Bucs React To Mike Evans’ TMZ Video
August 23rd, 2014
“Matter closed,” says Bucs coach Lovie Smith.
Yesterday, TMZ.com unearthed a video of Bucs rookie wide receiver Mike Evans getting into a hassle outside a Miami night club. The site incorrectly reported the date of the incident to be last Saturday.
In fact, the Bucs hosted Miami in a preseaosn game Saturday, a game in which Evans played in (remember the near-touchdown?). Then, Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times confirmed with Evans’ agent that the incident took place in March, some six weeks before Evans was drafted by the Bucs.
Since, the Bucs have reacted:.
“The incident in question happened during spring break in March while I was vacationing with friends in Miami,” Evans said. “The issue occurred at the end of the night when someone in my party was approached by a member of the security staff. The situation escalated very quickly from there, but fortunately no one was injured. I regret that this incident that happened nearly six months ago has become a distraction to my team and I look forward to continuing to prepare for the start of my rookie season with the Buccaneers.”
TMZ later reported Evans was trying to re-enter the club to escort his girlfriend out of the club and club security would not let him back in.
“During his time here since we drafted him in May, Mike has met all of our expectations both on and off the football field,” Bucs coach Lovie Smith said. “After speaking with Mike, our feelings about him remain unchanged. We expect him to be an important member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for many years to come and we consider this matter closed.”
Joe can say this about Evans after interviewing Evans several times, the firs back at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. In each interview, Evans has been nothing but professional, cooperative, friendly, kind and intelligent.
In every instance Joe has had to deal with Evans, he has been the polar opposite of the agitated man hurtling over cars displayed in the video.
August 23rd, 2014 at 3:42 am
If I was GM of the bucs I would just scoop up all the Patriot cast offs.
They dominated the panthers on all sides of the ball.
August 23rd, 2014 at 5:59 am
I saw that game late and the kitty kats got spanked. That tape ought to be helpful!
August 23rd, 2014 at 6:17 am
I watched the Raiders and GreenBay, and believe me, we got an upgrade from Penn last year, He got beaten like a drum!!!!
August 23rd, 2014 at 6:28 am
Joe describes ME13 as “cooperative, friendly, kind & intelligent”…..these are all the same quality characteristics ascribed to Ted Bundy….
Not saying ME13 is a bad dude….simply saying only time will tell if this is an isolated incident.
August 23rd, 2014 at 7:13 am
@Tampabaybucfan
Really? A serial killer? When Mike starts taking pleasure in torturing little animals and defensive backs, then we should worry. SMH
August 23rd, 2014 at 7:41 am
The thing to consider here is that Mike is not playing in Miami. There’s a lot of trouble for anyone to get into down there, a hotbed for TMZ, he can just settle down in little ole Tampa and still enjoy himself out on the water in his spare time.
August 23rd, 2014 at 7:48 am
I would have drafted him after watching him leap small cars in a single bound.
August 23rd, 2014 at 7:54 am
I like a little fight in my Bucs. If he was truly trying to get back to escort his girl out, good for him. He’s a man, most bouncers are pricks, IMO.
August 23rd, 2014 at 8:17 am
I’m not condoning his actions, but this is absolutely not anything big. If I had a nickel for every stupid thing I did in my early 20’s, I’d be a billionaire.
August 23rd, 2014 at 8:37 am
@bawlmerbucfan the difference is you weren’t getting paid millions of dollars to stay out of trouble and represent a franchise.
August 23rd, 2014 at 8:52 am
RCH….he wasn’t being paid all that money either. It was before he was drafted, and therefore, not even a member of the Bucs.
August 23rd, 2014 at 8:55 am
Benjamin their rookie WR is balling. Beside that it’s a not so good offense
August 23rd, 2014 at 8:55 am
Since this is the only ‘incident’ that Evans is linked to, then I am not concerned about his character. He is still too young/immature to have total control of his testosterone. Quite frankly, I expected much more, of this kind of thing, with Johnny Gazelle as a buddy. The only thing about the incident that has me baffled is why he was outside *without* his girlfriend in the first place. At that age, my girl and I didn’t go anywhere without each other, and I certainly wouldn’t have left her alone in a nightclub.
I’ll not judge him as being anything other than still a little immature. VJax should be a good role model from here on.
August 23rd, 2014 at 9:02 am
Just checking in on the comments section. I love the smell of derp in the morning.
August 23rd, 2014 at 9:34 am
To hear about this video I’d have thought it was going to be terrible, but this hardly seems like a big deal to me. And I usually have no patience for players behaving like animals, but this seems pretty tame.
August 23rd, 2014 at 9:54 am
Just another night in South Beach – happens every night. Fortunately, no big deal. Perhaps, lesson learned though! This was more amusing than concerning.
He’s just ’bout that action, boss. lol
August 23rd, 2014 at 10:37 am
Yeah seems like someone made a comment about his girl. But what was he doing in a club under 21? False Id is also very illegal in this country. He needs to learn to control himself by getting his girl and walking away. That broke out and there should have been arrests plus he put himself at risk for injury that could have sidelined him.
Some comments you have to ignore. My girl got hit on at a bar in front of me. Handle maturely not react and blow up.
August 23rd, 2014 at 10:53 am
Mike “club-fight” Evans?
Car hurtling?
Mike “teen-dad” Evans?
When does he get a nickname?
August 23rd, 2014 at 11:22 am
Joe kinda likes that. It was pretty impressive for a big dude like that to jump over a car.
August 23rd, 2014 at 11:31 am
Tampabaybucfan Says
“Joe describes ME13 as “cooperative, friendly, kind & intelligent”…..these are all the same quality characteristics ascribed to Ted Bundy….
Not saying ME13 is a bad dude…”
Well, actually you are. Even if that is not your intent.
My father taught me to never say anything about someone that I would not want to hear said about myself.
If I were talking about you and said, “cooperative, friendly, kind & intelligent”…..these are all the same quality characteristics ascribed to Ted Bundy” then you would feel judged by the statement. You would feel I was calling you a bad guy.
As to Evans, in that video I saw a kid who backed off until the bouncer started attacking someone. All Mike wanted was to get his girlfriend so they could leave. The bouncer could have avoided the situation by sending someone to get her or to walk with Evans while he found her.
Simple solution. No drama.
What was Mike supposed to do? Wait hours outside? He was told to leave and he couldn’t without his girlfriend.
I don’t know about you, but in the same situation, I would NEVER abandon my wife.
August 23rd, 2014 at 11:35 am
I am condoning his actions. In this case.
“Gilmore told the Tribune that Evans was allowed in as a guest of the club because he was underage at the time, that his client wasn’t drinking and did not have the necessary wristband needed to have access to areas of the club where drinking was allowed.
Evans was trying to regain access to the VIP area after using a bathroom — he wanted to get his girlfriend to leave with him — but didn’t have his wristband and was asked to leave, Gilmore said.”
August 23rd, 2014 at 1:15 pm
I doubt this was actually a distraction to his team. It’s more of a generic apology. If anything they probably cracked on him a little.
I’d like to see him in a bar fight while securely holding a football.
August 23rd, 2014 at 7:14 pm
I wish an end of the night fight outside a nightclub was the dumbest thing I did when I was 20.
August 24th, 2014 at 7:35 am
People he was a guest of the owner of the club! He was probably getting pulled every each way the minute he walked through that door. These athletes wives or significant others are push to the side by reporters, fans, etc. You can’t control that! Joe can probably contest to that, unless wives are relevant like example having their own reality show, model, celebrity, etc they’re irrelevant. He was probably been a gentleman and that’s the reason this incident happen. Maybe at some point he did lost contact with her hence the reason why he’s trying to go back in. As we all know bouncers grab you and escort you out they don’t take who you’re with. Plus this was before he was a Bucs! Relax! I’m pretty sure he’s been handle now and understand the difference between realizing his dreams or ruin his career for not been able to handle his anger. Yeah is an incident let’s keep an eye on it, But is not the end of the world. Like Autopsy said you guys wished an end of the night fight outside a nightclub was the dumbest thing you did! smh