Jason Licht: Third-And-28 Did Not Run Mike Evans Out Of Town
March 18th, 2026
“Todd, why are people blaming you for running Mike Evans off?”
Until there is a real answer from Mike Evans himself, Joe can only speculate as to the exact reason that pushed Evans away from the Bucs for good.
(And for the people who cannot understand why this is a big deal, No. 1, Evans was one of the greatest players in Bucs history who was not pushed out the door like Warren Sapp and John Lynch were. No. 2, as recently as 14 months ago, Evans publicly professed his love for the team and how he wanted to retire playing only for the Bucs. Now, 14 months later, he took a massive pay cut not to play for Tampa Bay. That’s major. Additionally, if an organization does not find out what chased off Evans, this can happen next year, two years from now or into the future. If you have a water main leak in your yard, you don’t ignore it hoping it doesn’t ever happen again; you fix it. Frankly, this is the biggest Bucs story since Bucco Bruce Arians retired, maybe the biggest since the Bucs won the Super Bowl.)
A lot of fans are convinced Evans gave up on the Bucs when he had an understandable crashout over the Bucs giving up a first down to Atlanta on national television despite having the Dixie Chicks in a third-and-28 situation.
Good defenses and maybe good defensive coordinators never allow that to happen with a playoff berth on the line.
In a sitdown with select Tampa Bay media today, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht rejected the idea that third-and-28, or even Todd Bowles himself, sent Evans over the edge to decidedenough was enough with the Bucs.
“I feel pretty strongly that — I’ve seen that theory — a lot of people were frustrated,” Licht said. “Mike was frustrated as competitive as he is. Nothing was ever directed at [Bowles].
“I mean, probably the person that was most frustrated was Todd.”
In fact, Licht said the outburst Evans had was borderline normal in unfortunate circumstances throughout the league and it doesn’t mean the upset player wants to pull an Antonio Brown.
“Every team I have been a part of there are instances like that where players get emotional at times where it’s not as public or caught on camera,” Licht said. “[Third-and-28] had zero to do with it.”
Again, Licht referenced a “family decision” motivated Evans to bid adios to Tampa Bay.
March 18th, 2026 at 5:21 pm
More like the team completely collapsing to close the season.
3rd & 28 was just the largest example of it.
Apathy
March 18th, 2026 at 5:21 pm
Bull$hit
March 18th, 2026 at 5:22 pm
And the team sat on their hands during this off season doing minimal work. ME saw that the Bucs FO and coaches were happy with the status quo.
March 18th, 2026 at 5:22 pm
If the offense don’t turn the ball over
If they get a few 1st down on their next possession, instead of punting
There would be no 3-28
The defense was on the field for too long
March 18th, 2026 at 5:22 pm
Give it rest, Joe. He’s no longer a Buc. Regardless of the circumstances, it’s done.
March 18th, 2026 at 5:25 pm
Mike played in 8 games, was barely a participant in 7 of THOSE
March 18th, 2026 at 5:27 pm
5 straight ME posts. SMH.
March 18th, 2026 at 5:28 pm
Hey Lichtbrain-When you get canned after this season along with Bowles may I suggest you dabble in politics, because you definitely have a penchant for lying.
March 18th, 2026 at 5:28 pm
Haven’t any of you guys wanted a different job after being stuck… And you think hey, maybe it might pay a bit less, but I only live once and my happiness is more important to me than anyone or anything. God bless Mike Evans. He’s a class act. Wish him all the best in the next chapter.
March 18th, 2026 at 5:30 pm
Well it didn’t help!
March 18th, 2026 at 5:32 pm
Lakeland, Special Teams put the Defense in a jam every series by letting the opposition start at or near the 50-yard line. If the D was lucky enough to stop them, our offense was stuck with starting field position at the 10 yard-line.
March 18th, 2026 at 5:34 pm
The answer to WHY lies somewhere in between Lavonte David (if he doesn’t retire) wanting to come back to the Bucs to do the rarity and finish off his entire career as a Buc and retire here and still loving the Bucs family and Mike Evans not wanting to do the exact same and not feeling the same way as David
Both captains of the team in very similar situations that chose 2 completely different paths with an open door policy in front of them. It’s possible/probable they didn’t see eye to eye on the Bucs as a whole.
One said I’m coming back if I don’t retire and one said laters and couldn’t get farther away.
March 18th, 2026 at 5:34 pm
Some will not accept the truth if it does not fit their own personal agendas.
March 18th, 2026 at 5:37 pm
Once again Licht is not going to say. Hey yes Mike said it 3-28 made him leave. He has to defend the Organization because Mike’s actions spoke volumes. Sadly Mike was totally frustrated. The Bucs while not admitting it, hopefully internally they are acknowledging wow, maybe we should look at the whole Organization because a very talented and dedicated player just said, hey, sorry going to take less money and play with a class Organization, and Coaches , because this Organization is going the wrong way.
It is that simple .
March 18th, 2026 at 5:38 pm
Then why did he leave???
Stated two years ago WANT TO BE A BUC FOR LIFE
Then this year leaves for LESS MONEY?
But Noo it’s not Bowles
RIGHT 😉
Bet if Bowles was gone Mike would be here
March 18th, 2026 at 5:39 pm
Maybe the answer is as simple as the one we’re being told. People will sometimes read something into a situation when they don’t believe what they’re told,{which is Narcissistic}. I’m not calling anyone that but maybe the answer is private and no ones business. Maybe it was time for a change of scenery and that’s it. I appreciate Joe and others asking the questions and Licht answering but I believe it’s time to put it to rest. I think we have the answer. Do I believe the answer? Not all of it but hey, I’m done with and ready to move forward.
March 18th, 2026 at 5:40 pm
I give the Bucs Credit in that THEY ATE STICKING BY THIS GUY NO MATTER WHAT
DEFEND TO THE END
BOWLES HAS SOMETHING ON SOMEONE
March 18th, 2026 at 5:40 pm
BS Licht. 3rd and 28 ran me out of town for a while….Hope you and Bowles fix our sorry defense. It was truly pitiful last season.
March 18th, 2026 at 5:41 pm
Yes it did !!! Get your head out of your ask !!
March 18th, 2026 at 5:43 pm
Where will the breaking point be with Jason ?
I don’t believe one word of that tripe and I doubt he does either.
Jason seems like a good honest man. How much more of the BS will he put up with ?
He had to live with the 1st pick debacle of Jaboo. ( It was a pick he had to make.)
He had to clean up the mess in the aftermath of the TB12/BA/BL fiasco.
And now this.
I feel bad for the man because I don’t feel any of this is his fault.
The cowards have staked him to the ant hill.
Go get a TV gig Jason and leave it in the owners lap.
March 18th, 2026 at 5:47 pm
Bucs3 Says:
March 18th, 2026 at 5:40 pm
BOWLES HAS SOMETHING ON SOMEONE
^^^^^^
Remember the Denver home game.
Bowles quote ” I had nothing to do with that.”
March 18th, 2026 at 5:52 pm
It was 3rd and 28, Baker Mayfield, Cade Otton, and Todd. There all still here and he’s not. Just like Braswell is going to shock the NFL. Mike Evans did all the shocking by leaving. Liam Cohen did the same thing.
March 18th, 2026 at 5:54 pm
Joe, why do YOU think he left? We want your opinion. You’re anonymous for goodness sake. Why do YOU think he left? We’d rather hear your opinion than the front office is spin. You clearly read these things, why aren’t you dodging this question?
March 18th, 2026 at 6:01 pm
Hugh Glazerhouse Says:
March 18th, 2026 at 5:54 pm
Joe, why do YOU think he left? We want your opinion. You’re anonymous for goodness sake.
^^^^^
That shows how much you know.
March 18th, 2026 at 6:04 pm
Too many offensive mouths to feed in Tampa. Gainwell, Irving, Otten, Godwin, Ebuka, Mcmillin, and the list goes on.
In SF you have Kittle (often hurt)
An over 30 McCaffrey. That’s it!
Evans will have little or no competition for the ball.
March 18th, 2026 at 6:04 pm
The Bucs Front Office lives in a bubble.
Whatever Jason says is bs.
Braswell gonna shock the world.
Watts is an explosive player with a high upside.
Etc, etc, etc….
Ask why the Bucs could only sign guys over 31 at the tail end of their careers?
IMO it’s because the younger D side of the ball guys think that Tampa is where your career goes to die.
And on the PR side of things….
First Ko Kieft
Then Shelton (com’on)
Now Licht.
It’s pathetic.
I don’t buy what any of them are selling.
March 18th, 2026 at 6:13 pm
NFL.com :
Evans’ willingness and apparent eagerness to join the 49ers reflected poorly on the state of the Buccaneers, the Super Bowl LV champions who have since repeatedly failed to prove they’re better than a Divisional Round exit, if that. Some saw it as a lack of confidence in coach Todd Bowles, a defensive minded veteran whose teams have skewed toward the offensive side out of necessity in recent years and collapsed down the stretch of the 2025 season, a span that included a shocking prime-time loss to Atlanta that inspired an Evans rant afterward.
hey Joe was Fred Flintstone Licht chugging a bottle of Jack Daniels during your sit-down ? sounds like he wasn’t making a lot of sense
March 18th, 2026 at 6:14 pm
This situation is building with no signs of slowing down. Soon the SF media will want juicy red meat and so will the national media.
Mike will continue to be pressed then his agent will have to say something because the SF front office will want nothing to do with it. Someone will start asking about the family aspect. Sooner or later, after continuously being asked why, Mike may crack and say it.
I only follow it here on JBF so keep us informed about the other media Joe.
Maybe it’s not that big of a deal to rest of the country.
March 18th, 2026 at 6:29 pm
Check on the guys. It has been a couple hours since a Mike Evans Post
March 18th, 2026 at 6:36 pm
Lets keep rearranging the deck chairs. Coping is ez.
March 18th, 2026 at 6:38 pm
Of course it wasn’t Todd…it was all the Assistant Coaches’ fault. The Licht spin is in…which pro sports team fires almost their whole coaching staff and keeps the guy in charge of those coaches? As Jay Glazer said: ‘How the hell does Todd not get fired?’
March 18th, 2026 at 6:41 pm
Cmon Mike
Level with the fans and tell us the truth, it shouldn’t be that hard
March 18th, 2026 at 6:51 pm
Wow this blog is obsessing over Evans leaving… he’s gone, get over it Joe
Doug Williams left
John Lynch left
Warren Sapp left.
Please move on…
March 18th, 2026 at 6:53 pm
Yea ok Jason lol
March 18th, 2026 at 6:55 pm
So JL how long are the Glazers saying we are allowed to suck like we did during the last 9 games before Bowles gets fired. 8 games, 12, Jan???
March 18th, 2026 at 6:55 pm
Because we better draft an Edge Rd 1 and not suck
March 18th, 2026 at 6:57 pm
3rd and 28.
Edge Rd 1
ILB Rd 2
CB Rd 3
So the rest of our team doesn’t leave
March 18th, 2026 at 6:57 pm
Jason Licht= NFL’s biggest gaslighter. Nobody is buying your crap buddy. Post that on your bulletin board.
Not just 3rd and 28, but 4th and 14.
March 18th, 2026 at 7:01 pm
Evans knew returning Bowles as HC, meant Ownership isn’t all in on Winning! And the Combo of Bowles and Licht are content with Division Championships in a very bad Division
March 18th, 2026 at 7:02 pm
Wait, Joe, did Evans leave?
March 18th, 2026 at 7:03 pm
“Until there is a real answer from Mike Evans himself, Joe can only speculate as to the exact reason that pushed Evans away from the Bucs for good.”
That’s part of the problem…. Endless speculation repeated over and over becomes a narrative becomes truth to those who are unable or unwilling to think for themselves.
Speculation, reading between the lines, suspecting, are all fine but when you repeat it over and over and present it as truth it’s gossip.
At least 1 Joe seems very invested in convincing everyone that Todd or the defense ran Mike off but there is really no evidence that’s the case.
Everything Mike has said on the topic is predictable talk for anyone going to a new team. What’s he supposed to say….. I wanted to come to a team where I could get more targets? I think my new team, new QB, new coach are nothing special?
March 18th, 2026 at 7:07 pm
He didn’t leave due to 3rd and 28. He left becauSe the Glazers retained a failed HC / DC
March 18th, 2026 at 7:22 pm
Keep these qoutes coming Joe, I love a good laugh! Licht is priceless! Third, and 28, I’ve seen that theory, a lot of people were frustrated, none more so than Todd. Stop, you’re killing me! My side hurts.