Mike Evans: Tom Brady Made Me Better

March 9th, 2021

Remember late last season when it appeared that stud Bucs Mike Evans blew his knee out on crappy end zone turf at The Licht House?

What a horror it was, but there an interesting story that came out of it.

Evans said days later that, at the time, Tom Brady immediately came up to him and suggested that he hyperextended the knee and would be just fine. And it turned out Dr. Brady was absolutely right.

Joe didn’t write about it then, but it was a striking call by the legend during a competitive game. Man, is there anything Brady isn’t good at?

Following the Super Bowl win, Evans made a visit to NFL Network and was asked how Brady made him and the team better. Interestingly, Evans didn’t talk about the team improvement; he went directly to how Brady jacked up his game — and life.

“I learned how to take care of my body better, learned how to study film better. So many other things,” Evans said of the Brady Effect on him.  “Learned how to become a better man. He’s an unbelievable teammate. He’s a great role model, a great guy to look up to. And he’s the greatest of all-time.”

It’s all very striking. Consider that Evans was the Bucs’ nominee for the NFL’s annual Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, which is a humanitarian honor. Evans was not a guy lacking in good-man deeds.

Reflecting on Brady is always good for Joe’s psyche during these tense days leading up to free agency. Hell, Brady even fixed furniture-tossing, bicycle-hurling Antonio Brown and the entire sports town became legendary upon his arrival.

20 Responses to “Mike Evans: Tom Brady Made Me Better”

  1. Dusthty Rhothdes Says:

    Godwin tagged, so the run for 2 is alive now get the defense ready

  2. Chris Thomas from Heaven Says:

    I quit getting blackout drunk on Sunday’s b/c of TB12

  3. Chris@Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa Says:

    It can be said that Mike Evans made Johnny Manziel in College, and Jameis in the Pro’s.

  4. August 1976 Buc Says:

    It is going to be 8 years of 1,000 yards at some point next year. Mike is on his way to Canton. Hey Mike, get ready one day to put on a yellow Suit Coat and be thanking everyone that was part of your journey to becoming a Hall of Famer. GO HOF MIKE!!! GO BUCS!!!!

  5. Casual Observer Says:

    Brady is the best at most everything football related. Glad to have him for as long as possible.

  6. Youngbucs Says:

    Careful mike evans you don’t know football. You’re only listening to what the media say.

  7. David Says:

    With an off-season… and staying healthy (Knock on wood)…
    Evans and Godwin (and OJ Howard?) are on course for monster years. This offense is going to average 35 points a game!

  8. adam from ny Says:

    tom brady does it all so well…

    if he lived in the caveman era, he most likely would have been awarded caveman of the year too…

    caveman of the year in neanderthal times was a HUGE award

  9. Rayjay1122 Says:

    Tom Brady even made us all better fans. Hehe

  10. Kobe Faker Says:

    “Tom Brady helped out Evans by

    threatening Byon Leftwich if he ever called another 20+ yard deep out pattern again, Gisele will kick poster 813bucboi a$$

    after that pick6 to the saints, BL stopped calling that deep out/comeback pattern and went strictly crossing patterns and go routes”

    Kobe Faker

  11. daniel Da Man Says:

    There are born leaders and TB is certainty one of them. Makes me wished iwast one.. Big bummers for me, GREAt to he TB.
    Please remember, fame is fleeting for all of us enjoy life now

  12. BucsBeBack (Artist formally known as: BringBucsBack) Says:

    We love you ME13 but, you could get more YAC on nearly every play.

  13. sincethebeginning Says:

    That sounds an awful lot like…

    Wait for it…

    LEADERSHIP!

    (Have either of you Joes changed your tune on that yet btw?)

  14. WillieG Says:

    sincethebeginning: 50 Bucs could rave about Brady’s leadership and at least one Joe (the stubborn one) would still say it’s overrated because that’s what he heard a Steelers player say 50 years ago. That’s a fact.

  15. unbelievable Says:

    We are so lucky to have Evans- such a solid, non-diva for a WR. And by all accounts an excellent teammate.

  16. Señor Harry in Costa Rica Says:

    Another great story Joe. It is a cool thing when we lift each other up. Its the way the world should be.

  17. 6throundpick Says:

    Told ya! TB12 ain’t broken- he’s a fixer. Belichick (and the Pats) are broken, and Kraft ain’t got no fixer. Go Bucs!

  18. Cainishere Says:

    Evans will be a HOF first ballet. Hide and watch!

  19. Sorryjackchuckiesback Says:

    It’s called LEADERSHIP!!! Same as the defense isn’t the same without White on the field!!

  20. HumblePassion Says:

    Tombray Gaspar swaggared into town, gave timely swordfighting tips to his fellow knaves, and then led this motly krewe as they sliced & diced their way past many invading pirate ships. This included the final, nastiest gang, Sasnak Ytic, led by the one-armed rogue, Patrick Hook.
    The Gasparites easily whacked down the Sasnakites and claimed the Silver, Seven-Seas Rumcup Trophy, then in the Cup, chugged down aloe-rum on their celebratory river procession.
    “Long live Captain Tombray Gasper,” cried Blackbeard James. “He improved my dueling and gave us the Trophy and great swagger!”