Miles Sanders has only been a member of the Carolina Panthers for a few months. Heck, he hasn’t even taken a snap for them to this point.
Yet, he already knows that facing Mike Evans twice a year isn’t best for the franchise’s business.
Buy Panthers TicketsThe fifth-year running back joined Friday’s episode of Up & Adams, where he was asked about the ongoing contract tango between Evans and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And when host Kay Adams gave Sanders a chance to pitch the Panthers to the four-time Pro Bowl wideout, he took it.
“If he wants to come over here, I don’t mind—but just don’t sign back to Tampa,” he said with a laugh. “You can always come over here. But dawg, definitely don’t sign back to Tampa. Go sign somewhere else in a different conference.”
There's only 2 options for @MikeEvans13_ according to Miles Sanders:
☑️ Sign with the Panthers 🤗
OR
☑️ Don't sign with the Bucs 😂📺: @FanDuelTV @heykayadams @BoobieMiles___ pic.twitter.com/oQynDZbTOE
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) September 1, 2023
Evans, who is slated to become a free agent after the 2023 campaign, is currently seeking a fresh extension. His agent Deryk Gilmore, in fact, stated that if a deal is not reached by next week, Evans will suspend contract negotiations for the remainder of the season.
That wouldn’t be the worst news for the Panthers, who have had a front row seat to Evans’ Canton-worthy career. In addition to putting the work in on them, reeling in 92 balls for 1,296 yards and 10 touchdowns in 17 matchups, he’s done it to the entire league—as he’s the only receiver in NFL history to amass at least 1,000 receiving yards in his each of his first nine seasons.
Oh, and must we go back to the 207-yard, three-touchdown performance he broke the Panthers’ playoff hopes with last year? Let’s not.
But if Sanders gets his wish, perhaps those numbers finally come to a halt—at least at Carolina’s expense.
