Shady McCoy: Bucs Will Be Fine Without Mike Evans, Chris Godwin
October 21st, 2025
This struck Joe because former Bucs running back LeSean “Shady” McCoy, the six-time Pro Bowler with the Bills and Eagles, was a notorious Baker Mayfield basher before this season.
McCoy seemingly took every opportunity to say Mayfield is not close to a star quarterback. A legitimate starter, yes, but middle of the pack at best, McCoy routinely barked on his FS1 show.
That changed this year and now it seems McCoy is all-in on Mayfield. Last night, McCoy was saying fans need to lay off Mayfield after a rough night against the Lions.
“Hey, you’re allowed to have a bad game. All superstars go through that,” McCoy said of Mayfield.
Most intriguing to Joe, McCoy thinks the Bucs will be fine without Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, who McCoy said is his favorite teammate of all-time.
Speaking last night on the Speakeasy YouTube channel, McCoy gushed about the Bucs young receivers, and their running backs.
“Even with the injuries, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, like them guys are great players and I know Bucs nation would love to have them because they are good, but them young boys can go, though. I’m going to say it again,” McCoy said. “And their running backs? Because Bucky Irving’s going to come back soon; you know what he’s about. Rachaad White, he ain’t so scrub. He’s solid. The offensive line is good and Baker is a good quarterback.
“But the wide receivers over there might not be No. 13 or No. 14, they’re not that, but them young bulls can roll and they won’t miss a beat.”
McCoy was adamant that Emeka Egbuka is a significantly better player than Evans and Godwin. And he emphasized the Bucs had receivers open last night but Mayfield just missed them high and low.
Shady also loves what he sees from Tez Johnson, “them young boys got juice!” Shady likes how Johnson, he said, coudn’t be jammed by Lions cornerbacks.
Joe’s not discounting the value of Mike Evans, but there is no substitute for young fresh legs. On that note, it might be time to free Devin Culp.
October 21st, 2025 at 2:21 pm
FREE DEVIN CULP !!!
October 21st, 2025 at 2:26 pm
Changing of the guard is coming sooner than we expected @ WR
EE should bounce back, Tez needs to focus and get ready. Can’t get J-Mac back soon enough.
Grizz needs to get to work.
October 21st, 2025 at 2:30 pm
Just do NOT bring Bucky for the AINTS game. Give him time to fully heal. If they can’t beat the AINTS without him, they are not a playoff team.
October 21st, 2025 at 2:32 pm
Shady’s takes are usually “shady as hell”. The Bucs will have to be “fine” without Evans & Godwin. I’d be shocked if Godwin returns anytime soon. JLicht and Assoc. are buying time…trying to make the re-signing seem like a good judgement call.
October 21st, 2025 at 2:33 pm
Sure, lose your 1 and 2 WRs, it’s no big deal at all.
If that was true, then why are you paying them $20m+ a year?
October 21st, 2025 at 2:35 pm
Been saying this all day….that loss is on baker. He had a bad game. Underthrew egbuka 2x near and in the end zone and overthrew tez in endzone….21 points right there. This team will be fine. Get through the saints and get healthy. Even if godwin isnt 100% this year a 70% or 80% godwin has to he respected on third downs.
October 21st, 2025 at 2:41 pm
I agree.
Loyalty is a respectable quality. Unfortunately – not in the NFL…
Both Godwin and Evans need to be put out to pasture.
Time to move on.
It breaks my heart – but so did watching Joe Montana play for the Chiefs and Jerry Rice play for the Raiders…
Spending nearly 20% of our total salary cap on these two players is too painful to bear at this point.
October 21st, 2025 at 2:47 pm
Before you free Culp, put him on the JUGS machine all week.
October 21st, 2025 at 2:52 pm
I think so. Especially, if we had a ‘healthy’ JMac and Eazy Double-E. With the right game-plan, & a healthy Bucky The Buc!
October 21st, 2025 at 2:57 pm
You people that don’t think having your future HOF WR, and a guy who was leading the NFL in receiving last year when he was hurt, that it’s no big deal, you’re really stupid.
WR’s, even middling ones, are getting $20M a year for a reason.
Lets hope Godwin is back soon – and the fact the Bucs never put him on IR gives hope that he will be. You need him, and you need McMillan back to hold down the fort until late in the year when hopefully Evans is back.
Also what are you morons talking about with them being old? Rice played to 42, Owens and Fitzgerald played until 37, and you dopes are ready to put Evans and Godwin out to pasture when they got years left. Stop being such drama queens.
October 21st, 2025 at 3:01 pm
You HAVE to be fine without Evans and Godwin, they’re out. And I agree with the mental attitude. Young fresh legs is right. Now that’s not to say I wouldn’t want those 2 back and healthy, that’s a given, but they’re not so we gotta roll with what we have. When JMAC get’s back that will help a lot and it may be the reason EE was drafted. Maybe the front office saw what we didn’t with father time. Godwin may need more time but don’t know what Mike is thinking today or in days to come. Family may have a say in returning as well.
October 21st, 2025 at 3:03 pm
lol@Rod.
October 21st, 2025 at 3:04 pm
@ Rod
Are you a Janet Jackson fan?
“What have you done for me lately?”
Sorry bro – them dudes are done.
Time to move on.
Thank goodness we drafted EE in round #1 and Tez in round #7.
Let go of the past and embrace the future…
October 21st, 2025 at 3:07 pm
Well they are going to have to be fine real quick!
Actually it’s the way of the NFL
Tremendous opportunity for some young players.
That former QB on the practice squad is going to get a chance soon.
Smart, quick and has great hands
October 21st, 2025 at 3:07 pm
Marine Buc – You think you only need one WR in the NFL?
Tez is a fun gadget player, he’s not an every down player.
The team needs Godwin back, right away, and needs Evans back for the playoffs if they’re going to do anything.
BTW, what is ‘lately’? Last week, two weeks ago? Evans was dominating all offseason, got injured, so you immediately ship him off to the glue factory?
As for Godwin, he’s 29 and already being paid by the team, and we’re supposed to do what, just cut him?
Come on, stop with the theatrics.
October 21st, 2025 at 3:12 pm
Hairdresser Hot Rod’s “Hot Takes”…must be between haircuts & wig fittings on a busy day in the salon. Hopefully you don’t refer to your “clients” as morons & dopes. You would definitely know about drama queens as the Queen Bee at your shop.
Evans is likely done, Godwin is hobbled but credit to him for the effort and last we heard McMillian is still in a neck brace nearly 10 weeks after the injury. No bueno, chica bonita.
October 21st, 2025 at 3:12 pm
@ Rod
Tempis fugit.
That is all.
Godwin has a chance to play a few more games. But “yes” – the glue factory is calling…
October 21st, 2025 at 3:35 pm
Tez needs a few concentrated days in the playbook. With some coaching (what’s that?). He’s got flash yet looked like the dumbest player on the field last night.
October 21st, 2025 at 3:40 pm
I wonder if any fans are starting to appreciate the transformation our Bucs’ offense has undergone since the 2021 season ended & Todd Bowles took the reins. BA initiated a ‘Bombs Away’ offense that ran relatively little & threw deep quite a bit when he came in 2019. Lasted for 3 years & worked VERY well with a good OLine, exceptional WRs, and oh ya, a GOAT for a QB.
Todd kept most of that for 2022 when he took over (at the last minute), but it didn’t work nearly as well as it did for BA. That year Todd’s offense was just as pass-focused as BA’s was, actually even more-so. Bucs only ran it on 33.3% of our plays that year, same number of times as we ran it in 2021 under BA. Nothing changed philosophically, not even our OC (well, not until Byron got replaced at the end of the season).
Starting in 2023, Todd Bowles’ OFFENSIVE philosophy took hold. Not Jason Licht’s; Todd Bowles. It called for a more BALANCED capability to attack, using either the run or the pass. And yes, dink & dunk found their way into our offense. And guess what, IT WORKED. With a new OC, a new QB & several other personnel changes our offense went from #25 in scoring in 2022 (scoring 313 points … 18.4 PPG) to #20 in scoring in 2023 (348 points … 20.5 PPG). And oh ya, our running increased from 33.3% to 41.9% for the season.
Then last year it improved a bunch further to #4 in scoring in 2024 (scoring an incredible 502 points … 29.5 PPG). And that was with a new OC, a new RB & several other personnel changes. And oh ya, our running increased again from 41.9% to 44.1% for the season. And our average rush went from 3.4 YPC with 8 rushing TDs to 5.3 YPC with 16 rushing TDs.
The constants have been Todd Bowles & Baker Mayfield. One provided the vision; the other executed it extremely well. It’s been ‘derailed’ a little this year because of excessive offensive injuries, but the capability is still there … once we get reasonably healed up.
October 21st, 2025 at 3:40 pm
Bowles says broken clavicle or is it just a small fracture? Most clavicle fractures don’t require surgery. So maybe ME13 has a real chance to return this season.
I think Evans retires after this season and possibly Godwin. Both are now so injury prone they are lucky to make it three games before another injury.
October 21st, 2025 at 3:50 pm
PS — I know a sausage that Shady needs to eat. His lone contribution in 2020 was dropping a Brady dime when he was wide open in the endzone against the Chargers. He’s a hygiene product, no more.
October 21st, 2025 at 3:51 pm
Well Tez needs to stop running into everyone’s routes.
I watched 2to 3 different times him doing that ish…
October 21st, 2025 at 3:52 pm
McCoy has some awful absolutely God awful takes on that show.lol need more than EE for sure I dunno what you get back from Godwin he looked a shell of his former self when he came back and was injured pretty quickly. Evans has been talking about retirement coming soon for a while dunno what he looks like coming back if he comes back at all this season or at all in general.
October 21st, 2025 at 3:53 pm
Really, without Evans and Godwin, if Baker is on, Tez has two TDs, EE has another, not to mention the overthrown, I do mean high balls baker was throwing. if J Mac comes back, the right use of the Johnsons, Bucs could still be fine. Not to mention, if we could truly scheme real space for Rachaad, Bucky or even Tucker, it could be dangerous out of the backfield. Otton will become that safety outlet like Baker has done the last couple of games, and BTW, a better pass and that is not an INT with Otton.
October 21st, 2025 at 3:56 pm
Bring Tyler Lockett in for Veteran experience. I don’t think it will hurt
October 21st, 2025 at 4:00 pm
tez looks way more like a 3rd rounder than a 7th rounder
October 21st, 2025 at 4:09 pm
I agree that Baker had a bad game, but in fairness it is very difficult to make good throws when the center and right side of your line are getting pushed back or beaten regularly. I didn’t really understand why Grizz wasn’t incorporating some quick slants to slow down the rush. Running five wide against that d-line was foolish and the Lions were well prepared for the screen game. The offensive plan was not good.
October 21st, 2025 at 4:09 pm
The most important part is getting the right side of our Oline fixed. Hopefully Luke comes back after bye week.
October 21st, 2025 at 4:10 pm
We have no idea how good we could be with our full compliment of WRs….we haven’t had them.
JMac coming back will help a lot……we need another WR who can get open.
Last night our problem was with the Oline…..it broke down badly rattling Baker who was erratic all night.
It looks as if Mike will be back for the playoffs….along with Goedeke.
It is very frursrating not getting any news on these injured players…..
How is Jmac coming along?…….
October 21st, 2025 at 4:22 pm
Can they have Devin Culp run WR routes, he has close to the size and athleticism as Mike Evans
October 21st, 2025 at 4:44 pm
I always got the impression that McCoy was trying too hard to impress Joy Taylor with his over the top Mayfield critiques.
To me, neither were watchable whether they were talking about Mayfield or not.
October 21st, 2025 at 4:44 pm
Marine Buc – You did watch the game, right? Did you see Evans make some big sideline catches, that of course Baker threw out of bounds – and yet Evans caught them with a guy all over them. Evans also had the deep ball, despite the defender committing pass interference, lost it when he got knocked out after hitting the ground. What exactly made you think Evans is washed up watching the game? Because he got his collar bone broke? You think that’s related to lack of calcium of something that comes with old age? Mike was getting open and making plays, even as Baker was missing.
All you people rooting against Evans, thinking the team only needs one good WR to be good, have no idea what you’re watching.
October 21st, 2025 at 4:53 pm
There is a potential secret weapon waiting in the wings on the practice squad. His name is Garrett Greene WR. He is converting from QB to WR and is said to be impressing coaches. Maybe it’s time to see what he can do. I thought he looked good in preseason. No one mentions the guy, I’ve only seen it once.
October 21st, 2025 at 4:59 pm
Bucs failed to realize Evans and Godwin were done for. Should of cut them loose.
October 21st, 2025 at 5:25 pm
“That changed this year and now it seems McCoy is all-in on Mayfield. ”
Umm not quite. He was one of the main detractors to the idea Baker was an MVP.
October 21st, 2025 at 5:37 pm
Oh Roddy Boy
“You think that’s related to lack of calcium of something that comes with old age?”
No its partly related to Decline in bone density
“As athletes age, their bone mineral density naturally decreases. This process can be accelerated by a history of sports-related injuries and surgeries. A wide receiver, whose bone strength is constantly tested by intense cutting and jumping, may experience greater bone fragility with age compared to younger players.
and time of Slower healing:
“The body’s ability to heal and regenerate also declines with age. While a 28-year-old can often recover from a fracture relatively quickly, the same injury in a 32-year-old may lead to a longer rehabilitation period and an increased risk of complications”
Now before you go babbling on in ignorance I am not saying Mike is done but I find the odds pretty low Mike and Godwin BOTH are going to be the mike and Godwin we know them as last year. Godwin’s situation is beginning to look suspicious
Like it or not perhaps not as fast as people are saying BUT the changing of the guard IS upon us.
October 21st, 2025 at 5:50 pm
@marine Buc
“Both Godwin and Evans need to be put out to pasture.
Time to move on.”
Time may come but no excuse to be rude to players that gave us a ship. Thats just downright rude and childish.
October 21st, 2025 at 5:51 pm
MikeBuc – LOL! Yeah, Mike is old and crippled at 32, needs to be brought out back and put down.
Give me a break.
He got hurt because he got dragged to the ground on turf … AFTER he beat his man, btw. It’s a injury that is considered common in the NFL. Put that into the AI you’re copying and pasting from and see what it says.
October 21st, 2025 at 5:53 pm
I AGRRE WITH ROD MUNCH!!!
October 21st, 2025 at 6:03 pm
Tbbf
Last night our problem was Baker.. High and outside on numerous throws. And the horrendous officiating, of course.
October 21st, 2025 at 6:05 pm
Are Luke or McMillan coming back this year or what? I hate how everything is such a huge secret with our injuries. Not like I’m looking to see the guys medical chart, but an idea of when we COULD see them again would be nice.
October 21st, 2025 at 6:09 pm
“MikeBuc – LOL! Yeah, Mike is old and crippled at 32,”
weak minds always have to come up with exaggerations as straw men. I deliberately stated Mike is not necessarily done but yeah at 32 the body can’t take what it used to. You citing 40+ old player exceptions like they are the new standard and the human body has changed is as silly as you arguing with people a few years back that modern NFl teams doesn’t need running back or winston was the answer and lets not forget who didn’t want to sign Mayfield at 30 mill.
Always with the bad takes
October 21st, 2025 at 6:23 pm
Rod, you are 100 % correct sir !! ME13 and CG 14 have a lot more game! The Buccaneers need them both back asap. But as the reality of not having them sets in, naturally, the Bucs are just going to have to make do with the level of offensive talent we have left. Fortunately, that’s a lot !!
Everyone just has to put the Lions game behind them and realize the Buccaneers are in a great position right now to go into the bye week with a 6-2 record !! That would be so amazing.
I can’t think of any quarterback and team who will fight harder than Baker & Co to get the Bucs into the playoffs !!
Go Bucs !! Beat the Saints !!
October 21st, 2025 at 6:41 pm
This team is not ready to make a deep run in the playoffs period.
I tell you what Mr. Licht needs to make a move, they are now starting to double team Double EE. God is not playing, and well Mike you hope he’s back by Atlanta game. 😏 we are not beating Rams not happening.Buffalo probably put Jami on us
too. So try a win the rest.
October 21st, 2025 at 6:56 pm
Assuming Mike does not come back this year, and Chris continues to struggle getting back, and J-Mac is back after the bye, we should still have 1 of the strongest WR rooms in the league.
EE, J-Mac, Shep, Tez, Miller
Tez needs to buckle down….his time to be a real pro has come earlier than anyone expected.
Would love to see Grizz get/keep Kam Johnson involved too.
Shortage of talent was DEFINITELY NOT the problem last night. Either Grizz didn’t have the answers or Baker and the boys couldn’t execute well enough to ever get going.
October 21st, 2025 at 7:22 pm
Yes, Evans will be missed. His size and strength make him a unique weapon. But we beat the Seahawks and the Falcons without them.
October 21st, 2025 at 7:27 pm
The Bucs will be fine. We would be better with all of our guys. The young WRs we have do have talent and had we executed on offense and not missed key tackles we could have beaten the Lions last night.
October 21st, 2025 at 8:25 pm
Run the ball jeez, 2nd and long, 3rd and 5 , mix in some runs, don’t quit on run game.
October 21st, 2025 at 8:41 pm
I’m more concerned about getting Bucky back than ME13.
October 21st, 2025 at 9:31 pm
Old “Ray-Ray” (Sickles Own) comin’ back home!? We can use him right now, for sure. Heard ATL just released him. Also, heard he went NUTS after the Ike Hilliard firing, or something like that. And, his targets being down, since Mooney is back to full-health. I say bring him in. He’s in game shape and READY!!!! Good Ol’ Bake can get him back goin again. Can return punts too, if Cam were to go dine next.
October 21st, 2025 at 10:55 pm
Bring back Trey Palmer! I kid, I kid….
October 21st, 2025 at 10:56 pm
2 words: Tyler Lockett
October 21st, 2025 at 10:59 pm
@ Marine Buc: Rude much? Glue factory for Godwin? Jeez. just stop. please re- invent yourself.
October 21st, 2025 at 11:21 pm
Look what happens to a fan base when you don’t have a head coach.
October 21st, 2025 at 11:41 pm
Gone Gator
There were open receivers, despite the pressure.
Baker could not hit them, other than the one to Mike which was perfect… he just had a clown piggyback on him….
October 21st, 2025 at 11:46 pm
Pseudo fans calling for Mike Evans to retire? Pathetic.
The dude beat the coverage over the top and then the defender, at full speed down field 40 yards, jumped on his back, had his arm draped around his neck, before the ball ever showed up, the refs didn’t bother throwing a damn flag. Came down with that weight on him- broken clavicle and concussion. This has nothing to do with being 32.
The question is what is the status of Godwin??
October 22nd, 2025 at 7:02 am
What’s the argument here? Evans and/or Godwin are done? That’s a hypothetical right now. You don’t know. I don’t know. What’s not a hypothetical is neither one is on the field nor will they be anytime soon if at all. We have chronically injured players all over the place. Geodeke is another one. Week after week after week and not a peep on his status. He’s just out. The Saint’s game now looms large. We either get a critical W before the bye or we start another mid season downfall like we’ve had multiple years in a row now.
This team needs to play like their lives depend on it Sunday.
October 22nd, 2025 at 9:31 am
Bucs lost in Motown cos the offense barely showed up. That’s on Grizzard and Feisty Bake. The horrendous referee performance added salt to that wound. It also almost got HOF-bound ME13 killed. I skipped the game. From the credible reports, there were some positives. On defense, there was decent play from Yaya, VV, SVD, Tykee, Parrish and some others. The ST has cleaned up its act. The offense? Well, we have got a stable of receivers: White, Otton, EE2, Tez, etc. and that’s mostly young guys. Add in ME13 and CG14, but only if they are 100%. Buc Luck has bit us bad this year, but we are 5-2. I’m getting out Obeah beads for this Aints game, but the Bucs won’t need them. Go Bucs!! 6-2 at the Bye!!
October 22nd, 2025 at 10:00 am
I really like Tez, but did they give him a different playbook?
October 22nd, 2025 at 1:02 pm
Out in the pasture! You are nuts! A lot in the tank left here, just from playing and mentoring standpoint is enough with ME & CG. Hell the physical play is plenty with Mike even if he lost a step.