Mike Evans: A Pro’s Pro
September 17th, 2023
Focused on play.
Every Bucs fan knows Mike Evans loves the Bucs. But he doesn’t love them enough to work for relative peanuts.
It’s also clear that Evans is not happy with his contract situation. But he also knows he has a job to do. So that’s why he put a deadline of last Saturday — the day before the Bucs kicked off the 2023 season — to get a contract done.
That didn’t happen.
A lot of guys would sulk and half-arse it, do just enough to get through the season healthy so they can get a new contract or maybe force a trade.
Some would hold out.
Instead, Evans has balled out.
Evans tore up Chicago today with 171 yards and a touchdown on six catches. He averaged 28.5 yards a catch and his yards after catch total might have been the best of his career.
Just a fantastic performance.
Modest Evans was giving props to the Bucs’ defense for the win after the game, not even remotely saying he played a big part in the Bucs starting this season 2-0.
“I just ran an inside-go,” Evans said of his 32-yard touchdown catch. “Baker threw a good ball and I caught it.”
It was as simple as that for Evans.
If Evans was a sulking player or a holdout, would the Bucs be 2-0? Would the Bucs even have a win? Joe would argue probably not.
This just goes to show Evans’ professionalism and hustle. If for whatever reason the Bucs don’t keep Evans, the greatest receiver in Bucs history won’t have any trouble finding a job elsewhere.
September 17th, 2023 at 7:27 pm
There are some players over the years who you sign no matter what……Evans is one of them…..the others on this team are LVD, Godwin, Winfield & Wirfs.
September 17th, 2023 at 7:29 pm
He looked like he was running in pain. Hope he continues to dominate this season and the Bucs can figure it out.
September 17th, 2023 at 7:29 pm
Pay the man already. BUC FOR LIFE!!!
September 17th, 2023 at 7:30 pm
Mike had a great game….but dam, Vita would have come closer to leaping into the stands than he did after his TD!!!!
September 17th, 2023 at 7:30 pm
Pay Mike
September 17th, 2023 at 7:33 pm
Mad Mike is the best WR in the NFL. If this is just a ploy just to make him play angry, what a great thing. In any case, pay the man, but maybe wait a few more weeks.
September 17th, 2023 at 7:44 pm
ME13 will be the first Bucs offensive player voted into Canton. He’s stuck it out with this team through stinko double-digit loss seasons, and now has a SB ring. Licht knows Mike deserves a raise/reward. It will get done. Plus, he’s embracing feisty BM. He’ll have a 200+ yard game soon, count on it.
September 17th, 2023 at 7:47 pm
Mike is a icon for the Bucs. What would he get paid on the open market. I would pay him the same as Chris not the 25 to 28 million he is asking for.
September 17th, 2023 at 8:09 pm
Bucs have a bad history of showing the geatas the door when they shouldn’t.
Derrick Brooks, perhaps the greatest buc ever, was cut. He wasn’t given the option to return and retire a buc, he got a call saying pack your bags.
The worst thing about the Biz side of football is the biz side of it. Some teams get it, the Bucs are not one of those teams.
Mike will one day wear his Gold Jacket, along side a slew of Golden Jacket Bucs who didn’t get to retire a buc.
We don’t know how to treat our buc royalty. Shame.
September 17th, 2023 at 8:12 pm
I question his conditioning.
September 17th, 2023 at 8:22 pm
Relative peanuts…. 😂
These guys make millions to play a game and they are set for life. I love the game and watch all weekend but anyone that gets in a contract dispute and sits out deserves nothing.
Mad respect for Mike Evans for doing the right thing.
September 17th, 2023 at 8:25 pm
Buc for life he deserve it
September 17th, 2023 at 8:29 pm
The guy is still an A level player. Make the man happy.
September 17th, 2023 at 8:33 pm
Great game. Greatest Buc. He’s starting to show some wear. I’d be good with an incentive-based contract that naturally adjusted as his play declines.
September 17th, 2023 at 8:37 pm
Remember when you guys were writing stuff like a week ago about how savvy the glazers were for holding off on re signing him?
September 17th, 2023 at 9:02 pm
Agree with Sly about the incentive based contract.
Remember VJax declined about halfway through his sunset deal with us in his early 30s.
September 17th, 2023 at 9:10 pm
Love watching Mike Evans play. He is worth every penny.
September 17th, 2023 at 9:11 pm
Didn’t the broadcasters say Mike tossed his cookies after the long catch and run he had earlier in the game?
September 17th, 2023 at 9:14 pm
Pay That MAN his Money!
How many other receivers in the NFL can you say has Never had Less than 1,000 yard per season??
I will wait.
September 17th, 2023 at 9:29 pm
mike had a heck of a game…
but as i watched him in the first half, he looked lethargic, out of breath a lot, and worn out…
meanwhile, he was putting up numbers…
later i’d heard he threw up on the sidelines and was having possible issues with the heat or was a little sick…
he was gasping for air a few times, and i was like wtf is wrong – doesn’t he practice all week every week…and is in tip top condition…
so hats off to ME13 for having a huge game – only the greats raise it up a level when under adverse conditions…
1 pm home games in september are straight up brutal…that sun drains the life out of you
September 17th, 2023 at 9:32 pm
Obviously it won’t keep up at quite this high of a rate, but based on first 2 weeks, Mike is on pace for:
17 TDs
2,014 yards
That’d be a hell of a season in a contract year at any age, let alone at 30 years old.
Shoot, even half that would be a great season…
September 17th, 2023 at 9:54 pm
Should have paid the man.
September 17th, 2023 at 10:00 pm
Love Mike and want him back, but not at any cost. The numbers being thrown out would sink way too much salary in the WR room. If Baker continues to play the way he is, he’ll need to be resigned.
Also, you have young starts like Wirfs and Winfield in line for big raises too.
If it comes down to those, I’d keep Wirfs, Winfield and yes Baker (if turns out to be reborn) over Mike.
You cannot sign them all. I just don’t see how Jason can do it.
September 17th, 2023 at 10:05 pm
un
Single season yardage record is 1964/ Calvin Johnson
Single season TD’s 23/ Randy Moss
Receptions 145/ Cooper Kupp
All in play
September 17th, 2023 at 10:06 pm
@StormyinFL Don’t forget about paying White and David. I can’t remember for sure, but I think Jensen could be due again as well, but doubt they’ll pay him even if he can play again. Might be able to save a little by sending Gage on his way as well. Gonna be an expensive year if the Bucs do good. I hope they can find a way to get them all back.
September 17th, 2023 at 10:10 pm
The reason Tom Brady came to Tampa was Mike Evans. So, what’s that worth?
September 17th, 2023 at 11:03 pm
He is due a pay raise. He has not been featured in a few years, and can carry the load. Give him more rest this week to keep him fresh. He already has good chemistry with Baker. Keep those legs fresh. Looking forward to a big season for ME13.
September 17th, 2023 at 11:06 pm
He needs to retire a Buccaneer, that’s all there is to it three-year contract, they got Jarrett and Palmer on rookie deals during that time.
On another note… What happened to White and LVD this week? Was it the defensive game plan? White definitely made himself noticed but not a lot on the stats. LVD seemed invisible the whole game.
September 17th, 2023 at 11:16 pm
Evans is easily the greatest WR in Bucs history, and he still looked as good as ever today.
September 17th, 2023 at 11:23 pm
PAY ME13. Never want to see this guy wear another NFL jersey. Someone above said it and I agree he might be the 1st offense buc to be named to the hall of fame.
September 17th, 2023 at 11:33 pm
Some of the advantages of building a team via the draft. I hope the buc’s days of M. Johnson, anthony Collins, and some may say Revis too are gone, to say the least, they did not give it their best after signing a massive contract.
September 17th, 2023 at 11:58 pm
Once again, the Glazers have screwed up. Shocking!
September 18th, 2023 at 12:15 am
Mike had a very good game. And if Baker had seen him running wide open deep and way past the defenders he left in his dust he would have had another td. When Mike gets those long strides pumping he is a lot faster than he looks. Baker didn’t see him that time but he did later on. I don’t think Mike has lost his speed at all., but probably can’t run the deep routes as often.
September 18th, 2023 at 5:39 am
Well he has to ball out to get a new contract somewhere. This is why I was going to bat for Evans. So many of you guys turned on him because he wanted what he was worth. Those same people will be here talking as if they never did. I didn’t think Devin White was 20 million Evans isn’t asking to be the top paid in the nfl. All you people who are pretending you didn’t turn on him mind your business about his money
Yes He makes millions to play a game, a game the entire nation loves and is addicted to. We are the reason they make so much money. Evans is worth every penny
September 18th, 2023 at 8:13 am
The organization owes it to him to sign a new contract worth top money. Regardless of how he plays after he deserves it for all those years of restructuring and taking pay cuts. DO THE RIGHT THING.
September 18th, 2023 at 3:09 pm
Pay Mike