Uh-oh. Brace yourselves, Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans, because the moment you've been dreading may finally be here.
The Buccaneers will reportedly be handing out 13,000 Mike Evans bobbleheads for their winner-take-all NFC South regular-season finale against the Carolina Panthers. It's being described as "a tribute to his legendary career and commitment to Tampa Bay," per the team (h/t ESPN's Jenna Laine).
Reading between the lines, it sure sounds like the upcoming clash with the Panthers could be the final game of Evans' illustrious 12-year NFL run. Or, at the very least, he's gearing up for one last dance if they win and make the playoffs. Either way, the end might be near for one of the best and most consistent wide receivers in league history.
Buccaneers plant seeds for Mike Evans' retirement with gloomy bobblehead giveaway
It'd be one thing if the Bucs advertised the giveaway in honor of Evans just becoming the 22nd player all-time to reach 13,000 receiving yards. However, they made it clear that this is their way of recognizing his contributions to the organization and the city of Tampa.
Why now? The timing is certainly noteworthy, considering Tampa Bay doesn't have another scheduled contest beyond their meeting with the Panthers, barring a victory. With no assurances past Week 18, the Bucs are ostensibly leaving nothing to chance, and fairly so.
Of course, even Evans would say a postseason berth trumps any farewell tour. Nevertheless, regardless of what happens against Carolina, giving him a proper send-off is not only deserving -- it's necessary. His contributions to Tampa Bay and to football transcend this high-stakes contest.
Knowing this, the idea of thanking Evans cordially sounds reasonable, but then again, the Bucs are going to great lengths to make his collectible figurine special. Laine mentions that it will feature Tampa Bay's 50th anniversary logo and the six-time Pro Bowler's iconic salute.
If this is truly the end of the road for Evans, it's been a tremendous ride. He'll go down as a Super Bowl champion, the greatest Buc ever and a future Hall of Famer. His résumé speaks for itself, yet it only begins to describe what he means to the Krewe.
For whatever it's worth, Evans recently addressed the possibility of him hanging up the cleats head-on, saying he hadn't even thought about it yet.