Mike Evans’ decision is a damning indictment of the obvious problem that the Glazers don’t see with the franchise
Three words that Evans said back in December told the story.
Third and 28. Those words might as well be written on the tombstone of Mike Evans tenure in Tampa Bay.
Evans is leaving Tampa Bay after 12 seasons with the team that drafted him in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, heading instead to the Bay Area to play for the San Francisco 49ers. It’s a day that Bucs fans have dreaded and feared for years. Those fears were assuaged in the past when the team reached agreements to keep Evans in town, most recently two years ago.
However, Evans decided that it’s time to start over somewhere else, and it’s no secret why that’s truly the case no matter what artfully worded statement is put out into the public.
Mike Evans’ move is a damning indictment on Todd Bowles and the state of the Bucs as a franchise
Third and 28.
That was the moment that you saw what the Bucs have been under Todd Bowles for one time too many. And it surely looked like a breaking point for Evans that Thursday night against Atlanta back on December 11.
Up 28-26, the Falcons were in a seemingly insurmountable 3rd and 28 situation on their own half of the field inside of two minutes. But as has been the case far too often under Bowles, the Bucs’ defense yielded those 28 yards and more on the next two plays combined to reach field goal range. Which, of course, was good, and Atlanta completed a 28-14 fourth quarter deficit to win 29-28.
Evans was seen as angry as this writer can remember seeing him on the sideline after the conversion and on the way to the locker room after the game.
But that was just the last example of another embarrassing moment under Bowles over the last few years, particularly with his defense. Allowing record-setting performances by CJ Stroud in 2023 and Kirk Cousins in 2024. Watching defenses obliterate his unit during a 6-2 to 8-9 late season swoon this past season. Stoic looks and repeated accountability phrases at press conferences.
Even Ronde Barber had some words about Bowles defense late last season, noting that it asks players to do too much.
It’s clear that Tampa Bay is not going to take that next step back towards being a Super Bowl contender with Todd Bowles as their head coach and defensive coordinator. It was obvious to the semi-casual fan by the end of the season and it damned sure should have been obvious to the individuals signing everyone’s paychecks inside of One Buc Place.
I’m not even coming down on them like some for letting Liam Coen walk in favor of keeping Bowles after the 2024 season. The Bucs were coming off a playoff run and just missed out against the Commanders in the playoffs. It was a solid season that had an unfortunate ending.
But the writing was completely all over the wall by the end of the 2025 season. Evans saw it. The fans saw it. Many in the media saw it. Unfortunately, the Glazers didn’t, or worse, they did and they didn’t care enough to act.
And now, a legendary career his reached its conclusion in Tampa Bay.
Third and 28, man. Third and 28.