TAMPA — As it turns out, when Bucs basic supervisor Jason Licht got the call Sunday night that free-agent-to-be Mike Evans had concurred to terms on a brand-new offer to stay in Tampa, he was at a charity occasion hosted by Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper and talking with hockey legend Wayne Gretzky.
Licht got off the phone and returned to the discussion, so Gretzky was one of the veryfirst individuals to discover out that the Pro Bowl receiver was staying with the Bucs for another 2 years.
“I went back in and was fist-pumping and all that, and I informed Wayne Gretzky that we had signed Mike Evans,” Licht stated Friday at a press conference formally revealing the receiver’s return. “And he stated, ‘Whoa, he’s a fantastic one.’ I idea that was quite cool for him to state he’s a fantastic one.”
It takes one to understand one, it would appear. Evans, 30, has currently reworded the Bucs’ getting records and assisted the group to a Super Bowl win and 3 straight playoff looks because. Already the highest-paid gamer in franchise history, Evans signed a two-year offer worth $41 million, with the opportunity to push it to $52 million with rewards and escalators.
Evans had hoped to have a brand-new offer done a year ago, however he assisted himself by connecting for the NFL lead with 13 goal captures in a agreement year. After 10 seasons in Tampa, it looked like he might test the waters of complimentary firm next week, at least to see what the market was like, however he stated his partner, Ashli, with him throughout his time with the Bucs, eventually persuaded him they needto remain.
“I wear’t desire to state I was waiting for my betterhalf to speak up, however … it simply hit her,” Evans stated. “She stated, ‘Maybe we needto remain in Tampa.’ I was like, ‘I desire to be in Tampa.’ They provided me excellent cash. I simply desired to see whatever as a entire. Are we going to get Baker [Mayfield] back? Things like that. I understand I can play with whoever’s at quarterback. I hope it’s Baker, however if not, I can make it work.”
With Evans re-signed and security Antoine Winfield franchise-tagged, the Bucs haveactually locked up 2 main leaders from their Super Bowl group. But as Evans questioned, the concern now is whether they’ll likewise be able to bring back Mayfield, who delightedin a profession year in his veryfirst season in Tampa, setting profession highs in goals (28) and passing backyards (4,044) in leading the Bucs to a department title.
Like Evans, Mayfield hasactually revealed a real desire to stay in Tampa, with talks continuing this weekend ahead of Monday’s window when totallyfree representatives can start talking to other groups.
“I simply desire what’s finest for him,” Evans stated. “I think what’s finest for him would be to play with me and Chris [Godwin], however there’s a lot of terrific receivers in this league that might usage his services as well. … I’m incredibly positive. I’m not 100 percent, however he played actually fantastic for us last year. The city took him in, the gamers enjoyed him. Hopefully, we get him back, however he oughtto do what’s finest for him.”
Evans was Licht’s initially draft choice when he got the GM task in 2014, and the 2 of them withstood 6 long years without a playoff look before the present run of 4 straight journeys to the postseason. Evans hasactually been the group’s Man of the Year 3 times, and he and Ashli haveactually been active in the neighborhood with their structure as well.
“He indicates so much to this neighborhood and fan base, the company, to me personally,” Licht stated. “The minute we discovered out Mike desired to be a Buc for life is something I’ll neverever forget.”
Evans has currently developed a strong résumé for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. With simply 6 more goal captures, he would endupbeing just the 11th gamer to reach 100 for his profession. He stated Friday he can see himself playing another 5 or 6 years in the NFL, and he understands he desires those years to be in Tampa, using the just uniform he’s ever used as a pro.
“Obviously, it’s been popular that I desired to be a Buc for my entire profession,” he stated. “It’s really uncommon that you stay with one group your whole profession, however it’s something that was a objective of mine and this is one action closer to one of my greatest objectives. … All the coaches I’ve had, all my colleagues, I’m actually pleased of what they’ve suggested to me and done for me throughout my time here.
“Tampa, I love y’all.”
Greg Auman is FOX Sports’ NFC South pressreporter, covering the Buccaneers, Falcons, Panthers and Saints. He is in his 10th season covering the Bucs and the NFL full-time, havingactually invested time at the Tampa Bay Times and The Athletic. You can follow him on Twitter at @gregauman.
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