but what are you suggesting?
What are you suggesting? That Mike would rather play with Baker than have another $5 to $7 mil a year elsewhere? Do you honestly think Mike is evaluating playing with Baker based on last year's stats alone, and not his career stats? Heck, he even had a string of games, not just a couple or three, during last season that were clunkers.
I'm suggesting that Mike will test his market value as he holds the cards. Why wouldn't he unless we were going to be generous? He is a man of his word and gave the Bucs their chance to not have competition. The Bucs said no thanks.
but again, without knowing the contract demands, hard to point figures yet. I think Mike would like to come back to Tampa to maintain his legacy and i am suggesting having Baker at QB helps that more than option B. He likely wants to keep his 1,000 yard streak alive.
If the Ravens offer him 30M and we only offer him 25, i think he goes to Baltimore.
If Washington offers him 30M, and we only offer him 25, then i think he stays in Tampa.
If we dont have Baker, then i think he chooses Washington. Makes sense?
but to my question to you is what option is more going to entice Mike to come back?
option A - the known, Baker Mayfield at QB
Option b - the unknown, Kyle Trask, a rookie QB with us drafting at 26th, or anotehr veteran like Tannehill, Brisset, etc.
but again, without knowing the contract demands, hard to point figures yet
Or even to claim there is a dispute lol
FWiW. The guy who “reporters” this also said the NFL was going to hand out Taylor Swift friendship bracelets at the Chiefs-Jets game.
Soon after called false by an actual reporter who actually covers the jets.
it was false lol
WHO KNOWS WHERE THE TRUTH LIES but one way to interpret the source is that he was willing to post something not yet reported by the traditional nfl reporter pool. May be true, but maybe more like the friendship bracelets lol
but to my question to you is what option is more going to entice Mike to come back?
What do I, or anyone else on this board, know what would entice Mike to come back? If you want to debate or argue what you think versus what I think about what somebody else thinks, you've picked the wrong member.
but to my question to you is what option is more going to entice Mike to come back?
What do I, or anyone else on this board, know what would entice Mike to come back? If you want to debate or argue what you think versus what I think about what somebody else thinks, you've picked the wrong member.
i mean it's not hard to make opinions or most likely scenarios, best educated guesses. You are not in court and this is not a deposition.
for example, Andy Reid close to retirement age and reports he was mulling retirement, If Patrick Mahomes was to demand a trade from the Chiefs or suddenly retire, would this entice Andy Reid to retire and not return to Chiefs? One might suggest so even though we are not 100% sure what he might do. Can we admit at least that the odds would go up?
another example, when Tom Brady signed with the Bucs. Could we assume that all the players were ecstatic he joined the team? I mean, yes but honestly per your stance, what do I or anyone else on this board know about if all the players wanted Brady on the team.
so it's a simple opinion really. Would Mike Evans who is on back 9 of his career, has already won a Super Bowl, has a legacy of achieving 1,000 yards per season, likely focused on padding those stats like anyone else would be more enticed by having a QB return whom he put up one of his best seasons with and has chemistry or if the Bucs were to say they were going to give Trask a shot or maybe a draft pick in the 2nd or third round?
i think Mike wants to stay in Tampa but only if it makes sense. The fact that they had one of their most successful playoff wise seasons in his career and that the Brady magic has continued with Mayfield; i think we may have a good chance to retain Mike assuming we pony up the cash.
and we will never know about the Mayfield hypothetical because it's 100% hes back in Tampa so you and i are basically debating about nothing right now.
Auman is about as reliable as they come:
"The expiring contracts for Mike Evans and Baker Mayfield will void today, leaving a combined $14.5 million in dead money counting against the Bucs' 2024 salary cap. Signing new deals with either would have kept some of that dead money in future seasons, but this was expected."
One of the reasons Tom Brady left New England - is that he didn’t have any receivers to throw to - and Belichick refused to draft one in the 1st round.
He could have signed anywhere, for any amount of money, but he did a reasonable deal with the Bucs (but the number of years was interesting)…because he wanted the best chance possible to win another ring, in a different uniform, under someone completely different than Belichick.
Could be that Evans sees a chance to take another run with the Bucs, or that maybe the rumors about going to Houston, playing with that hot new QB, CJ Stroud, and a stacked team - are true.
He already has a ring, he’s made some money, as long as the money is close, you’d think we have about an even chance to re-sign him… I think he would be more coveted here - which could mean something, and that he’d have a chance to be a Buc for life (not many do that anymore) along with the fact that the Bucs signed a similar OC with a familiar offense, and he’s got some chemistry with Baker. It may just come down to how he feels about our chances to win another ring here - versus going some place else.
could be he just thinks he could get a lot of money - doubt it - he has never been that kind of guy.
Today, I’m 60/40 that he’ll stay…
Auman is about as reliable as they come:
"The expiring contracts for Mike Evans and Baker Mayfield will void today, leaving a combined $14.5 million in dead money counting against the Bucs' 2024 salary cap. Signing new deals with either would have kept some of that dead money in future seasons, but this was expected."
Auman was spot on with the "it was expected" comment.
You wouldn't know it though if you skimmed through Twitter today.
Bucs fans are grabbing pitchforks. Lol.
Auman is about as reliable as they come:
"The expiring contracts for Mike Evans and Baker Mayfield will void today, leaving a combined $14.5 million in dead money counting against the Bucs' 2024 salary cap. Signing new deals with either would have kept some of that dead money in future seasons, but this was expected."
Auman was spot on with the "it was expected" comment.
You wouldn't know it though if you skimmed through Twitter today.
Bucs fans are grabbing pitchforks. Lol.
Auman is a journalist in ever sense of the word.
This article saying the Bucs and Evans are "far apart" could be true, but true or not, it is a great example of how poorly information flows today. The flow is all F'd up because EVERYONE is a "publisher" and so looking for content. And every consumer of content has a smart phone etc.
In that environment (every website/person is looking for content daily) a "no name" amateur from bleacher report, who has previously "reported" some funny false stuff in the past, makes the original COMPLETELY UNSOURCED claim. Everyone else in "look mom, I am a sports reporter" business NEEDS content, so the completely unsourced claim gets re-packaged over and over. Consumers understandably perceive VOLUME as truth ("everyone is saying it") etc etc.
Funny stuff. Super easy to shape the narrative though if you are the agent or the Bucs in this scenario because the guy who started the story will literally post ANYTHING, whereas a professional like Auman is tethered to basic reality and standards . . hahaha
One aspect to consider regarding Bucs retaining Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans - Florida’s lack of income tax gives us an edge over Kansas City & New England - to the tune of $3.5m to $5m per year.
Not to mention the fact that warm weather states are preferred by vets…mostly because it lengthens careers.
The old employment addage still holds true when considering Florida…”the Sun & Sand (and low taxes rates) are worth 10%” - scale that up for inflation as much as you want…
You might say it’s Bake-d in (sorry, I could not resist).
WT is feeling positive about re-signing Bake & Shake, today…
One aspect to consider regarding Bucs retaining Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans - Florida’s lack of income tax gives us an edge over Kansas City & New England - to the tune of $3.5m to $5m per year.
Not to mention the fact that warm weather states are preferred by vets…mostly because it lengthens careers.
The old employment addage still holds true when considering Florida…”the Sun & Sand (and low taxes rates) are worth 10%” - scale that up for inflation as much as you want…
You might say it’s Bake-d in (sorry, I could not resist).
WT is feeling positive about re-signing Bake & Shake, today…
is it per year? i would have thought that a 3 year, $75M deal, that $5M savings figure might make sense. I dont think so per year though. Missouri state income tax rate is 5% so figure on $25M per year would be about $1.2M in tax savings.
to your point, it is certainly an added benefit to stay in Florida.
Listen, i am sure Mike wants to stay with the Bucs. It's his legacy, he is not stupid to that fact but he wont leave money on the table either.
let's say he gets 4 offers
1. Chiefs at $25M per year
2. Texans at $25 per year (also no state income tax)
3. Bucs at $23M per year
4. Commanders at $30M per year
i mean, in this scenario, he's likely choosing between 1 and 2 as best chance to win and more money.
now in the scenario, where the Bucs are matching the Chiefs and Texans; then yes it becomes interesting. I think the Bucs success with Baker post Brady is huge in this regard and you are lying to yourself i you dont see that.
If 2023 would have been a dud, let's say Bucs go 6-11 per Vegas odds and Mike barely squeezed out his 1,000 yards or worse...missed it; then he's probably ready for a change. The fact that we had our most successful season, playoff victory wise sans Brady in Mike's entire career, goes along way into building this winning culture. I think Mike would choose us in this scenario for legacy purposes but do not expect a home town discount at all.
Excellent points @Babdabing
I’ll add legacy, to taxes, sun/sand, and warm weather…[shakes etch-a-sketch] - …yep, calculator still indicates “leaning slightly towards Buc’s re-sign”
It’s all plausible, but it seems it’s all still in the positioning stages.
Mike from the Muck!
“I think Texas receivers, they’re different, but Mike is different, Mike is from Galveston,” Winston said. “If you are born around water, you have a different way of life. You function differently because water has no soul, it doesn’t discriminate against anybody. You get in that water, it’s gonna take you wherever it goes. So I feel like people that around water, they are very strong-willed. They are one with water.”
“If you been to Galveston, Galveston’s known for, well I don’t know what they’re known for ‘cuz I’m not from there, but I know they have a beach, and it’s not a pretty beach,” Winston said. “It’s not a pretty beach, so Mike is from that muck. … He’s a little different. I don’t classify him with the other Texas receivers.”
