streak, but his catch pocketed him $3 million in bonuses as a result. That, Butler said, was why players across the league took notice.
McAfee praised the Bucs for doing something for a loyal player, even if maybe the Bucs should have just taken a knee.
“That could have been a pick-six,” McAfee said on his ESPN show. “But, nah, we’re going to stick up for our guy. We’re going to let our guy get his numbers. …
“That’s good karma,” McAfee said. “That’s doing the right thing for your player who has done all the right things for your city, for your team, for your community.”
Players across the NFL notice that stuff. Word travels.
Maybe Bowles remembers what it was like when he played?
More important, when Bowles played, money wasn’t handed out like it is now. So bonuses were a bigger deal. Maybe that was on Bowles’ mind?
Butler noted that players are very aware of this type of gesture.
There is angst at The Star, Cowboys headquarters, because Cowboys players were miffed that quarterback Cooper Rush did not start on Sunday. By Jerry Jones approving of the Rush’s benching (you cannot tell Joe that Jones has no say about when a Cowboys quarterback is benched), Jones avoided a $250,000 bonus to Rush.
So that got Joe thinking that when free agency comes in two months (yup, March 12) and the Bucs are trying to lure a player or two to Tampa, they’ll see how some owners dodge paying guys and then notice how Bowles goes out of his way to make sure his players get paid. That should help recruiting.
WHAT A MOMENT FOR MIKE EVANS
That Bucs team understanding the moment was so cool #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/8zDALPVdgU
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 6, 2025
January 7th, 2025 at 7:25 am
Maybe we can attract a good edge rusher to sign here with the way the Bucs do things + weather + no state tax. I know Joe is thinking this. 1 million dollar bonus for double digit sacks. LOL
January 7th, 2025 at 7:29 am
Street creed 100% … he deserved it ….. glad management allowed it… Good stuff comes back to you.
January 7th, 2025 at 7:51 am
That was a perfect ending to regular season. Players should be ballz out for Bowles in the tournament.
January 7th, 2025 at 8:18 am
Coach Bowles actions were awesome in allowing Mike get the record and the bonus. Well deserved. Mike is right on top of WRs and many of them are receiving so much more money. He stayed with us for less. Yes, “Good Karma” for sure. You can bet that other players around the league would love to be on the Bucs now.
January 7th, 2025 at 8:23 am
Huge props to Bowles for allowing that throw! Good Karma indeed!
January 7th, 2025 at 8:36 am
How much did the Bucs save when White finished the season with 990 yards rushing? Just curious.
January 7th, 2025 at 8:43 am
Just don’t look at that Carolina game where we were destroying the Panthers and Mike just got a 9 yard reception and Bowles took the penalty and the extra yard.
January 7th, 2025 at 8:45 am
This may have already been mentioned, but on a Saints message board a fan posted about how their defense should never have allowed that completion to Mike, especially against a rival. To the fans credit, many responded in saying the team is such a wreck, why worry about that, how Evans is a great player, etc. Lots of responses but very few saying anything negative about Mike. Good to see opposing fans being rational and positive.
January 7th, 2025 at 8:47 am
yes, former players were all over it, listened to Shannon Sharpe and Chad Ocho Cinco and they applauded the Bucs organization for getting Evans the numbers, I guy who has done it the right way even when he could have bolted for more dollars elsewhere
January 7th, 2025 at 8:50 am
Sparky
White took a couple of slides on his own.
January 7th, 2025 at 9:07 am
1spark, none. No reported incentives in his contract based upon Sportrac.
January 7th, 2025 at 9:12 am
I don’t ever want to hear about how *cheap* the Glazers are. Far from it.
January 7th, 2025 at 9:23 am
Excellent points about free agents noticing those type of moves. Man, this game just keeps giving me reasons to smile. First and always, get the win to get in. Mike getting his record and $$$ was awesome. VV getting his sack. Bake getting his TD throws and sharing his will to win. The defense pitching a shutout for the second half (can’t blame them for the FG).
I just might go back and watch it for the 5th time. Okay, maybe just the second half.
January 7th, 2025 at 9:36 am
Bowles gets a lot of fans upset about the defense (even though we have injuries galore) but this should silence a lot of that. Bowles took care of Mike and that’s a huge deal and I for one respect a leader who takes care of their people.
January 7th, 2025 at 9:56 am
But…but..it’s Dangerfield. Why would any NFL player go to a team coached by a guy judged by many here…(pick your own derogatory insult)?
January 7th, 2025 at 10:18 am
It was a huge moment for the whole team. There were “I Love You” s flying all over the place. Everyone in Pewter and Red was hyped! This team plays for each other. That kind of bond can go deep in the playoffs.
January 7th, 2025 at 10:25 am
Bowles was probably a bit concerned about the locker room postgame haha. you know somebody would have been shouting about Mike’s tragic near miss. possibly even chatter about the prior week’s coaching gaffe with the penalty. It was a bit nuts to throw to Mike there, but since it worked, we might see more attention from free agents who think we put player success over cap dollars
January 7th, 2025 at 10:31 am
Someone get that meathead some sleeves. The Joe Roganization of the media has to stop.
January 7th, 2025 at 10:36 am
If any player deserves $$bonuses$$, records guaranteeing he’s first round HOF, etc., it’s the class act from TX named Mike Evans. What he has done to help the Bucs with his contract restructures, staying here when the team did their usual stink-up-the-planet routine, and so on, is nothing less than first class all the way. Kudos Big Mike!! Now, you and your teammates go out and kick the whatevers (that team name is some kind of dumb) back to the DC swamp Sunday Nite!!
January 7th, 2025 at 10:46 am
So happy for Mike that he got his yards and his money and the team got a ticket into the playoffs.All I want for my birthday( it’s this Sunday ) is a win to advance to the second round!! Go get em Bucs!! Beat those commandos!!
January 7th, 2025 at 11:16 am
Tampa has been a good FA destination since 2020. It’s only getting stronger. Moves like this, the weather, no state tax, winning playoff football… not only will attract high end FAs but it will attract the winners and the workers who wanna be in the playoffs and want to join a strong culture.
This is a top 5 franchise in the league and I don’t see it changing anytime soon. That’s a credit to Licht, Greenberg, Spytek, Bowles, the veteran players.
That’s right I said Bowles, great guy, great player coach and has been a part of the culture turnaround. In an evaluation there is nuance and context… it’s not black and white, this guy is great or this guy sucks.
January 7th, 2025 at 12:04 pm
If that play ended in a pick six, or botched catch & interception, Bowles would have been clown of the week, laughed out of town. Fans are fickle
January 7th, 2025 at 12:20 pm
Awesomely classy move by Bowles to throw it to Evans with seconds left on the clock. Great play call too to get the yards by Cohen.
January 7th, 2025 at 12:44 pm
It was a gamble for sure but risk reward was worth it ,,, the downside was pick6 and the Bucs lose in OT, (miss the playoffs, owners miss out on a home revenue playoff game , Bowles gets canned,,,guys lose out on a playoff check,,,, all for big Mike,,,,
I would have done it ,, and man the whole Bar (not a Tampa bar either ) erupted that last play,,,,,, of course ATL lost so we would have made the playoffs anyway and would be hosting the Vikings Mon Night , but Bowles didn’t know that so Kudows to him,,, Next years Coach for sure