Mike Evans Pain Comes Before Bucs’ Opening Day
May 15th, 2026
No secret to NFL fans before yesterday’s schedule release was the teams that will open the season in Australia after the Seahawks host the Fighting Russinis in Seattle.
Those teams are the Rams and 49ers. They’ll clash on Thursday, Sept. 10, on Netflix, live from Melbourne, Australia, about 65 hours before Bucs opening day.
Starting at wide receiver for the 49ers, if he’s not nursing a hamstring injury, will be legendary receiver Mike Evans, the famous “Buc For Life.”
Ironically, Evans is not a fan of flying and he’s open about not being a fan of long flights. So Joe wonders what Evans will be thinking about on his 16-hour trek nonstop to Australia. He’ll probably still be convincing himself that Brock Purdy is a better quarterack than Baker Mayfield.
Evans launching his second NFL career in a high-profile game — with Bucs fans having little to do but watch him — makes for an interesting dynamic. The numbers of Tampa Bay eyeballs on that game will be tremendous.
Joe wonders whether the Bucs will have the stones to seize the day and capitalize on the big night for Evans.
Perhaps Team Glazer could have a giveaway event simultaneously, such as one that provides a handsome reward if you drive in and drop off your Evans game jersey from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. that night — all part of an old-school Buccaneers pep rally to take fans’ minds off the nightmare of watching Evans wearing a 49ers jersey.
Consider that the Bucs just spent a ton of manpower hours producing a goofy schedule-release video. Will they be willing to invest similar hours and effort into comforting the Bucs fans they hold so dearly?
— JoeBucsFan (@JoeBucsFan) May 15, 2026
May 15th, 2026 at 7:17 am
“The Fighting Russinis” – good one Joe!
May 15th, 2026 at 7:28 am
Buffalo needs to kick the snot out of the Patriots this year.
May 15th, 2026 at 7:30 am
Wouldn’t it be ironic if we get it together and win the Superbowl? Mike would feel sick. Joe, do you propose burning those jerseys after they are dropped off? Your tone suggests that.
May 15th, 2026 at 7:42 am
Evans who?
May 15th, 2026 at 7:46 am
There’s a pretty good chance we win our division, even BETTER chance Niners only get a wildcard, which means Mike could come here for a playoff game. THAT would be awesome
May 15th, 2026 at 7:51 am
We’re going to do this crap all year, aren’t we.
May 15th, 2026 at 8:02 am
It would be awesome if the 9ers missed the playoffs and Mike Evans enjoys the post season fishing in the San Francisco Bay!!
May 15th, 2026 at 8:07 am
Wow! It seems this worldwide craziness is going to start right out of the gate this year. And also the subscription madness. H haven’t actually looked at the schedule yet. Maybe I ought to do that now.
May 15th, 2026 at 8:09 am
Hey, we need to get over it Joe. We lost a great one. He simply gave up on this franchise after looking at what he saw as little opportunity to finish his career with another chance at a Superbowl. I am super disappointed and loved watching him play as a Buc. However, given the current status of the Bucs chances of winning this next year, I can’t blame him. The Bucs have made some bad personnel decisions . Inspite of all he lost plane ride being the smallest, yet choose to leave says tons about the franchise.
Good Luck Mike
May 15th, 2026 at 8:15 am
I have no intention of watching that game. Why would I?
May 15th, 2026 at 8:16 am
Couldn’t care any less. I will not be watching anymore then Dean or any other ex Bucs players. They are gone. They made their choice. So long..
May 15th, 2026 at 8:17 am
I hate Netflix.
May 15th, 2026 at 8:20 am
The road to a superbowl is much easier with the Bucs than the 49ers. Miscalculation by Evans. The 49ers might be the 3rd best team in their division behind the Superbowl champs and the Rams.
Enjoy that flight Mike. Ive done it (from Tampa), and it’s brutal.
May 15th, 2026 at 8:25 am
I have got week #7 in the ‘when does ME have hamstring issues and needs to be limited or out by’ pool.
May 15th, 2026 at 8:28 am
Dude get over it man
You think he cares nope
He’s on his last leg
Blows a hammy misses 7 games watch
The field in San Francisco is trash
May 15th, 2026 at 8:41 am
I will be surprised if there isn’t a thread every week. Did he get injured or pull his hammy. How many catches, yards and TDs did he have.
May 15th, 2026 at 8:46 am
Question Joe ??
Why are you mad at Mike?
This guy gave everything to the Bucs. Yall are mad he left ??
THE BUCS KEPT BOWLES !!! No other team would have done that even the Past shows the Bucs firing coaches for less.
If the Glazers keep Bowles (for whatever reason) which to me shows they do care about winning more than something else WHY SHOULD MIKE CARE!
3-28. Mike yelled it
Mike Knows way more than any of us on the behind the scenes which probably shows MORE INCOMPETENCE BY BOWLES.
Evans is awesome!!! He was awesome to the fans PLAYED his Heart out for this team
I blame GLAZERS for him leaving
May 15th, 2026 at 8:46 am
Yall acting like a bunch of scorn exes lol move on man Mike made his decision he’s got every right to his decision he gaved us what? 10? Great years. Move on man
May 15th, 2026 at 8:54 am
I wish nothing but the best for mike.
May 15th, 2026 at 8:54 am
Bucs3 is 100% Correct!! But time to look at what we have right now and in the Post Bowles Seasons coming up
May 15th, 2026 at 9:04 am
Bottom line is Mike Evans, when motivated, is a whale of a player. He oughta have a few more really good years in him. We won’t replace him but we aren’t bereft of weapons, that’s for sure.
May 15th, 2026 at 9:17 am
I’ll be rooting for Mike to succeed with his new team. He balled out for us and helped Tom Brady bring a second title to Tampa. Never forget that.
Who can blame him for wanting to get away from the stench of the Bowels movement.
He was the best player ever drafted by Licht. It was a no brainer choice.
Evans was so good he made Johnny Manzel look like a top flight QB.
May 15th, 2026 at 9:31 am
How many Patriots fans traded in their Brady jersey???
No one should be trading in their Evans jersey. Mike is arguably the best offensive Buc ever and gave the vast majority of his career to this team and community selflessly.
May 15th, 2026 at 10:14 am
The Glazers invest in comforting Bucs fans? Pffffftt!
May 15th, 2026 at 10:18 am
I bet Mike wishes he could have / should have waited until after the draft to make his decision. Massive focus on defense that was sorely needed.
I wish him well and thank him for everything. With that, he is no longer a Buc.
On to Cincinnati.