Mike Evans and Marshon Lattimore added another chapter to their rivalry on Sunday. The Buccaneers wide receiver came out of nowhere to defend his quarterback, Tom Brady, who was arguing with the Saints cornerback.
Both players were both subsequently ejected from the game and the NFL announced a one-game suspension for Evans on Monday.
WWL’s Jeff Nowak and Steve Geller ranted about Evans on Audacy’s “Inside Black & Gold” podcast following the incident between the wide receiver and Lattimore.
“Mike Evans is a punk. Straight up. He’s a punk. I don’t know how else to say it. He’s a punk,” Nowak said (17:29 in player above). “You are getting beat. You are not winning. You are getting put in jail by a guy and your reaction is not ‘OK, I’m going to beat him,’ it’s ‘I’m going to take a cheap shot,’ again. That’s just punk behavior.”
Evans had three catches on four targets for 61 yards, buoyed by a 41-yard catch at the start of the second quarter.
Lattimore and Brady were having a verbal argument before teammates stepped in, and Evans came running over from the sidelines to get involved.
Evans and Lattimore already had some history.
When Saints quarterback Jameis Winston was with the Buccaneers, Evans came over to defend him after a shove. It was another blindside hit by the wide receiver.
Sunday’s altercation with Lattimore only further proved Nowak’s point.
“I get it, he’s taller than me. He could beat me up. I don’t care. He’s a punk. He could run over from the other side of the road and punch me in the face and he’d probably win that fight because he’s gigantic and stronger than me,” he continued. “That would be a punk move, too, and that’s exactly what he did against Marshon Lattimore. Play football, dude. Play football. Don’t lose at football and get mad about it.”
The Bucs and Saints were locked in a 3-3 tie at the time of the ejections. Tampa Bay went on to win 20-10, highlighted by a touchdown pass to Breshad Perriman. Perhaps that would’ve gone differently if Lattimore was still in the game.
“Sadly, the result was a huge positive for the Buccaneers though, too, because obviously it takes Lattimore out of the game and the best corner on the field,” Geller said.
“That’s why it was a good result! Because he can’t beat Marshon. Going one for one and losing Mike Evans and Marshon Lattimore, that means that the Saints are at a huge disadvantage because Marshon Lattimore is way more important than Mike Evans,” Nowak said. “That’s all you need to know about Mike Evans. That him just falling on his sword is an advantage for that team. I don’t even care that much but that guy, get out of here. I’m done with him.”
Lattimore and the Saints will look to get revenge on Evans and the Buccaneers in a Week 13 matchup on Monday Night Football.
“The rematch in December will be interesting again for sure because these two have had a history and it’s just going to get even more intense now,” Geller said.
Related
Related
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy Sports
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram