Mike Evans shockingly left the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this offseason to pursue a fresh start with the San Francisco 49ers.
Evans had his reasons for choosing San Francisco. They have one of the NFL’s best play-callers in Kyle Shanahan, a much less crowded wide receiver room that should result in plenty of targets, and a roster widely viewed as a stronger Super Bowl contender than Tampa Bay.
Good for Evans. He made the decision he felt was best for him at this stage of his career, and after everything he accomplished in red and pewter, he’s earned that right.
But for Buccaneers fans hoping to turn the page and embrace an exciting new group of wide receivers, Evans sure isn’t making it easy. Every glowing endorsement of his new team feels like another twist of the knife, and his latest comments only poured more salt in the wound.
Mike Evans says leaving the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rejuvenated his career
Evans appeared on KNBR, a prominent sports radio station in San Francisco, and gushed over his new situation with the 49ers.
“This team has definitely felt like it’s rejuvenized me and potentially added some years to my career. We’ll see down the line, but I love it here. A great roster, a great coaching staff, a great franchise and something I wanted to be a part of,” Evans said.
Perhaps this is just the Bucs fan in me being a jaded ex, but Evans’ comments are really striking a nerve, and it’s hard not to to feel slighted.
Even Niner Noise, a FanSided sister site that covers San Francisco, acknowledged how Evans’ comments could sting for Buccaneers fans.
“For Bucs fans, it must feel somewhat surreal, and the comments Evans has made about San Francisco can be interpreted in negative ways by Tampa Bay,” wrote Nick San Miguel.
A great roster? A great coaching staff? A great franchise that Evans wanted to be a part of?
It’s hard not to wonder what those comments imply about the Buccaneers, the franchise where Evans spent the first 12 years of his legendary career.
Did leaving the Bucs truly rejuvenate him enough to add years to his career? Did the change of scenery revive a love for the game that had faded in Tampa Bay?
Say it ain’t so, Mike!
It certainly sounds like Evans was ready for a new chapter and couldn’t wait to leave Tampa Bay, despite being arguably the most beloved player ever by the Bucs fanbase.
Evans will always be a Buccaneers legend after re-writing the team’s record books and establishing himself as the greatest offensive player in franchise history, but there may be more to his departure than meets the eye.
Just a few short years ago after signing a contract extension, Evans declared how important it was for him to be a “Buc for Life.”
Fast forward to this offseason, and Evans turned down a substantially larger offer from the Buccaneers to sign with the 49ers at a discounted price. Now, he can’t stop talking about how much better off he is in San Francisco.
So what changed?
Oh well, there’s no time to dwell on players who chose to move on from the Buccaneers. At some point, it’s time to embrace the future.
Tampa Bay still boasts one of the deepest wide receiver rooms in the league with Chris Godwin Jr., Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, Tez Johnson, and Ted Hurst. The Bucs’ pass catchers provide fans with plenty to get excited about, with or without Mike Evans.
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