The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had already wrapped up a Week 18 victory over the New Orleans Saints, to go along with the NFC South championship. They still chose to take a timeout in the final seconds and run a play for wide receiver Mike Evans, in an attempt to get the veteran wide receiver some bonus money while extending a streak that ties an NFL record.
Bucs did Mike Evans right by getting him a bonus in garbage time
The Bucs let Mike Evans get his bonus in garbage time, and celebrated it like a championship.
Ricky O'Donnell has covered basketball at all levels for more than a decade at SB Nation. He’s currently the Associate Director of Programming.
In the final seconds of their victory, the Bucs found Evans for a short pass that put him over the 1,000 yard mark on the season. It’s the 11th straight seasons Evans has gone over 1,000 yards, which ties Jerry Rice for the longest streak of such seasons in NFL history. By going over 1,000 yards, Evans also earned a $3 million bonus.
Evans celebrated the catch like the Bucs just won the Super Bowl. That’s that $3 million feeling. Watch the play here:
The Bucs could have just kneeled the ball to run out the clock, and save ownership some money. Instead, the coaching staff ran a play for their star veteran, and earned him a big bonus while extending his streak.
The Bucs were earning props from football fans all over the country for getting Evans the ball in that situation.
This was actually a risky play call. Imagine a turnover in that situation that allows New Orleans to get back in the game, and negatively impacts Tampa Bay’s playoff seeding. Instead, everything worked out wonderfully, and one of the best WRs in the NFL has some more money in his pocket. He better thank his coaching staff.
See More:
