Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans have been on an emotional rollercoaster this offseason, particularly with the uncertain future of Chris Godwin – but the receiver’s new three-year deal provided a welcome relief.
So of course that four-letter network known as ESPN decided to turn their focus from claiming the Buccaneers would lose Godwin, to now, next year the Buccaneers could lose Mike Evans.
Want proof? Check out their latest list of players who’s contract end after the 2025 season.
“The 2014 first-round pick has been the model of consistency. Evans has produced more than 1,000 receiving yards in all 10 of his pro seasons with Tampa Bay, while scoring double-digit touchdowns in four of his past five seasons,” ESPN fantasizes. “Evans will turn 32 this August, but he’ll have suitors if he hits free agency.”
Wait, didn’t Adam Schefter and Jenna Laine from the same network say that after Evans signed his extension a year ago he was now a “Buc for life”?
Jenna Laine in February of 2024,
“Tampa Bay trying to re-sign Mike Evans as ‘Buc for life'”
Adam Schefter in March of 2024,
“Evans, who was to enter free agency next week, now has a real chance to start and finish his career as a “Buc for life” in Tampa.”
Even Evans himself stated about his new deal in 2024,
I couldn’t pass up on it. I look forward to being a [Buccaneer] for life.”
So to re-cap, Laine of ESPN said in 2024 the Bucs were looking to make Evans a “Buc for life”. Schefter reiterated it after the Evans contract in 2024. And finally Evans himself said it after signing the contract….
So what gives? Why is ESPN all of a sudden saying something different now in 2025? Simple answer here, they desperately need engagement and traffic.
Well for every Schefter and Laine, there’s dozens of Matt Bowen’s. Look, I’m sure Bowen is a good dude, but a simple search would’ve made him consider how bad his take was. I mean, all he has to do was literally ask people in his own building, or done an ounce of research. But he didn’t.
This isn’t an isolated issue for ESPN as it relates to the Buccaneers. Remember when they said the team should cut running back Rachaad White?
ESPN suggests White may be a cut candidate,
“The Buccaneers enter free agency with only $2.2 million in cap space. They need to make some room and one way to do it is to say goodbye to White. The running back is entering the final year of his rookie contract, so the Buccaneers can cut him for $3.3 million in cap savings with less than $250,000 in dead money.”
Or how about after saying the Bucs would take a step back in 2024, they said it again in 2025?
Another Buccaneers Offseason, Another Bad ESPN Take
ESPN recently surveyed 13 of its analysts, seeking their insights on various NFL topics heading into the 2025 season. One question posed was which team they expected to regress next season. Notably, NFL analyst Kalyn Kahler and Eric Moody fantasy football writer both predicted the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would take a step back in 2025.
Kahler talks about how strong the NFC South is set to be:
“Carolina could be building something with Bryce Young, and Michael Penix Jr. is ready to boost the Falcons, so competition in the NFC South will take a step up this season. Will Baker Mayfield have the same success with Josh Grizzard as his third offensive coordinator in Tampa?”
Additionally, ESPN’s Moody pondered whether Baker Mayfield can replicate his success and deliver another standout season in 2025:
“The NFC South won’t be as easy for the Buccaneers in 2025 like it was in 2024. Mayfield will have another new offensive coordinator, and hitting on three straight OC hires is rare.”
The network that used to be the shining light of sports information, has now turned into a weird, lazy, generic version of TMZ. The network values bluster, (see Pat MacAfee and Stephen A Smith), over facts and real information.
It’s almost as if they paid two guys so much that they had to hire the rest of their staff from TEMU.
But hey, you got the clicks right?
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