Was It Just Mike Evans Who Wanted To Leave?
March 11th, 2026
Players looked to bail?
Mike Evans really wanted to get the hell out of town, though maybe not as badly as Rachaad White. Joe is beginning to wonder if Evans wasn’t the only starter.
The Bucs defense quit on Bucs coach Todd Bowles last year. If that sounds harsh, Joe will soften the statement and suggest the defense tuned Bowles out.
Five times in the second half of the season, either Lavonte David or Baker Mayfield or Bowles unloaded on the defense for playing soft, uninspired, lazy football. Bowles teed off twice, including his rare outburst of foul language after the gutless loss to Atlanta on Thursday Night Football.
David, who himself may be gone into retirement, also lashed out at his defensive teammates twice. Joe must be clear: David is tight with Bowles and has said on the record if Bowles had been fired after the 2025 season, he would have already retired.
Now, look what is happening. Evans had enough and allegedly took less money to go to San Francisco. Third-and-28, man.
Jamel Dean also left. People think Bowles and Dean were close but Joe has heard they weren’t that close lately. They had a good professional relationship but weren’t kin. Joe knows Dean was frustrated late last season. Perhaps he got fed up.
Now Joe isn’t saying Logan Hall leaving for Houston is a massive hole. But Hall was solid in what Bowles asked him to do: Eat blocks and clog holes. He got a chance to go back to the same city where he played his college ball and play for a loaded defense.
Perhaps Evans, Dean, White and Hall all coudn’t wait to get out of town?
The Bucs have been pretty quiet since Monday in free agency, other than getting starting inside linebacker Alex Anzalone, a solid pickup, and Kenneth Greenwell, a really good backup running back. Now, Joe has to believe free agents saw Evans bail for less money and thought if a Hall of Fame receiver is done with the team, maybe there is a reason and they should be careful considering Tampa Bay?
It’s hard to sign players who are reluctant to sign.
The new league year starts at 4 p.m. and there’s no doubt about it: The Bucs are a worse team than they were two days ago, with at least three holes in the starting defensive lineup that could grow to four if David hangs up his cleats.
Oh yeah, and no Hall of Fame receiver.
March 11th, 2026 at 5:14 am
Hope David returns now. He’ll make the tank job complete. The rats are jumping off a sinking pirate ship, and landing on luxury cruise liners. Good for them! Only Bowles, and Licht need to go down with the ship. SOS.
March 11th, 2026 at 6:03 am
6-11 season upcoming, we are going back to the lost decade. I personally have no faith in the coaching of this team and Jason Licht has to much faith in Bowles and his roster.
March 11th, 2026 at 6:04 am
surprised none of the posters on here are calling mike evans negative for being fed up with the bucs. i remember last season before the epic collapse any questioning of bowles by posters on here would get you attacked by the bowles loyalists fans on here.
March 11th, 2026 at 6:07 am
Rats? Bowles is still on the team brother.
Who can blame any player for betting on themselves?
The coaching staff is atrocious, which makes players discontent and leave. The only way out is through. Rebuild through the draft. Develop talent and make Tampa attractive again. Just take the five gap years like New England. At this point it’s the only way out. No one’s coming to save us. It’s sucks but that’s life I guess.
March 11th, 2026 at 6:08 am
Yeah they kept the Toilet Bowl and flushed the entire team and organization in the process…
March 11th, 2026 at 6:12 am
The bigger question could concern those who are under contract and really want to leave! Will they just go through the motions, play not to win but to stay healthy and as the season sinks deeper toward the #1 pick for 2027 hope they are traded to a contender before the season ends! A long frustrating season is in the cards for the 2026 season. Advice to all, take a deep seat and hang on tight, 2026 ain’t going to be pretty,
March 11th, 2026 at 6:13 am
Oxy,
I know exactly what you mean.
I called out Todd early on (foreseeing the inevitable collapse) while we were on our hot/lucky streak and got blasted by a bunch of people I’d never seen on here before.
Total tards.
March 11th, 2026 at 6:15 am
I am not a Toliet Bowl fan. LOST FAITH 3 years ago in playoff game against Rams. DOWNWARD SPIRAL ever since. The Glazers love Todd or maybe his cheap price tag.
I am ok with Mike leaving. We played better offense last year when he was out. Dean is good but always hurt. Hall meh. David is good and next to Alex may play better. I LOVE Alex and Kenneth addition….I think we are better than last year.
Most excited Teddy B is outta here….off to Detroit.
March 11th, 2026 at 6:18 am
If I’m Mike Evans, you’ve already spent 13 years here, and the idea of spending my remaining years playing the same boring teams and boring division going 8-9 – AND celebrating a division “championship” going 8-9 as if we’re the 90s Cowboys just cannot be appealing or exciting. I don’t even take pleasure in saying that. I’m just trying to be objective, level headed, realistic. Look at that NFC West – the rams are gnna be a juggernaut. You have the Seahawks and a healthy Niners team. Every game is gnna me a must see tv nationally televised game. That just has to be exciting, and a real opportunity for Evans to shed that annoying “mOsT uNdErRaTeD rEcEiVeR eVErrrrr” label. He gets to play with Kyle freaking Shanahan who will use him in incredible ways and frankly I wouldn’t be surprised if he has a career year in touchdowns. Also those of you saying Tampa made a good decision – lmao. Got news for you guys, Tampa very likely offered a lot more than the Niners. This is a huge indictment on the current state and immediate future of our team.
March 11th, 2026 at 6:20 am
we all wish we were mike evans and we too could leave this dumb team, in what universe is any of this good? 5-12 in 26’
March 11th, 2026 at 6:27 am
Lynchmob47 Says:
March 11th, 2026 at 6:15 am
I am not a Toliet Bowl fan. LOST FAITH 3 years ago in playoff game against Rams. DOWNWARD SPIRAL ever since. The Glazers love Todd or maybe his cheap price tag.
I am ok with Mike leaving. We played better offense last year when he was out. Dean is good but always hurt. Hall meh. David is good and next to Alex may play better. I LOVE Alex and Kenneth addition….I think we are better than last year.
Most excited Teddy B is outta here….off to Detroit.
I agree with you!
March 11th, 2026 at 6:30 am
Management deserves everything they’re going to get this year. Loss after loss after loss with a fan base out for blood. Garbage owners. Garbage GM and the king of garbage himself Todd “we got to coach it better” Bowles.
L O S E R V I L L E.
March 11th, 2026 at 6:33 am
Bowles lost the team proof is here
March 11th, 2026 at 6:34 am
Joe, can you guys explain why you didn’t feel you could be bold and say this stuff the last two years?
Bowles sucked then too. Maybe before his new contract and Coen slithering out would have been the time.
? Joe hasn’t broken any ground here with this commentary. And Joe wouldn’t call it “bold.” Joe doesn’t play afraid-to-say-it games. What exactly would be the point? Many fans don’t believe that, but that’s ok.-Joe
March 11th, 2026 at 6:35 am
They quit on Baker Mayfield because he is short and on his fourth team. At keast he is taller than Kylie Murray and the little Kitten QB in Charlotte and not on his fifth team like darnold.
March 11th, 2026 at 6:35 am
I blame the owners they let this clown stay as head coach and they will see the results of that decision now and next season. Nobody want to play for Bowles
March 11th, 2026 at 6:50 am
The owners keep themselves isolated from reality. They have their own billionaire reality and cannot see what has hayto their franchise. They surround themselves with ‘Yes-men’. Now, we see and have reality. The D quit on TB. The offense had no leader (I don’t buy Griz was a fall guy—he was lost asa goose in a snowstorm). I wrote before that #13’s departure was a screaming vote against TB & JL for their pathetic leadership and revolving door for OC. The owners may ‘like’ TB but the team now has learned how to lose and their bad play is acceptable.
March 11th, 2026 at 6:54 am
stupid things….
1) giving bowles an extension before last season was the stupidest thing…..
2) the second stupidest thing was not getting a DC to take over that part of the game when deciding to do stupid thing number 1….
3) todds claptrap about what he earned and deserved after the season was the third stupidest thing as he didnt earn a thing last year……
4) the absolute stupidest thing was that the idiot ownership didnt toss todd overboard with the rest of the coaching staff after the pathetic result.
5) not getting rid of the special teams coordinator during the season to send a message
was pretty stupid, but not a top three.
what other stupid things are the on the list
March 11th, 2026 at 6:59 am
The coaching staff and front office will get blown up next year. The Glazers will pay what ever it takes to hire Mike Tomlin.
March 11th, 2026 at 7:04 am
I lived in Milpitas, CA which is 2 miles from the 49er’s stadium. The area is beautiful and the stadium is awesome. I believe Mike will enjoy what’s left of his career there and hopefully he stays healthy.
[Drew: Joe always hears and reads people rag on that stadium and area. Been to Levi’s several times. Didn’t see anything wrong with the area at all and the stadium seems fantastic. — Joe]
March 11th, 2026 at 7:15 am
Hodad … ‘The rats are jumping off a sinking pirate ship, and landing on luxury cruise liners.’
Oh Hodad, you’re far too good of an analyst to buy into the ‘circling the drain’ bit that Joe’s been selling for months now. Bucs went all-in in 2020 to restock rapidly for a Super Bowl run with Brady, Gronk, etc. We heavily mortgaged the future, but it paid off handsomely. Too many quickly forget that BA started here in 2019 with a 7-9 season, and most likely wouldn’t have done much better than that in 2020 & 2021 without the infusion of some all-star TALENT. When much of that talent left after 2021 & 2022 seasons, what remained (and what was added) was enough to generate an average to somewhat better-than-average team. Nothing more.
I love the Bucs, but I’m frustrated right now with Licht more than Bowles. Right now we’ve got about half a defense that’s ‘playoff-worthy’ and have some huge ‘holes’ … starters, key rotational players and depth players. This is the perfect year to ‘fix’ our defense, but that’d require making a LOT of salary CAP $$$ available by restructuring a handful of key contracts. If Licht DOESN’T do that, that’d be a clear indication IMO that Bucs’ hierarchy has made the decision to tank 2026 because the draft alone couldn’t even begin to fix our defensive woes. Most of the needed ‘fix’ has to come from free agency.
I was really hoping Licht & the Bucs would be very aggressive in free agency this year. And MAYBE they still will be, but I’m not impressed with the way we’ve started off. Still, time will tell.
March 11th, 2026 at 7:16 am
We’re not talking about rocket science here. It’s the reason you don’t go out and spend a small fortune on a a player that will likely have little consequence on the end record, who also happens to be 31-32 years old.
The annual Bowles mid season slide ballooned into a full melt down last year and it’s likely not getting better and the players know it.
March 11th, 2026 at 7:22 am
Brace for crash landing.
March 11th, 2026 at 7:23 am
Crosby back on the table? Maybe the price has gone down since a failed physical? Or do you think that might be a bad move Joe? Would like to hear your opinion
March 11th, 2026 at 7:24 am
Jimmy, THE most stupid thing is Bowles on-purpose “stoic” coaching style where he shows ZERO emotion during games. That style costs several games a season. I mean, have a pulse, man! Get pissed at the refs! Get pissed at your players. Chew some a$$! High five some players! Sprint down the sidelines to hug Mike Evans! Grab Jamaal Dean by the face mask! Watch tape on Jon Gruden, Dan Campbell, Mike Ditka, Rex Ryan, Jimmy Johnson, Pete Carroll, Vince Lombardi, Bill Parcels, Bill Cowher — the list goes on!
STOP being the CSO, Todd (Chief Stoicism Officer).
Grow a pulse. Win some games like you’ve “earned” it.
March 11th, 2026 at 7:31 am
@DS
I was saying that even when the season was still going on that they’ve already given up on him & they don’t wanna bother anymore.
March 11th, 2026 at 7:37 am
The owners argument is valid. They don’t want to catch any grief from their friends. And their other Football team us bleeding Money because the missed out on the Euro Championship League.
Why does everyone seem to not realize the Glazers don’t call the soccer shots over there any longer?–Joe
March 11th, 2026 at 7:42 am
jimmy Says:
March 11th, 2026 at 6:54 am
stupid things….
1) giving bowles an extension before last season was the stupidest thing…..
2) the second stupidest thing was not getting a DC to take over that part of the game when deciding to do stupid thing number 1….
3) todds claptrap about what he earned and deserved after the season was the third stupidest thing as he didnt earn a thing last year……
4) the absolute stupidest thing was that the idiot ownership didnt toss todd overboard with the rest of the coaching staff after the pathetic result.
5) not getting rid of the special teams coordinator during the season to send a message
was pretty stupid, but not a top three.
what other stupid things are the on the list
^^^^^^^^^^
Amen. The Glazers chose mediocrity/below mediocrity because, for some reason, they “love” Bowles. You can love somebody all you want, but if they’re not doing their job correctly, in a business, you need to make a change. The Glazers put their feelings before the team, and the fans.
March 11th, 2026 at 7:49 am
When will it be announced that the Bucs have traded two valuable draft picks and some cash for Dean?
March 11th, 2026 at 7:49 am
We all knew this at the end of last year. I mean billion dollar owners can’t be that stupid not to see the same thing. They just didn’t want to spend the money and pay to coaches. No one wants to play for Bowles that is pretty much proven and with how many guys were running for the exit that will pretty much scare anyone from wanting to come play here. It might be another 10 years before this team even sniffs the playoffs again.
March 11th, 2026 at 8:06 am
@gotbucs – this is exactly what I am thinking too. We hired in Tomlin’s special teams coach and we hired the OC that Tomlin wanted to hire 2-3 seasons ago. Then we brought in the RB from Pittsburgh but we aren’t throwing a bunch of money out there heading into a season where clearly at least Bowles is on the hot seat.
Tomlin hadn’t had a losing season and didn’t want to come on board this year because he knew the shape the roster was in. Next season the Bucs can restructure a bunch of contracts to get huge cap space and we will have a high draft pick potentially for Tomlin to go get a rookie QB.
March 11th, 2026 at 8:07 am
Dean was fragile, Hall was a bust and Evans is old. Move on.
March 11th, 2026 at 8:07 am
Defense Rules, it is plausible that the Glazers told Licht that 2026 is already a write off season and that 2027 is the year they plan to make a splash. They saw that the 2026 draft class is not deep and that Bowles’D has too many holes to be able to fill in free agency and the draft. Let Todd play out 2026, if he fails, which is likely, launch him. Ditto for Baker if the O sputters again. However, if the O scores 28 but Bowles’D gives up 32 a game then you have a situation like the Bucs had with Coen but this time they make the right choice…..
March 11th, 2026 at 8:11 am
John Q, Dean signed with the Raiders.
March 11th, 2026 at 8:14 am
Crazy….. I know.
March 11th, 2026 at 8:29 am
If that’s the case we’re probably have a hard time signing anybody good unless we pay big bucks.
March 11th, 2026 at 8:29 am
Best thing Bucs can do this year is draft a very good OLineman and then draft several Dlinemen and LB’s.
Bucs will have good depth on OLine and if Mayfield can’t get it done, a new QB will have a solid Oline, wr’s and rb’s to work with.
Signing Hendrickson will help alot if he can play.
March 11th, 2026 at 8:33 am
LVD, Baker and Bowles called out the team for playing soft. Lol…but they’re the leaders right so why aren’t they leading by example? Ohhhh, thats right, they can’t because they’re not good at their jobs. The team plays like their leaders do and the leadership is non-existent on the Bucs. Just a bunch of average and bad players and coaching.
Welcome to the tank year!
March 11th, 2026 at 8:36 am
To all of you that are asking why Joe havent said anything before, Joes are still defending Bowles right now for some reason. They are afraid their door to the Bucs will be closed if they make bad comments.
March 11th, 2026 at 8:45 am
They couldn’t wait to get out of town?
It’s one of life’s great mysteries…
March 11th, 2026 at 8:50 am
Coen got out, not in the best way, but he obviously saw what was going on first hand. Now, Evans. Is there a pattern?
March 11th, 2026 at 8:55 am
Marky mark Says:
March 11th, 2026 at 6:35 am
They quit on Baker Mayfield because he is short and on his fourth team. At keast he is taller than Kylie Murray and the little Kitten QB in Charlotte and not on his fifth team like darnold.
++++++++++
Also Tua at 6′ 1″. Same as Baker. And Drew Brees. And Joe Montana. And others. But it’s about narratives…What did being 6’5″ do for Kyle Trask?
Meanwhile, did anyone else ever consider the possibility that Evans was a locker room cancer undermining the coaches and teammates? Along with White and Dean?
Noone has signed White yet…
March 11th, 2026 at 9:02 am
Guys are DONE with radio!!!
March 11th, 2026 at 9:07 am
Some for different reasons though. White has wanted out for awhile but not because of Bowles. It’s because of Bucky. White doesn’t want to share carries. He wants the feature role. It’s why we dumped him for Gainwell since Gainwell is fine splitting the role.
Dean isn’t that big of a loss. He is injury prone. Every year he’s hurt at critical times. Evans was too. I don’t want to pay $50 million for a aging WR who is likely to blow his hammy by week 4. You go check out the 49er blogs and they are legit concerned about that. Its a mental blow to lose vets, but Evans and Dean weren’t necessarily massive contributors last year.
March 11th, 2026 at 9:58 am
Kinda wonder now just who proposed the restructure of Dean’s contract last year.
Seemed a little odd that he would take considerably less money just to get to free agency a year quicker.
Might be one of the best career moves I’ve ever seen, in retrospect.
March 11th, 2026 at 10:01 am
“”stupid things….
1) giving bowles an extension before last season was the stupidest thing…..
2) the second stupidest thing was not getting a DC to take over that part of the game when deciding to do stupid thing number 1….
3) todds claptrap about what he earned and deserved after the season was the third stupidest thing as he didnt earn a thing last year……
4) the absolute stupidest thing was that the idiot ownership didnt toss todd overboard with the rest of the coaching staff after the pathetic result.
5) not getting rid of the special teams coordinator during the season to send a message
was pretty stupid, but not a top three.
what other stupid things are the on the list””
F A C T S.
March 11th, 2026 at 10:15 am
I think you are grasping at straws here. We know that Bowles defense works when he has the players. They simply missed on their defensive drafting for a while. There is a real lack of talent on the front seven. There is no Suh, JPP (at least the good version of him), Shaq on that front.
Pretending that Bowles had the players to have a great defense is dumb. Yes you can blame Licht. You can also blame the cap trouble the got from the Brady years which we still aren’t quite free from.
You can blame the Glazers for not choosing Cohen to be head coach, even though he seems a bit shady and only had one year of OC (albeit a really good one)… They seem to have not liked the coaches available this year (alot of retreads this time around), they did reach out to Harbaugh, he wasn’t interested (because he wanted to be GM or hire his own GM). So the opted to ride this season out. And it seems they are opting to decide on Baker after the season. If they fire the coach, maybe they don’t want to saddle a new coach with a QB he may not want and tie up the cap. Can only hope they are researching possible coaching candidates for this season so they are ready if it totally falls apart. They will likely be looking for an offensive minded coach.
Mike’s leaving is sad, and we wish him well, but better for both to go this direction. We have drafted good WRs planning for this day. These guys need their time and would only have taken away from Mike. It sucks. The Glazers did match or exceed the offer, Mike is chasing legacy. That isn’t always what’s best for the team.
I don’t have high expectations for the team. It will take a few seasons of drafting and FA signings to fix the defense, still, I am optimistic that the offense will run well. The defense will not allow them to compete for a championship.
March 11th, 2026 at 10:20 am
I wish this team had different owners. We’d have had a different coach by now. And maybe kept our best offensive player in history. And maybe even win.
March 11th, 2026 at 10:43 am
Mike Evans lost at least one step. He just doesn’t get much separation. Very tough in Red Zone where he uses his height and battles well for the ball. ME saw a bunch of young receivers and figured out there is only one football. In San Fran, it is the opposite problem especially with Kittle injured. Free agency has changed all the old loyalties. Really the most important loyalty is to your family. ME just trying to do best for himself and family.
March 11th, 2026 at 10:55 am
BOLD PREDICTION: Bowles gets fired midseason after his defense continues to suck and the team has a losing record. You read it here first.
March 11th, 2026 at 11:11 am
Some of the comments and veiled messages from departed players aren’t surprising to most fans, but unfortunately they probably will be to Licht & the Glazers. The complete lack of recognition of Bowles’ inability to lead a team by the FO and ownership has been truly baffling.
March 11th, 2026 at 11:12 am
Prople seem to forget Tom Brady ditched bellicheat and the patriots… so what makes yall think Mike Evans was “supposed” to be a buc for life? Jerry rice wasnt even a 9er for life… randy moss wasnt a viking for life, peyton manning and tom brady werenr “lifers” for their teams…. But Mike Evans was supposed to
Be “for life”… 2 guys that mike probably looks up to the most went to different teams and had success in Rice and Moss. Mike wanted to do the same.. move on
March 11th, 2026 at 11:23 am
We beat the Niners last year and they got destroyed by the Seahawks in the playoffs, who we beat on the road. Hawks put up 41 on them. That’s as bad as 3rd and 28.
In the last five years we have had more success than them.
We still have a solid receiving group. A healthy Baker and we win the Division. Odds are the niners won’t.
Bad move Mike, you will live to regret it.
March 11th, 2026 at 11:43 am
You start wondering if Mike wanted out so bad, when that idea come to fruition for him
Did that start before drafting EE and resigning CG longer term off an injury to that kind of money/contract and what comparison conclusions he drew from that.
It’s wild to go from wanting to be a Buc for life to settling for less to get the heck out. If you go back to last offseason though he did an interview indoors with shades on in low lighting. It’s almost like these guys don’t want us to read their eyes sometimes, haha. He said he had to think and come back to the fact Tampa was “offering him everything he wanted” and so why was he still entertaining leaving elsewhere. It’s almost as if he was looking for a reason to leave or hoping the Bucs left something out that he had on his wish list. If you’ve been here your entire career and you admit last offseason that Tampa is “offering you everything you want”, then why are you even entertaining wanting to get out and find a new home 🤷♂️
March 11th, 2026 at 11:48 am
during that game mike saw bourne get 140yds receiving with matt jones as qb.
March 11th, 2026 at 11:58 am
Being a hot free agent destination is definitely a thing but I think you are overblowing how much guys would steer clear of here just cause Mike left or other guys leaving.
Still warm and still no state tax. Those will always draw guys.
If free agents didn’t just chase money, the Jets, Browns and Bengals would never sign anyone.
But yes, I imagine a few guys are unhappy. Godwin can’t be thrilled. How is it Licht and the Glazers have no pulse on the team? Can’t pick up the fan pulse from your ivory tower, fine, but to not have the player pulse and not watch Bowles lead lifeless teams time and time again is crazy.
March 11th, 2026 at 12:03 pm
Great article Joe.
No one supports this team more than your blog. Coming from you guys, I hope this is a wakeup call somewhere.
I’m certainly dissatisfied with the activity in FA so far. They were not ready and now have wasted an opportunity to significantly make improvements. It could be a long year.
Thanks for the honest assessment Joe’s.
March 11th, 2026 at 12:04 pm
“BOLD PREDICTION: Bowles gets fired midseason after his defense continues to suck and the team has a losing record. You read it here first.“
Bigbucjoe
I don’t think that will happen unless the team has completely rolled over and are getting stomped.
Licht would have to swallow too much pride, it would be admitting a huge mistake and send a message to the team that says I blew it and should also be fired. As usual, they would wait until season end. Probably after Bowles coaches them to wins in the last 2 games to get to 6 wins and miss on a top 5 pick or something.
March 11th, 2026 at 12:09 pm
Baker’s cap space is killing the BUcs this season. I sure hope they don’t extend him. We need to go into that 2-year rebuild process like other successful General Managers are capable of. I doubt jason is capable after 12 seasons of MEH
March 11th, 2026 at 12:12 pm
Likely even more evidence IBS is in fact a lame duck HC …
If he is NOT fired Jan 2027, I he many more players are longing to get far from Tampa this time next year…. IBS has become radioactive to players careers!
March 11th, 2026 at 12:15 pm
I wonder if Licht is saving his free agency powder to sign a top long snapper.
That will be a high use position with all the punting the Bucs will be doing in 2026
March 11th, 2026 at 12:20 pm
Tank for Tomlin. Tank for a top 3 pick.
Time to rebuild and not waste money on 32 yr old FAs who won’t be around in a few years.
I like it
March 11th, 2026 at 12:23 pm
Players have friends and close family that is not in the league that they share their situation with… Let just say their may be several players who do not like the situation they are forced into so they have no plans to put it all on the line this coming season…. They just want to avoid injury so they can raise their chances of landing on a winning team this time next year!
March 11th, 2026 at 12:26 pm
And the saga keeps going…….
March 11th, 2026 at 12:30 pm
Evans was a team captain last year. Not terrific behavior from a Captain to be walking out the tunnell screaming 3 and 28, banging your helmet off of the walls. And then leaving the team for LESS money.
As a captain you need to put your team before yourself. He did not.
Never expected this behavior from him.
March 11th, 2026 at 12:39 pm
Hi again Folks, wanna laugh? Guess what? The bucs are predicted to finish FIRST!!! WITH A PLUS 140 ACCORDING TO TAKING HEADS AND BETTORS!!!
March 11th, 2026 at 1:26 pm
They all want to leave and nobody wants to come. Players may not say it out loud. They like Bowles as a man, but have zero confidence as a coach.
March 11th, 2026 at 1:29 pm
Be happy for Evans. He took his best shot at a super bowl. He will come back at the end.
Bowles signed iff on reddick and that unsuccessful special teams coach.
He gets one chance to redeem himself. I am rooting for him.
But he had a god awful miss on both
March 11th, 2026 at 1:30 pm
Mike experienced what objective, sane fans saw. A coach who quietly thinks he is smarter and better than everyone else, but somewhere forgot what and how to coach, how to motivate, how to take accountability and lead by example.
The players were better than what they had in SF or New England. Coaching matters.
Mike, Dean and Hall will all have their best professional seasons provided they remain healthy.
March 11th, 2026 at 1:38 pm
The hilarious BS storyline that Mike was worried about the defense and not who the crap QB is who cost the Bucs a playoff spot is some all-time spin.
Again, for the 100th time…
Final 6 games, that determined if the Bucs go to the playoffs or not.
Bucs are 10th in points again.
Bucs are 28th in points scored.
That’s why Evans left.
The defense did its job.
Bum Baker did not. He single handedly cost the Bucs the playoffs, and ran future HOF’er Mike Evans out of town as well.
March 11th, 2026 at 2:10 pm
Man it sounds like everyone is super hyped up about next year.
March 11th, 2026 at 2:22 pm
David is done.
65th out of 88 on PFF
Where is the defense getting better? Yikes.
March 11th, 2026 at 2:28 pm
I think we can see now what happenned after the Bye week. While everyone has thir favorite straw dogs to bash and blame, it looks like what happened was a few disgruntled players – one prime one being an injured Evans – started trashing others and the coach.
We will never know for sure, but I would say the ringleaders were Evans, White, and Dean. Their basic problem was not getting what they wanted. I found it strange at the time that Dean had his contract restructured, but now we know why.
Interesting that Whie is still looking for a big payday with somone. I think he will wait a long time!
March 11th, 2026 at 2:31 pm
Marky mark Says:
March 11th, 2026 at 7:37 am
The owners argument is valid. They don’t want to catch any grief from their friends. And their other Football team us bleeding Money because the missed out on the Euro Championship League.
Why does everyone seem to not realize the Glazers don’t call the soccer shots over there any longer?–Joe
Glazers are on to Cricket now Joe!!!!!…argument is still valid
GO BUCS!!!!!
March 11th, 2026 at 2:34 pm
Stop it…JameL dean sucked, he is not worth 14 mil per year and rashad white ia an average RB who still believes he can stop and go, he needs to just run north and south….notice no one has picked him up? Probably has a reputation in the nfl circle as trouble in the lockeroom. I dont blame any player trying to maximize their second contract , but.dont blame the coach, blame your play when you dont get what you think your worth
March 11th, 2026 at 2:38 pm
Given his age, Mike’s availability is going to get worse as time goes on. Let him ride another team’s bench for 30% of the season. Lavonte needs to retire. He’s lost quickness and more than one running back blew past him last year. He’ll become an anchor if he stays. I’d rather see us trade up in the first to get a linebacker. Screw signing free agent edge rushers who might have another season if they are lucky. Pick up a massive interior lineman in the draft and roll the dice with the offense, hoping they can get through the year without injuries.
March 11th, 2026 at 2:39 pm
Lee Roy Selmon would’ve been a bust if he played for Todd.
March 11th, 2026 at 2:40 pm
I have ZERO faith in this regime.
Tampa is NOT a destination for FAs unless Bucs overpay or they want to visit Mickey Mouse in Orlando or the beaches in Clearwater/St. Pete.
I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall at One Delusional Place to see how many FAs told Jason and Todd no “thank you” to a seat on the 2026 Titantic.
March 11th, 2026 at 2:43 pm
The Bucs are a sinking ship. Holes all over the team. Leave it to Titanic Bowles to sink next years season.
March 11th, 2026 at 3:02 pm
mj ..I’ve been predicting 5-12 for over a month now.
March 11th, 2026 at 3:53 pm
The Todd Blob run if you can.
The faithful are stuck
March 11th, 2026 at 4:20 pm
Why doesn’t Joe seem understand that Sir Jim Ratcliffe only owns 28% of Manchester United and only makes Football decisions such as players, coaches, scheduling,, training, and pre season junket tours, of USA, Australia, Japan, India and China. When revenue drops due to not qualifying for a Euro wide tournament the Gboyz have 72% of the responsibility to cover those costs including pulling in money from their other team in Tampa. Conversely if Manchester United were to win the Champions League as Liverpool does routinely the GL Bros get a windfall they can spend on the Buccaneers. Sir Jim can use it to buy Epstein Island. Btw LeBron is so rich because he owns a piece of perennial Euro champions Liverpool FC.
March 11th, 2026 at 4:22 pm
Man finding out Evan’s took less money to bolt on his teammates, the city who loves him and choose Purdy over Baker has got to send a strong message to the whole organization! I for one hope the Bucs have a better record than 49ers next year and we make the playoffs and he is sitting at home watching!! Yes im petty like that, and italian…to quote Michael Corleone, “dont ever take sides against the family again, ever”
March 11th, 2026 at 4:30 pm
Can’t blame them. Bowles and that horrible contract with Baker “I choke when it matters” Mayfield are hurting this team.
March 11th, 2026 at 4:34 pm
Anzalone is most definitely NOT a solid signing. He’ll be on the IR before the end of the preseason. 6-11 ceiling. This team will suck.
March 11th, 2026 at 5:06 pm
RC Says:
March 11th, 2026 at 10:15 am
I think you are grasping at straws here. We know that Bowles defense works when he has the players. They simply missed on their defensive drafting for a while…………..
±±++++++++++++++++++++++++
This is a very good, well reasoned post that lays it all out.
March 11th, 2026 at 5:07 pm
If most of the fans knew Bowles is a joke don’t you think the players do as well? If you are a free agent why would you want to come here when there Hall of Fame receiver went to Fricso for maybe less money? The only people who don’t seem to know or care that Bowles is not a head coach is the Glazers and Jason Licht. Arians brought us a Super Bowl and then sabotaged this team by retiring late in the process and telling the Glazers they should make Bowles head coach. So we can thank Arians for a Super Bowl and ultimate destruction of this team.
March 11th, 2026 at 5:19 pm
Lavibte isn’t coming back. It just isn’t public yet. The family, we already know that he’s done after having watch Mike leave. That one hurt him.
March 11th, 2026 at 5:19 pm
*Lavonte
March 11th, 2026 at 5:46 pm
This gm cant even figure out hes playing for his job. He has no pulse on this team and thats why Mike left. Bc tbeyre freaking clueless all of them. Good teams sign all pro players. Rams eagles. What do we do? We cant fckkng draft for the life of us and this gm sits on his thumbs all year. Just pure freaking stupidity. Resigns Otton and doesnt sign Devin loud or bush or nakobe Dean. Or hendrickson. Incompetent
March 11th, 2026 at 8:39 pm
Baker has a better opportunity with the rams. Backup for 1 year until Matt Stafford retires then Baker will flourish there !!!! Better organization. He knows the system well, good friends,with MC Vey. ….NO FUTURE IN TAMPA FOR BAKER…….mike Evans knew the score ….even took less $$$$ Baker needs to get the QB job when Stafford retires in the next 1 or 2 years . Sean Mc Vey great coach and leader !!! NO D.E.I …….
March 11th, 2026 at 9:46 pm
Evanswanted out, no ifs ands or buts about it. Munch might be right–Baker was awful last year. Lotsa of cool scrambles but only 1 decent game. Evans wants another superbowl. Bowles and Baker are not gonna get there. Bucs have 4 wins in 2026. no one cares after the season about Bowles future–we are all gone cept Joe.