The Mike Evans news has moved quickly throughout the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fanbase.

By this point, almost everyone has seen that this could very likely be Evans' final season in Tampa, and there isn't a whole lot either party can do to change that.

The fans would be wise to recognize that this doesn't just come down to a simple decision by the Bucs.

Cap space is currently very, very tight in Tampa. Mike Evans plays one of the most valuable positions in the sport and has already compiled a fringe-Hall of Fame career with more obvious gas in the tank.

This is rarely the recipe for a happy ending.

While fans and some analysts alike claim Evans has earned a blank check from the Bucs, which he has in many ways due to his remarkable contributions to the franchise, it is hard to see where that $27 million will come from to keep him.

Tampa has some important free agents coming up. Risking the ability to retain a young guy like Antoine Winfield Jr. to pay Evans, a receiver that is far from young in the modern NFL, is a dangerous move to make for a team that needs to win.

With Chris Godwin on the roster and some bright young pieces coming up with guys like Trey Palmer stepping into a larger role and Russell Gage coming back from injury after this season, the Bucs may be confident enough in their wide receiver room to keep from bankrupting the franchise to pay to keep Evans.

It isn't a perfect situation. The one thing that is certain is that this will hurt someone in some way in the end. Either Evans won't get to retire a Buccaneer, which would be a travesty, or the Bucs have to let other guys that can be a big part of Tampa's future walk to keep Evans, and that likely hurts more in the long run.

An impossible situation has popped up in Tampa. Jason Licht better figure out some ways to work some magic before it is too late.

Could Mike Evans be a possibility for the Lions?

Normally I wouldn't speculate over stuff like this. I'd just sit back and watch how things work out and keep my mouth shut. You blame Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press for putting the idea that the Detroit Lions could trade for Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans in my head.  There's been some drama between […]