Nothing Jason Licht Could Have Done
March 19th, 2026
Reflection.
When Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht agreed to a sitdown with a handful of local reporters yesterday at One Buc Palace, he was generally in a chipper mood, as he often is.
That mood quickly turned sullen when Licht got down to the subject at hand: Licht had agreed to discuss the departure of the best offensive player the Bucs ever drafted, Licht’s very first draft pick, Mike Evans.
Of course, Evans is off to San Francisco, despite how much he professed love for the Bucs and how much he admired (per Licht) the Bucs’ wide receiver corps and new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson.
Licht was peppered with all sorts of questions when he was asked, looking back at the drama, could he have done something different to keep Evans (other than slapping him with the franchise tag)?
Licht sounded like Evans had made up his mind and it was over. Despite Licht admitting — in his first offer to Evans’ camp — that he made a “significantly” higher bid. Licht’s sales pitch was all for naught.
“No,” Licht said about doing something different to keep Evans in Tampa Bay. “I feel like we did everything we could.
“I had a lot of talks with Mike about that. He and I have a very good relationship. When a player has reached his level for as long as he has, you tend to have deeper discussions with those players.
“There was basically nothing we could have done differently. I feel strongly about that.”
This is just weird to Joe. Maybe because Joe is trying to apply logic to something that is emotional. As the great Sage of Tampa Bay Sports, Ira Kaufman, is famous for saying, “Who turns down money?”
Mike Evans, apparently.
He took a multi-million dollar haircut to play for a lesser team (the Bucs beat the 49ers last year without Evans) in a 13.3 percent income tax state (based on Evans’ salary). He left a team he claimed to love and stated how impressed he was with their wide receiver room.
Logically, this just doesn’t add up. Something chased Evans away from Tampa Bay and/or lured him to San Francisco. And no, Joe doesn’t believe Evans made this move just so he could sleep on a bed on a plane eight times this fall.
Joe wonders how that absurd road schedule the 49ers have this year will work with Evans’ old hamstrings?
March 19th, 2026 at 7:09 am
Anyone else sick of talking about Evans, he moved on and we should too
March 19th, 2026 at 7:10 am
As I wrote before, I would not be surprised one bit if Licht warned Evans about the Bucs being in a rebuild mode and not likely to make the playoffs for a year or two. The Bucs’ free agency moves thus far don’t scream “this is the year!!”.
March 19th, 2026 at 7:10 am
Emotions make bad business partners!
March 19th, 2026 at 7:11 am
Evans left because of the lack of leadership. Licht, Bowles and Baker are why he left. Licht drafting WRs every year as his targets go down. Bowles unable to put a decent defense on the field and lack of in-game/in-season adjustments which lead to losses. And Baker flat out missing Mike on routine throws. In Miami, Baker was overthrowing him and you could see Evans pissed as he walked back to the sideline.
The team is going nowhere so why is it confusing that he left? Everyone being honest knows the Bucs aren’t contenders and haven’t been since Bowles let Kupp run free in the playoffs. The Bucs need fresh, YOUNG energy and a new direction.
March 19th, 2026 at 7:13 am
Venture Capital and Private Equity opportunities in SF Bay area chased Evans from Tampa Bay.
Several former 49ers make a lot more money now than they did as players.
March 19th, 2026 at 7:20 am
Stop beating a dead horse. Mike chose to leeave. End of story. Lets focus on the stud recorvers we have like egbuka and mcmillan. BAKERS TEAM now. LFG!!! Fire the cannons. We gotta rip the evans band aid off and keep firing!!!! Offense still loaded.
March 19th, 2026 at 7:21 am
WHAT could have chased a man away from a home with a larger paycheck???
Move to a state with a huge tax increase??
Man I just cant figure it out???
Really
Lets SAY THE TRUTH
WHO was Mike very mad at after a must win game?
YEP But like in Harry Potter cant say that name
March 19th, 2026 at 7:26 am
Well what did everyone expect Licht to say: “Well, I wanted to fire Todd but I got a call from the higher ups at OBP and then I tried to convince them to force Todd to hire a new DC but they said……..” ?!?!?
Licht is smart enough not to throw any current person associated with the Bucs under the bus and as he is good friends with Mike, he will not divulge any real details which Mike may have told which called out anyone in the Bucs organization such as the head coach, the OC, the defensive side of the roster, the training staff or the oft injured QB…..
March 19th, 2026 at 7:34 am
When ME retires and writes a book about his career everyone will find out that ME did NOT believe in Bowles ability to win pure and simple.
March 19th, 2026 at 7:38 am
Licht has said repeatedly that it was a family decision and Evans hasn’t contradicted him. Maybe the daughter is heading to SF, or Evans got a bit too close to one of the Bucs cheerleaders, or who knows what. People say no to money, or yes to other priorities, all the time.
March 19th, 2026 at 7:52 am
Joe – your site becomes more boring by the day. Stop talking about a guy that’s not part of this team.
Again – boring…..
March 19th, 2026 at 7:58 am
Licht could have done plenty. He could of extended Evans before the 2025 season. He could signes Evans to a 4 to 5 year deal in 2024 and made Evans a Buc for life
March 19th, 2026 at 8:01 am
There goes Joe again alluding to the answer to his own question, but not having the backbone to actually state the reason. Just say it.
March 19th, 2026 at 8:03 am
Another Evans post. Take a shot
March 19th, 2026 at 8:05 am
FRED FLINTSTONE
March 19th, 2026 at 8:06 am
There was nothing we could’ve done? How about firing Bowles, and keeping Coen as HC two years ago?
March 19th, 2026 at 8:08 am
Unless Mike gets another ring or two and we do not it is biggest loose loose events in sports history. Last year may be, was the biggest collapse in sports history. Mike is a once in several life times player. Having him in Tampa was so special. I wish him and us good luck. I hope he returns to retire as a buc. Thank you Mike Evans for every thing you have done on and off the field.
March 19th, 2026 at 8:10 am
3rd and 28
March 19th, 2026 at 8:11 am
“Anyone else sick of talking about Evans, he moved on and we should too”
Well we know who isn’t and he runs the site. Be prepared for 4 more articles on this today, none of which will reveal anything new.
March 19th, 2026 at 8:16 am
Joe , thanks for all the bucs talk everyday . You know & i know what exactly it is. Evans only has a few years left . He was a buc during the bad years & some good ones . When he looks at the chance to play for a defensive coach who’s defense gives up 3rd & 28 to a division rival and can see the skill and heart of the others on the team or he looks at playing for a offensive minded coach that is really good at calling plays & calling plays off of other plays as well as a team that has a lot of heart the choice is easy for what a player like Evans is looking for. It is now up to Jayson & his staff to turn this thing around . Unfortunately Todd Bowles runs the team & that guy is going to get this team to clean house
March 19th, 2026 at 8:24 am
Everyone is dancing around the elephant in the room. Mike Evans doesn’t believe in Todd Bowles and I’m not too sure a whole lot of the other players do as well.
We all remember Antoine Winfield Sr. liking a post on Instagram about how poor of a job Bowles was doing.
Chris Simms made a great point of PFT this morning when they were talking about Evans. He mentioned that Mike Evans has seen what greatness looks like when the organization is firing on all cylinders. He’s seen when people are dotting their “i’s” and crossing their “t’s” and after all the stuff we heard about practice came out at the end of the season it makes sense.
Ira hates being critical of Bowles and you can tell on the podcast. Yeah, yeah, yeah he’s said he’s out if he doesn’t have a great year this year. However, it’s obvious that Ira has an affection for Bowles because he won’t directly say he should be out. Everyone knows Bowles should’ve been canned after this last season.
March 19th, 2026 at 8:24 am
What happened?
I believe I saw a post (possibly on JBF) that stated the Bucs would have the opportunity to match any offer…
If that wasn’t total BS then the Bucs should have had the chance to keep ME13 if they wanted to.
Perhaps the Bucs were the ones that decided to move on from Evans.
All GMs are total liars this time of year and JL is no different. Do you really expect him to say the truth – “ya we got rid of Mike because he is expensive and old” – oh that would go over really well with the Evans sycophants around here.
LOL!
March 19th, 2026 at 8:25 am
Love Mike….but he’s gone ….time to move on….look to the future…..
March 19th, 2026 at 8:26 am
“There was basically nothing we could have done differently. I feel strongly about that.”
There is one thing, Mr. Jason. It’s called winning.
Place blame anywhere you want, but if this team had finished 7-2 in lieu of 2-7, Mike ain’t riding his bicycle over the Golden Gate Bridge and coasting down to Sausalito to catch a ferry around Alcatraz. He’s staying right here.
March 19th, 2026 at 8:29 am
There goes Joe again alluding to the answer to his own question, but not having the backbone to actually state the reason. Just say it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I’ll answer for Joe, he left because the fan base sux. Mike wants fans that support the team regardless of the coach, trainers or male cheerleaders. He wants a fan base that show up rain or shine and are proud to wear their rose (pewter) colored glasses.
March 19th, 2026 at 8:31 am
Evans is gone now Joe. Hang it up. Who cares why he left doesn’t matter at this point he is gone and to be honest the 49ers probably won’t finish with that much of a better record than the Bucs. That division is loaded and the 49ers are probably going to finish 3rd in that division. He went to a team with better coaching it is probably just that simple leave it alone.
March 19th, 2026 at 8:44 am
Joe!! what’s so hard to understand?? Mike Evans turned on Todd bowls the same way the rest of us did. They could’ve done something to keep Mike Evans that would’ve been to hire a new head coach. If 80% of bucs nation was against Todd Bowles, because of his horrible defense and his horrible coaching, how do you think the people feel that actually put in time and sweat in blood and I actually out on the field losing because of Bowles’ ineptitude?
March 19th, 2026 at 8:45 am
Maybe when Mike retires and he is reminiscing we may get the real story. Sometimes when people make an important decision they find ways to justify their decision and hide the truth to avoid negative feedback.
He had his reasons- and we may never truly know them. The Bucs have been gracious with Mike which shows the level of respect they have for him.
We had a 12 year run with Mike and will forever cherish 😍 his legacy.
March 19th, 2026 at 8:45 am
93-104.
March 19th, 2026 at 8:46 am
If the Bucs wanted to keep ME13 they could have used the franchise tag on him then worked out another 2 year deal.
Why didn’t our sulking, sad, distraught GM do that?
Too old, too expensive, oft injured, dropped passes…
March 19th, 2026 at 8:50 am
Established successful offensive system vs brand new OC again.
March 19th, 2026 at 8:53 am
He left because the team kept a mediocre head coach
Case closed move on
Let’s talk about our lack of pass rush, while our edge rushers are dropping in coverage on passing downs
March 19th, 2026 at 8:56 am
Mike Evans dumped us and many of you idiots , called me out that I am a sore loser. But here is the irony. Mike said Buc fans don’t have team passion. But the fact that you most of you are rooting for Mike in SF, actually proves his point. Being from up North, as soon as i dumped us, I was off his band wagon and I could not care if he doe well or not or I should say, openly rooting for him to fail and have another injury filled season. You can call me names or whatever, but at least as a Bucs fan I have passion.
March 19th, 2026 at 8:58 am
But Joe won’t say what HIS logical conclusion is because he wants access. Not sure why you Joes are so scared to say Bowles is not the guy.
And Licht could have tagged Evans. It’s a business. Don’t tell me there’s nothing more he could have done.
March 19th, 2026 at 9:00 am
Alcatraz is one of THE coolest, creepiest, eeriest places I’ve ever been. It was so awesome. My dad forced me to watch the movie “Murder In The First” the night before we left for San Fran. I came in late that night from partying with friends, and saw the VHS tape lying on the counter as a reminder. So, I said what the hell, and watched it. I’m glad I did. Like he said I would. It ended up being way more meaningful, with some context of history. That was a crazy trip. I was only 18 and went alone to the Red-Light District with a homeless dude and met a pimp. Seriously, he looked just like Snoop Doggy Dog, dressed in a 3-piece LAVENDER suit, complete with matching derby hat and cane, while standing at the corner of a 7/11 LoL. I knew I was in trouble. I told him I had to go back to my room to grab some cash, before realizing that I didn’t know where I was or how to get back. He pulls out a city map out of his inside jacket pocket and showed me how to get back LoL. I was scared to death trying to walk back to my hotel alone like that. I saw just all kinds of crazy sh!t. Bought some shrooms on another night, and my cousins’s got into a fight at a McDonald’s at midnight and got us kicked out Lmao. Crazy Stuff.
March 19th, 2026 at 9:04 am
Marine is right. There’s nothing about Jason and his apparent super close relationship with Mike that would ever allow him to publicly state that he was okay with him leaving. He knows it’s better for the team in every respect, but the occasional situations when we’re deep in the red zone and he’s a great Target. But at 33 and obviously on the downside of his career, with injuries becoming more of an issue, he wasn’t worth what they were apparently offering him. And with us doing the right thing by drafting receivers the last couple of years, his touches will be diminished. His numbers will look better in San Fran. Which pads his resume and solidifies his case for the Hall of Fame.
March 19th, 2026 at 9:08 am
Joes… WTH. I mean how many more ways can you cover that Big Mike didn’t want to be here? Why don’t you dig into the real reason(s)? Pretty simple and makes Bowles and Licht look bad, real bad. They can spin it and spin it but we know… Big Mike knows this team isn’t winning anything under current regime.
March 19th, 2026 at 9:09 am
Where is ByeBakerByeBowles/RodMunch? How hard was it to fit him for a straight jacket?
The ramblings from BBBB aka Rod Munch indicate a very disturbed individual. Hope we can get back to the business at hand of discussing likely draft picks and ways of improving the team in 2026.
March 19th, 2026 at 9:10 am
Jason Licht … “There was basically nothing we could have done differently. I feel strongly about that.”
I for one believe him. Mike chose his own path, for his own reasons. For all the Mike Evans articles you’ve done recently Joe, there’s 1 reason that no one has mentioned that could very well be driving ME13: after last year’s performance, he’s concerned that he might NOT make the Hall of Fame. And yes, IF that’s the case, he might be just as concerned that Tampa wasn’t the place to spend his last 3 years or so trying to make certain that he did make it.
I don’t think his decision to leave has anything to do with Todd Bowles. He doesn’t throw Mike the ball; he doesn’t block; he doesn’t call offensive plays. Back in 2024, Todd was the one who took a chance on that very last play of the very last game by having Baker throw the ball to Evans instead of taking a kneeldown so Mike could get his 1000 yards. Had Baker thrown an interception that was run back for a TD, that could’ve changed the whole season. And it probably represented a few shekels to Mike too.
Mike Evans may well feel that his place in the HOF isn’t ensured yet. He had 11 seasons worth of getting 1000 yds or more … until last year. Mike’s got 13,052 yds total with 108 TDs, and his career catch percentage is 54.3%. He’s had excellent durability over his career … until these past 2 years. And oh ya, he’s made the Pro Bowl 6 times in his career.
There are only 29 wide receivers in the HOF, and only 9 of those have played even 1 game in this century.
1 – Calvin Johnson (2007-2015): 11,619 yds – 83 TD – 6 PB
2 – Randy Moss (1998-2012): 15,292 yds – 156 TD – 6 PB
3 – Terrell Owens (1996-2010): 15,934 yds – 153 TD – 6 PB
4 – Isaac Bruce (1994-2009): 15,208 yds – 91 TD – 4 PB
5 – Marvin Harrison (1996-2008): 14,580 yds – 128 TD-8 PB
6 – Tim Brown (1988-2004): 14,934 yds – 100 TD – 9 PB
7 – Cris Carter (1987-2002): 13,899 yds – 130 TDs – 8 PB
8 – Andre Reed (1987-2000): 13,198 yds – 88 TDs – 7 PB
9 – Jerry Rice (1987-2000): 22,895 yds – 208 TDs – 13 PB
So the only WR on that list that he’s already surpassed in Calvin Johnson, who retired at age 30 primarily due to the severe physical toll on his body, including multiple concussions, severe ankle injuries & knee issues. Johnson said that he felt his body had “nothing left to give,” was in constant pain, and lost the passion to continue playing while his Detroit team lacked success. Interesting perspective.
March 19th, 2026 at 9:17 am
We all know Licht can’t really tell the truth about this. He is not going to throw the Organzation under the table. However, what now makes sense and I can buy, Licht told Evans they have a plan to rebuild the defense and acknowledged they won’t win for the next couple of years. That makes total sense, if Licht and Evans really are close because that is the truth. I mean just look at Buc moves in FA. They made a few moves , but nothing suggesting they are in win now mode. With that said they can’t fix the defense inthis year’s draft. They have to many holes. Evans only has a couple of years. So when you take all that into consideration then Licht is correct if that is the plan then their was nothing the Bucs could do. You know what I can buy that!!!
March 19th, 2026 at 9:25 am
MIKE EVANS IS NO LONGER A BUCCANEER. Everyone knows this! TURN THE PAGE ALREADY JOE! No more Mike Evans posts. If you need help with content let me know okay?
March 19th, 2026 at 9:33 am
If the Bucs had a shot at winning a SB, I doubt Evans would have left.
I expect very little of this team next season.
March 19th, 2026 at 9:34 am
If Evans was mad Baker was overthrowing his passes to him, it was because HE was hurt and played thru the pain all season…like a man! Evans doesn’t have much room to bash him or feel upset cause he himself was injured and missed a ton of key games that contributed to us missing playoffs as well…U would think he would respect that…cause his new QB Purdy missed games last year as well…but I digress, it came down to our coach and his defense, and everybody knows it. 3-28
March 19th, 2026 at 9:40 am
It’s all good Mike. Do what ya gotta do. You’ll always be loved here in TB.
March 19th, 2026 at 9:45 am
This is the attitude of the Buc’s leadership. There is nothing we could do with Mike and there is nothing Bowles’ coaches could do with the players. Pathetic mindsets. If there’s nothing you can do it’s time for you to go. You failed.
The sad part is that it is true. For once they spoke the truth. There is nothing left to do because they let the situation deteriorate beyond repair in both cases. New blood please.
March 19th, 2026 at 9:48 am
Defense Rules Says…
There are only 29 wide receivers in the HOF, and only 9 of those have played even 1 game in this century.
Great breakdown Defense Rules. Just wondering if it comes down to Devante Adams or Mike Evans which one would go in? Both, Either one or the other or Both Left Out.
Based on the other guys numbers Evans does not really jump out at you. Playing in Tampa is a minus because the league and media dismisses them. I think you are on to something, Mike feels he needs to move to a respected team and hopefully his numbers improve to make a final push for HOF.
March 19th, 2026 at 9:50 am
9ers are the lesser team?….
lol…c’mon joe, 9ers won 12games and made the playoffs lol…and they did so playing in the toughest division in the NFL…
by your logic, the Bucs are a “lesser” team than the Dolphins…
GO BUCS!!!!