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 7:52 am
I am similar to the players who have left.
Out on Todd for 2026.
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.