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Buccaneers: Mike Evans suspended following hit on Saints’ Lattimore

By Michael Horan

NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 24: Mike Evans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers makes a catch over Sterling Moore #24 of the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on December 24, 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 24: Mike Evans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers makes a catch over Sterling Moore #24 of the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on December 24, 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
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As if to add insult to injury, the NFL has suspended Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans for one game.

According to reports, Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans has been suspended one game for his altercation with Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore. Early in the third quarter, Evans delivered a vicious cheap shot on the rookie Saint defender, and it’s going to cost him.

Rapoport added in a separate tweet that Evans will appeal the decision. It’s unclear whether he has any chance of it being overturned, but it makes sense for Evans to at least try. Hopefully Evans is able to learn from the unfortunate event regardless of whether the suspension stands; in each year of Evans’ career he’s had at least one significant blow-up on the sideline, and it’s about time he start cutting down on them.

In defense of Mike Evans, every person around the Bucs knows that he’s a genuinely good guy that has regrettable moments like the rest of us. Also worth considering is that Evans and the rest of his teammates were put in tough spots by their quarterback Jameis Winston, who foolishly antagonized Lattimore into pushing him. When Winston’s teammates saw this they had little choice but to come to the aid of their quarterback.

Next: Buccaneers to shut down Winston for a few weeks

If Evans does sit for the game against the New York Jets, expect Chris Godwin to see a big bump in playing time, and for DeSean Jackson to be more heavily featured. The Bucs have enough weapons to make do, but losing Evans is a costly blow.

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