The Bucs finally got over the hump by beating the Saints, 20-10, for the first time in the regular season in their last eight games. But at what cost?

An altercation on the field in which Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans and Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore saw both players ejected prompted the NFL to suspend Evans, a four-time Pro Bowler for one game. Evans will miss this Sunday’s home opener against Green Bay.

Bucs WR Mike Evans and Saints S Marcus Maye – Photo by: USA Today

After a questionable no-call on Lattimore in coverage on Evans, Bucs quarterback Tom Brady had some words for the Pro Bowl cornerback. That led to Bucs running back Leonard Fournette intervening and pushing Lattimore out of the face of Brady. The former NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year didn’t take too kindly to that and threw a punch at Fournette under his face mask. That prompted Evans to run back out on the field and shove Lattimore to the ground in his teammats’ defense.

On his Let’s Go Podcast, Brady spoke about his relationship with Evans and how he perceives the league’s ruling of the one-game suspension.

“I love Mike,” Brady said. “And the fact that Mike would come out there to defend me, it means everything in the world to me as a teammate and a friend. And Mike knows how I feel about him. So in the end, emotions are a part of sports. Sometimes they boil over and they obviously did yesterday. And it’s an unfortunate circumstance.

“I don’t think it deserved any type of suspension. I think that’s ridiculous. You know hopefully we can move past it, get to a better place. You know in the end, I appreciate Mike having my back. I know he’ll learn from it. And he knows that we all have is back.”

Bucs WR Mike Evans and Saints S Marcus Maye – Photo by: USA Today

It’s not the first time, nor the second time these two men have gone at it. Back in 2017, Evans was also suspended after he blindsided Lattimore following an altercation with then-Bucs  quarterback Jameis Winston. The duo also got into it in 2020 with the Pro Bowl receiver knocking the instigating cornerback’s helmet off.

Though the spotlight has been on Evans, Lattimore was firmly at the center of it throwing the first punch, followed by Saints safety Marcus Maye throwing one of his own. Brady said there were a lot of factors that went into the skirmish and feels Evans should not be the only one singled out.

“I dont think think Mike should be the one blamed and singled out,” Brady said. “Unfortunately he has been, and that’s just the reality of life in the NFL.”

Evans has put in appeal to the NFL and will look to have his suspension rescinded.