Was Losing Mike Evans A Wakeup Call To The Bucs?
March 31st, 2026
“Todd, did you know Mike Evans read so many books he wanted to start a new chapter? I always thought he was a video games guy.”
Joe can fully understand why Bucs fans are upset.
Look, most Bucs fans were suspicious about Bucs coach Todd Bowles when he was named Bucco Bruce Arians’s successor. Unfortunately, specifically last season, Bowles has done little to soothe those suspicions. If anything, he has enflamed them.
So there was no coaching change, which angered, if not drove some Bucs fans away until they witness someone inspire change at One Buc Palace.
Then, the Bucs lose their Hall of Fame receiver and best corner in free agency and a Hall of Fame linebacker retire. Those massive holes were replaced with… a good inside linebacker, another veteran linebacker known for tackles and a backup Bucky Irving clone.
It’s hard for fans to look at the current Bucs roster and not believe the team took two steps back in free agency following an 8-9 record, missing the playoffs after starting 6-2.
Not good.
The Mike Evans saga is covered in mystery and intrigue. Given Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht’s words, Evans didn’t leave due to targets.
Some 14 months ago, Evans professed his love of the Bucs, of Bucs fans and of Tampa Bay. He openly spoke about his career goal of being a one-helmet guy. Then, even to the surprise of the Bucs themselves, Evans up and left. Turned down millions more per year to go to San Francisco.
There, he said, he felt he had a better shot at a ring. That he was the 49ers’ final piece to the puzzle.
What happened? Everything the Bucs have said since simply doesn’t fully add up. To take a pay cut and take on the burden of 13 percent state taxes in California (not to mention the overall cost of living) as opposed to zero income taxes in Florida, leaving a team he supposedly loved to go play for a team he thinks is better but lost to the Bucs without him in 2025, it’s just weird man.
Joe gave up trying to apply logic to an emotional decision but he sure smells that something or someone soured Evans (or his family) on the Bucs.
At the NFL owners meetings in Arizona on Monday, senior AP NFL writer Rob Maadi, who is based in central Florida, asked Licht point blank if Evans leaving was a shock to the organization and if it is a wakeup call that the team must do better both on and off the field to ensure other stars don’t take a paycut in order to escape Tampa Bay.
Rob Maadi: My question: When you guys make a better offer, right? And it’s clear that [Mike Evans] thinks he’s going to a better situation, a better environment … how does that translate within the organization? Do you feel like, “Hey, we we’ve got to do a better job. We’re further away than we like.” Is there repercussions?
Jason Licht: I will say that I don’t want to get too deep with the conversations that we had. I don’t necessarily think that it’s because he thought it was a better situation [in San Francisco]. OK, so, you know, he made a decision to begin a new chapter, but I don’t know if it was because he thought it was a better situation.
Now Joe asked Licht a couple of weeks ago when he had a sitdown with select Tampa Bay media what he thought about Jamel Dean and Evans both saying they had a better chance to win a ring in their new homes. Joe thought that may have really got someone at One Buc Palace peeved. At least it should have.
Licht waved off Joe’s question, saying all new players say that at their new team’s introductory press conferences, so he didn’t put any stock into that.
Well, that was Licht’s public response. Behind closed doors, Joe’s willing to bet Licht winged a Joe Tryon-Shoyinka bobblehead doll across his office.
Licht may be playing the good soldier here. You know, keeping the high road — a lot of things Licht says, while they may sound outrageous to us (Chris Braswell will “shock” people), Licht’s not saying that to placate the public but instead is looking to give his players (or coaches) a very public morale boost and support and damn the public reaction.
Joe honestly doesn’t know too many people willing to take a multimillion-dollar hit to the checkbook just to start a “new chapter.” You really think Evans’ agent advised him to take a massive pay cut? Agents get paid by a percentage of the contract.
Maybe by the end of the decade, when enough people are no longer frightened by the repercussions, someone or some people will finally spill the beans on what or who chased Evans out of Tampa Bay.
March 31st, 2026 at 3:51 am
E N O U G H already about Mike Evans. FOR GOD SAKES MAN turn the page already. Seriously!!!!!!!!
March 31st, 2026 at 5:14 am
Bucs fan in phoenix agree so much. He left, it’s over. Move on
March 31st, 2026 at 5:19 am
Legends Leave – time to move on. Opportunity to get younger and faster
March 31st, 2026 at 5:29 am
Him shouting 3rd and 28 is all u need 2 kno.
March 31st, 2026 at 5:38 am
Both Bowles and Licht are showing how out of touch they are with the fan base ! They really have snow balled the Glazers or are an extension of what the Glazers really are . All these ridiculous explanations for last years debacle and this sorry off season are revolting .
March 31st, 2026 at 5:38 am
Let me put it to you Joe in a way you’ll understand. Imagine you’re with the same ball, and chain for the last 12 years, and you have an opportunity to leave old, and stale for a new exciting hottie. Another girl caught Mike’s eye Joe, stop sounding like the old broad he left behind. Evans wanted some strange, haven’t we all wanted some, at some point in our relationships?
March 31st, 2026 at 6:01 am
It was as obviously munches terrible takes that did it.
March 31st, 2026 at 6:10 am
“I don’t necessarily think it was because he thought he was going to a better situation.” – lol.
March 31st, 2026 at 6:31 am
Was Losing Mike Evans A Wake up Call To The Bucs?
Joe can fully understand why Bucs fans are upset
Well…. I am more upset that
1.) The Glazers fear the Beard and Fear of Locusts…… Locusts would hit One Buccaneer Palace if they do anything to Todd Bowles other than retain him
2.) Why in Heavens name is Bowles returning as DC and HC…. I could deal with him being HC, but DC…. this is insulting!!
The fact that Mike Evans went to the 49ers is not a big deal to me
The Buccaneer Defense is atrcoius and Todd Bowles is responsible and the Glazers enable him because they Fear the Beard!
March 31st, 2026 at 6:36 am
The wake up call should have been years ago when the Rams beat the defense deep all day long in the playoff game.
Fire the coach.
March 31st, 2026 at 6:43 am
“Jason Licht: I will say that I don’t want to get too deep with the conversations that we had. I don’t necessarily think that it’s because he thought it was a better situation [in San Francisco]. OK, so, you know, he made a decision to begin a new chapter, but I don’t know if it was because he thought it was a better situation.”
That’s just a flat out lie.
Liars lie.
March 31st, 2026 at 6:47 am
He got burned out and just wanted a change along with it is a crowed WR Room. ME has not been dominate for awhile he has a few dominate games and draws some flags but inside the the 20s not so much.
March 31st, 2026 at 6:58 am
Maybe Mike just loves the smell of urine and feces in the morning.
Occam’s Razor.
March 31st, 2026 at 6:58 am
He didn’t think they could win with Bowles He probably told them, it was Bowles or him.
March 31st, 2026 at 7:02 am
No Hodad,
Not everyone wants some “strange” when they are with the woman they love. You sound like a great guy though and are going to make some woman very happy one day.
March 31st, 2026 at 7:02 am
Mike wants to win. Bowles’ has a bad D, Bowles lost the team at the end of the year, Licht said he will build through the draft and ignore free agency impact players.
March 31st, 2026 at 7:04 am
Wait, Jill Tryon Sissinka has a bobble head?
March 31st, 2026 at 7:06 am
I think he thought he would get more targets in that offense, that’s all. And that’s because the Bucs already have a bunch of talented receivers. The 49ers really only have Pearsall and Kittle remaining to compete for targets with. Oh, and McCaffrey of course but those are typically different targets.
March 31st, 2026 at 7:13 am
When did Evans leave? Why haven’t we seen any coverage of this? 😉
March 31st, 2026 at 7:15 am
It should be a wakeup call to the Glazers. Bowles should have been kicked to the curb by the Glazers and the Glazers should have told Licht to be more aggressive in free agency. Mike wants to win now, not wait until ’27 when a new coach comes in.
March 31st, 2026 at 7:18 am
Dude left because he didn’t want to end his career with 5 catches for 37 yards every game
March 31st, 2026 at 7:22 am
Sad But True. It comes from up top. Seems like ownership is scared and can’t make the important decisions and it has a trickle down effect to the GM and head coach. I’m a Buc for life, and I hope I’m wrong, but ME and JD are great players and they know this staff doesn’t have what it takes to be champions.
March 31st, 2026 at 7:39 am
BeeJ is correct. The WR is crowed, there are too many mouths to feed. The Bucs wr is better with Evans but it is still a good WR without.
March 31st, 2026 at 7:43 am
Concur Stepetematt
March 31st, 2026 at 7:55 am
Let’s see, as a soon to be thirty three year old with little time left on the field, do I want to play for a team with a dynamic offensive HC who always has his team in the playoffs and has been to many conference championships over the past 7 years despite having serious injuries in several of those years? Or do I want to play for an excuse-making, defensive, under-.500, living in the late 90s-early ‘00’s‘ coach? Pretty clear.
It’s ok that Evans left. The emotional part stinks, but he’s going by to hang them up soon and he’s guaranteed to miss 4-5 games anyway. But the answer on why he left should get everyone concerned (if you weren’t already) concerned about who’s leading in that building. Or not leading as I see it.