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Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans.
It’s become very clear that legendary Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans has had enough of the foolishness online.
Evans’ sent a clear message on fake reports online about his retirement via a lengthy statement from his agent, Deryk Gilmore.
“Recently, there have been multiple false and misleading posts circulating online about Mike Evans,” Gilmore said in a press release on Sunday. “In regards to ANY media posts on any platform (Facebook, Tiktok, Instagram or X), if it does not come directly from Mike Evans’ official page or from his Family Foundation page, please assume it is NOT real … Mike Evans values authenticity and transparency with his fans. When there is news to share, you will hear it directly from him or through his official platforms.”
Evans, who will turn 33 years old in August, is coming off his worst season as a pro — a year in which he saw his NFL record streak of 11 consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons come to an end and the Buccaneers miss the playoffs for the 1st time since 2019.
Media Reacts to Evans Addressing Fake News
Members of the media who cover the Buccaneers reacted to the superstar wide receiver’s pleas for all involved to try and discern real news from fake.
“There’s one profile name on Instagram I won’t mention that routinely posts fake news, often about false catastrophic events involving Bucs players, coaches, etc.,” Tampa Bay Times NFL reporter Rick Stroud wrote on X. “It’s defamatory. It should be shut down. They often run a picture but deliberately don’t use the players’ names. Other times they do. Despicable. I won’t give them oxygen here but the franchise should send them cease and desist warnings.”
“This (press release is from Mike Evans’ agent Deryk Gilmore regarding posts circulating on social media,” ESPN’s Jenna Laine wrote on her official X account in a post attached to Gilmore’s statement. “He calls out clickbait posts and fake quotes, which have becoming increasingly prevalent, especially on Facebook.”
“Facebook is off the rails,” Fox Sports NFL reporter Greg Auman wrote on X. “People can post entirely contrived stories — wholly fiction — and they’ll have 500 comments from people who can’t filter real stories from fake. It’s a completely unnecessary headache.”
The Truth: Evans Has Said Nothing About Plans
Evans is a 6-time Pro Bowler, 2-time NFL All-Pro and Super Bowl champion who could 1 day wind up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
He still hasn’t tipped his hand about his plans for the 2026 season. He just played out a 2-year, $52 million contract and could very well play for another team if he decides to test the waters in free agency.
Spotrac projects Evans could be in line to receive something in the range of a 2-year, $26.6 million contract in the open market.
“Mike Evans hasn’t made any decisions about his career or had the first conversation with the Bucs or his agent about his plans,” Stroud wrote on January 29 ” … Again, neither the Bucs or his agent has had the first conversation with Mike Evans about his plans for 2026 and I’ve spoken to both.”
Tony Adame covers the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos. A veteran sports writer and editor since 2004, his work has been featured at Stadium Talk, Yardbarker, NW Florida Daily News and Pensacola News Journal. More about Tony Adame
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