Wide receiver Mike Evans signed a new contract with the Buccaneers this offseason and the deal guaranteed he would be back in Tampa for the 11th straight season.
It also set him up for an opportunity to post his 11th-straight season with 1,000 receiving yards for the team. Only one player has opened his career with 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons, so Evans will be trying to tie Jerry Rice on that front.
Given Rice’s place in NFL history, it was not surprising to hear Evans say at a Wednesday press conference that matching Rice’s feat is something that he has been thinking about.
“I don’t, like, list off things, but that’s one of them that’s in the back of my mind because everybody’s talking about it,” Evans said. “That’s been a record around for how many years now? Over 20 years? So, that’s something I definitely want to accomplish, and just help the team win ball games and be better than we were last year.”
Evans has shown no signs of slowing down and he expressed excitement about the offensive approach the team will take with new coordinator Liam Coen this season, so he should make a strong run at tying Rice’s mark as long as he stays healthy.
The Buccaneers placed Randy Gregory on the did not report list on Tuesday and there’s no telling when the edge rusher may make his way to training camp.
Head coach Todd Bowles elected not to address Gregory when asked about the veteran in his Wednesday press conference. Gregory also did not attend mandatory minicamp in June after signing with Tampa Bay in April.
“We’re going to talk about the players that are here. He’s not here,” Bowles said. “We’ll deal with that internally. Obviously, he’s on the did not report list, and we’ll go from there.”
Bowles added, “I don’t speculate on anything,” when asked if he’s had any indication as to when Gregory will report.
Gregory, 31, split the 2023 season between the Broncos and 49ers. He is currently suing the NFL and the Broncos for $532,500 in fines incurred for taking medication containing THC for disabilities. Though he’s previously served four suspensions for multiple violations of the NFL’s substance abuse policy, Gregory has sought help to deal with addiction and social anxiety disorder.
He has recorded 22.0 career sacks in 72 games since the Cowboys selected him in the second round of the 2015 draft.
Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles expects his team to be in the Super Bowl in February.
The Bucs posted video of Bowles addressing the team at the opening of training camp, and he told his player he expects greatness from them.
“The expectations for us shouldn’t be just the division. It’s got to be the Super Bowl. We won the division the last two years,” Bowles said. “Our expectation has got to be how we can be great.”
Bowles singled out quarterback Baker Mayfield as the person who will be most responsible for the Bucs’ success.
“Bake, you run the show. It’s your team,” Bowles said.
Bowles said they’re heading into camp with the “most in-shape team we’ve had” but cautioned players not to focus just on making the 53-player roster, but on being impact players.
“I want nobody trying to make the team,” Bowles said. “I’d rather fucking cut you and have somebody that’s busting their ass than for you to just make the team. You’ve got to want to be something on this team and that’s what the fuck I’m looking for. We can get that done, we’re going to be a hell of a team.”
Veteran pass rusher Randy Gregory signed with the Buccaneers in April, but he still hasn’t shown up to work.
Gregory, who skipped the offseason program, also did not report today at the start of training camp. The Buccaneers placed him on the Did Not Report list.
Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said last week that he hasn’t talked to Gregory but was expecting him to show up to work. That expectation was not met today.
Gregory is suing the NFL for fining him more than $500,000 for using THC, which he says he needs for PTSD and social anxiety.
The 31-year-old Gregory was one of the most talented players in the 2015 NFL draft but fell to the 60th overall pick in large part because he tested positive for marijuana at the Scouting Combine. He has been suspended multiple times for violations of the league’s substance abuse policy.
Last year Gregory started the season with the Broncos and then was traded during the season to the 49ers.
The Buccaneers brought their Creamsicle uniforms back last season and they’ll be wearing them again this year.
The team announced that the throwback jersey and Bucco Bruce helmets will be taken out of the closet for their Week Eight home game against the Falcons. The team will also be celebrating their 1979 run to the NFC Championship Game during the divisional matchup.
“Last season, the response from our fans for the return of the Creamsicle uniforms was remarkably positive and the energy and excitement at Raymond James Stadium for that game was truly special,” Buccaneers COO Brian Ford said in a statement. “We know how special these uniforms are to our long-time Krewe members and we are excited to continue honoring our rich history and building off the momentum that’s been created with another very memorable game that will celebrate our first division championship.”
The Bucs wore the uniforms from their inaugural season in 1976 through the 1996 season. They brought it back as an alternate from 2009-2012, but dropped it when the NFL adopted a since-dropped rule calling for teams to wear one helmet all season.
