“He Just Wants The Young Guys’ Best Interest”
June 24th, 2014
Joe hates to get all conspiratorial, but Joe’s a bit fascinated by the predicament of Vincent Jackson.
At 31 years old, Jackson has a non-guaranteed base salary of about $10 million dollars for next season. But now he’s expected to groom, mold and mentor 20-year-old rookie Mike Evans, who could soon replace him.
Thankfully, it seems Jackson sees no conflict of interest.
Speaking on SiriusXM NFL Radio last night to Alex Marvez and legendary personnel guru, “The Godfather,” Gil Brandt, Evans explained that Jackson is a joy to work under and he’s a better man than teammate. But that was no slight on the veteran’s leadership. “He just wants the young guys’ best interest,” Evans said of how Jackson treats the Bucs’ receivers.
Evans went on to say he hopes he can accomplish half of what Jackson has in his career.
Of course, Bucs fans expect a lot more from Evans. But the point was clear. Jackson is making a positive impact on Evans, just like he seemed to do for mattress-in-the-yard, blade-in-the-thigh young receiver Mike Williams back in 2012.
Brandt, the legendary former Cowboys general manager, also reiterated that Evans’ Pro Day this spring was one of the greatest performances he’s ever seen. Brandt also jokingly referred to Evans as “the guy that made [Johnny] Manziel.”
On a more serious note, when asked how good Evans can be for the Bucs, Brandt said, “Ask Alabama. They’ll tell you.” In 2013, Evans torched Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide for 279 yards on just seven receptions.
June 24th, 2014 at 1:33 pm
As much as I wanted Manziel to be a Buc, I very much hope Evans is the guy that “made” Johnny Football
June 24th, 2014 at 1:33 pm
I hope two DUI convictions and four days in jail isn’t part of the traits of Jackson that Evans wants to accomplish at least half of.
June 24th, 2014 at 1:41 pm
He wants the young guy’s best interests. What the hell does that mean?
June 24th, 2014 at 1:55 pm
Their chicks and money, Joseph mamma
ha ha
June 24th, 2014 at 2:04 pm
He did make johhny football. Just see how he does in cleveland with no Josh Gordon to bail him out. Which is why I am happy with glennon and mccown throwing to our weapons
June 24th, 2014 at 2:09 pm
Evans, ASJ, Wright, Sims etc. may all contribute to VJax having a banner year.
If so, we pay him. If he sees less touches, we can always restructure. 32 is not old age for a WR who takes care of himself.
I seriously don’t want to thrust Evans into a true #1 role next season.
June 24th, 2014 at 2:30 pm
I’m sorry guys but these kinds of stories about money do not move me.
VJAX has made more than 50 million already. SERIOUSLY!!! Do the math.
He is set for life and then some.
I totally get the players going for the max they can get from the owners. Millionaires against billionaires. Why should the owners keep more. But at some point, and this is a perfect example, Revis was better, the greed just leaves me cold.
How much bling, how many houses, how many cars can one person need?
Do Revis and the rest have the right to extract every last penny they can get from the game? Absolutely. Do I have the right to consider them greedy mercenaries? Absolutely!
At some point it might be wise to remember what happened to King Midas.
June 24th, 2014 at 2:39 pm
VJ has matured….and probably has some good investments and is secure with his future…..I think he is doing the right thing……always do the right thing and let chips fall where they may. He will get paid well because of his performance on the field…..wherever he plays in 2015….
June 24th, 2014 at 2:39 pm
I am so glad the Bucs (and most of the league) stayed away from Johnny Football. After seeing the video of him drunk talking into a wad of cash like a phone was just awful. I know that Joe has already written a story for when Johnny F throws his first touchdown of how the Bucs missed out.
June 24th, 2014 at 3:32 pm
Pablo!? You there!?!
June 24th, 2014 at 3:35 pm
@TBR
Seriously what does that have to do with the story that has been written? Just because Joe mentions Johnny’s name that mean’s you go off on a wild tangent? MGM at it’s finest(or even if you aren’t just stupidity then)
With some of these players it isn’t so much of a money thing it is actually a respect thing(don’t get me wrong it’s still about money)… If Richard Sherman and the Seattle Seahawks believe he is the BEST CB in the NFL(I personally believe he isn’t and we let him go this offseason) then he should be paid CLOSE to one out of respect to what he does better than anyone else… Now with VJax obviously coming towards the backend of his career he might take on a B Marsh approach and take a smaller cut because he has made plenty of money throughout his career.. But this is a little different I believe because VJax’s first big contract was with the Bucs and was franchise tagged in San Diego a couple times and even held out for some 8 weeks into a season… Who knows though if the dude puts up another 1200-1500 and 8-12 TD season then he has earned his salary for next season…
@Joe
VJax is on the books for 4.8 million(dead money) next season regardless if he plays or is cut by us so I am pretty positive he will be a BUC next season(we could save 7.3 mil if he was cut but I think a restructure is more likely)
http://www.overthecap.com/cap.php?Name=Vincent%20Jacksonamp;Position=WR&Team=Buccaneers
June 24th, 2014 at 3:40 pm
Oh and the NFLPA would become a major problem as well… These contracts not only set the tone for the players currently, they are also paving the way for future players as well…
June 24th, 2014 at 4:09 pm
“…I am so glad the Bucs (and most of the league) stayed away from Johnny Football…”
Why? This is a clear example of being a “hater”. Why would you wish that on some 21 year old kid who you don’t even know? I understand that maybe you don’t like him for your team. But to wish no team drafted him is just hating. Pathetic
June 24th, 2014 at 5:16 pm
“kevin Says:
June 24th, 2014 at 2:04 pm
He did make johhny football. Just see how he does in cleveland with no Josh Gordon to bail him out. Which is why I am happy with glennon and mccown throwing to our weapons”
OK, MGMers. We’ve seen the standards. A QB with no talent around him that leads his team to at least (and for benefit of the doubt I’ll use MGM #s) the 27th ranked offense in the NFL is the QB of the future and I certainly hope to hear each and every one of you say how Manziel is the QB of the future for the Browns and in this league when the Browns look anything above horrendous (which our team’s offense actually looked last year and our QB is still QB of the future). We now have the new excuse for QBs in the NFL and it’s depleted talent around them.
PS: Kevin, not saying you’re MGM, don’t know if you are or not, but that was too perfect. Johnny will be bad with no talent around him is exactly the reason some fans think Glennon will be good.
June 24th, 2014 at 5:27 pm
Evans and the rest of the Aggies made Johnny.
The truth will come out in Cleveland.
Thank God the Bucs didn’t listen to the
local Maziel groupies during the draft.
June 24th, 2014 at 6:22 pm
BamBam, yes….if Johhny Football had Josh Gordon and another top tier receiver and was aloud to run wild like he did in college along with Cleveland competitive defense than I think the guy would help his team win they’re fair share of games. But with bad coaching which is probably what they will have in cleveland, lack of weapons with only Cameron catching passes after Gordon’s suspension I think that offense will have a horrible season. Glennon has a boat load of healthy talent around him now, some creative play calling soon to come and Lovie will take this defense back to where it should be I see us winning a lot of games. It’s all about the big picture. I’m not an MGM but I do like him and McCown. They may not be Drew Brees but do you think Drew Brees would be who he is playing on the raiders with Greg Olsen calling plays? I think not…
June 24th, 2014 at 6:35 pm
BTW there is a cool video on the Bucs website with Murphy, Demps, and Major Wright looking back at they’re years at Florida together and all coming together again in Tampa. Man I’m fired up this is going to be something special again in Tampa and it will be the the Glaziers, Lovie and Jason to thank for putting it all together. YYEEAAHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 24th, 2014 at 6:44 pm
This is all just opinion and speculation, which is why it’s fun. I don’t remember hearing about VJAX and any DUIS. Was this while he was a Charger? It seems like he has been a model citizen and teammate since he became a Buc.
June 24th, 2014 at 8:46 pm
“Joe hates to get all conspiratorial.”
Since when?
“Brandt also jokingly referred to Evans as “the guy that made [Johnny] Manziel.”
That was no joke 😉
June 24th, 2014 at 11:07 pm
Maybe Evans can make Glennon into Manziel!
June 25th, 2014 at 8:00 am
Yeah. He had two of them in San Diego. Doesn’t show in his play though. Another 1000 yard season coming up.