Bucs Receiver Quits
September 9th, 2016
Bizarre yet minor development at One Buc Palace today.
Tampa Bay placed practice squad receiver Evan Spencer on the reserve/retired list, which means 23-year-old Spencer hung up his cleats.
A sixth-round pick out of Ohio State by the Redskins last year, Spencer is the son of Bucs running backs coach Tim Spencer, a former NFL running back.
Evan Spencer joined the Bucs in 2015, and then he made the Tampa Bay 53-man roster this year. But he was cut abruptly Tuesday when the Bucs signed veteran receiver Cecil Shorts.. Spencer was waived to make room and then was re-signed to the practice squad.
And today he quit.
Joe hopes the young man is ok mentally after what had to be a gut-wrenching week. It sure is a strange call by someone who has devoted so much to football — and had a real job in the league.
September 9th, 2016 at 10:55 am
I’d say he’s one of the many who sees the risk vs. reward side of things. He’s not subjecting himself to any less risk of long term damage than anyone else out on the field. It’s worth it if you’re getting those outrageous paydays, but if you’re just barely holding on to a position, as Spencer was, then it’s not always worth it for them if they have other career options.
September 9th, 2016 at 10:57 am
It’s gotta be tough to be a fringe player in the NFL…so close to ecstacy and also so close to working stiff status. Best wishes for this fella…
September 9th, 2016 at 11:03 am
welcome back, Kenny Bell.
September 9th, 2016 at 11:13 am
feelthepewterpower
Look at you bringing kenny bell jokes to the table on this fine friday morning….. nice
September 9th, 2016 at 11:15 am
Just doesnt love football, I mean stay on practice squad and make 100k, not sure how that is a bad gig and maybe get called up and make more….now he can be a ham n egger like the rest of us and crack big boulders into smaller ones and play flag football and tell people how great he WAS
September 9th, 2016 at 11:23 am
He’s the son of the running backs coach!!!!!. Gee, i wonder what the problem could be? You can’t have that dynamic on a team. Coach’s son ends in high school.
September 9th, 2016 at 11:35 am
Hey Joe – Did you notice there was game played last night? The Stinking Panthers lost in Denver… You know I love you bro but did you not think this was note worthy today?
September 9th, 2016 at 11:41 am
The 0-1 Panthers.
September 9th, 2016 at 11:42 am
I suspect he decided he could actually play elsewhere, maybe in the CFL or Arena League, for a year.
September 9th, 2016 at 11:42 am
There mac we both noted it. lol
September 9th, 2016 at 11:50 am
This is a bucs site not a panthers Broncos site. If you want to read about the panthers or Broncos go somewhere else.
So no it’s not noteworthy on a bucs site.
September 9th, 2016 at 11:55 am
Sounds like he isn’t in to football enough.. So see ya.
He would get 100k on the practice squad all year and if moved up for 6 games gets the rookie salary of 435k.
September 9th, 2016 at 11:59 am
Pretty sure he’s not gonna make $7k/week in any other career though. I mean, maybe he could, but not likely.
September 9th, 2016 at 12:01 pm
Wow. I guess that’s one way to weed out the mentally weak. Who quits an NFL team 3 days before the 1st game of the season?? Sure it was probably mentally difficult to have been told you “made it” – only to be cut 2 days later. But damn man – they resigned Spencer to the practice squad and he would have still been making $7k per week to play the role of scout receiver and continue honing his skills. I don’t get it.
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JonBuc Says:
September 9th, 2016 at 10:57 am
“so close to ecstacy”
or maybe Jon is onto something. Maybe Spencer started hanging out with Freewee’s old buddies recently…
September 9th, 2016 at 12:04 pm
Mebbe he just decided pro football wasn’t for him, and finished bowing out gracefully. NFL ball is a violent, rough, short career. Not everyone is cut out for it.
September 9th, 2016 at 12:11 pm
The “ohh nooo perfect season!” And one Stankin poohtie tats!
September 9th, 2016 at 12:38 pm
Maybe after two years of giving it his best shot, he just wants to move on with his life.
September 9th, 2016 at 1:00 pm
The power of Kenny Bell compels you. The power of Kenny Bell compels you.
September 9th, 2016 at 1:40 pm
1 of 2 things, either this reeks of organization disfunction or Spence was a sheep after all.
September 9th, 2016 at 1:48 pm
Nothing strange about Spencer quitting at all. Its his perrogative! Can’t recall the guy, but yrs back we (The Bucs) had a lineman who I believed started just up and walked out of camp. Some of you ole heads help me out here. can’t recall his name. But what happens is a man may figure he’s just had enough or has given all he can give. its like takin a dump..When its time to go..its time to go! good Luck Mr Spencer.
September 9th, 2016 at 1:59 pm
Aaron Sears? Poor guy…
September 9th, 2016 at 2:25 pm
SEARS…. Tragic story.
September 9th, 2016 at 2:40 pm
“The kevin” Says:
September 9th, 2016 at 11:50 am
It’s noteworthy when the NFC South champ starts the year with a loss. Our road to the playoffs has a lot to do with Carolina. So, you’re wrong.
September 9th, 2016 at 3:05 pm
Hey Mike Johnson,
How is your hangover?
Do you remember anything from last night?
September 9th, 2016 at 3:27 pm
Vitale is back on the practice squad to replace him.
September 9th, 2016 at 6:24 pm
Yeah Dave Pear, I remember..vividly!! Had 2 ladies here partying all night long. I know what I said. Course I did have to put on a breathing mask to clear…a lot of the smoke! Sometimes Joe says things here for the drama effect. And when I don’t like’em, I say so. Kinda like the SF QB, I don’t like what he’s doing, but as an American, he has the right to do so. Besides everybody here plays the coulda/woulda/shoulda game. I believe in results. I’m a pragmatist. I believe in Results. Like those I had last night with the ladies!
September 9th, 2016 at 6:56 pm
@Mike Johnson,
So, you’re saying you had a threesome? Was one of them the obese lawn mowing neighbor? Nice! Congratulations. We were just worried about you. Normally you are just annoying but, last night you took it too an entirely different level. Hope everything is OK. And we know, if we don’t win, Koetter will be on the Pier with Schiano and Lovie fishing.
Go Bucs!
September 9th, 2016 at 10:36 pm
Say Dave Pear…I was there at the very first Bucs game ever played. A lot of these Winers were in diapers or..a twinkle in Mom and dads eyes!! I’m a Bucs fan. Just not the kind people on this website want ME…to be. With my Bucs, I’ve seen the good/bad/ugly and then some over the many years. I say what many..won’t say. And eventually This website will probably ban me. And I’m ok with it. I’ll have a beer and a shot of tequlla and drown my sorrows in that..fat lawn girls bosoms!! At ny age brother, You take it how you can get it!! And occasionally..one falls into the ole lap!! Hey, I’m Ok. Thanks for asking. I’m just sick of the hype dude. Bucs put it on coaching. Not the players. Every workplace though I’ve ever been in has scapegoats. Lets win some games. I won’t comment on Sundays game til Tuesday. Me and the gals will be doin..gas mask trng!!!
GO BUCS!!
September 10th, 2016 at 6:48 am
@Mike Johnson – maybe your story about your dalliances with these women would be more believable if you weren’t berating the Joes in a website comments section during the time you were supposed to be having this wild night. I’m sure plenty of us on here have had those sorts of night. Speaking for myself, a website and the Bucs are the last thing on my mind in those settings
September 10th, 2016 at 1:52 pm
Patrick in Hell….That’s because YOU..have failed to master the art of multitasking. Or..Maybe enjoying women requires all of your concentration/energy? Always remember dear Patrick my son, The maker made all of us different. That’s why some play football, and some sling useless comments around..like us!