(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and star WR Mike Evans have failed to reach an agreement ahead of his self-imposed Saturday deadline for a new contract.
The Texas A&M product reached out to the media for the first time since his camp released a statement blaming the Buccaneers for their failure to strike a contract extension for over a year.
Evans confirmed the statement, saying that he’s been working around the clock to try and get a deal done for the past year and adding that any player of his caliber would want to get some certainty about his future:
“Obviously, we’ve been working with them for over a year now to get something done,” Evans said. “Any player in my position would want to be solidified and secure. But if the deal is done or not, either way, I’ll be okay. I’m looking forward to having a great season.”
He also said that he expects to have a great season even if he doesn’t get a new deal.
The star wideout also made it clear that he and the team aren’t on the same page right now.
He’s reportedly looking to get a deal similar to Cooper Kupp’s, which would get him north of $20 million per year.
The Bucs, on the other hand, aren’t so sure about that, granted that he’s 30 years of age already.
Evans’ agent stated that the team has until September 9 to reach an agreement with his client, adding that they would no longer have any sort of talks about a potential contract after that day.
That would obviously put the team in a bit of a tough spot.
Evans would most likely leave the team as a free agent, so they would lose all leverage and have to trade him to the highest bidder, with his trade value getting lower by the day.
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