NFL legend Tom Brady has labelled Mike Evans’ one-game suspension as ‘ridiculous’ following the receiver's role in the brawl that broke out between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints in their match on Sunday.
The Bucs struggled through large portions of the contest but came away 20-10 winners at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome to secure Tom Brady’s first regular season win over New Orleans since joining Tampa Bay in 2019. The quarterback threw for 190 yards and a score but was without his star wideout at the end of the game.
The match marked the second time Evans has been ejected from a game for sending Lattimore to the floor after he did so in 2017. On Sunday, an incomplete pass saw Brady yell at the referees which drew frustration from Lattimore.
As Lattimore responded, running back Leonard Fournette stepped in and shoved the defensive back, who shoved back. Suddenly, Evans came barrelling in from near the sideline and knocked Lattimore off his feet, sparking a brawl leading to both men being ejected.
On Monday, the NFL announced Evans would be suspended for a game which means he is set to miss the Bucs’ clash with the Green Bay Packers this weekend. Brady was frustrated by the decision, which Evans has appealed.
“I don't think it deserved any type of suspension,” Brady said on his weekly Let's Go! podcast with Jim Gray. “I think that's ridiculous. Hopefully we can move past it and get to a better place. I don't think Mike should be the one to be blamed and singled out. Unfortunately he has been, and that's just the reality of life in the NFL.”
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Brady appreciated Evans’ willingness to protect him and stick up for his teammate, adding: “I think just sometimes the emotions get the best of us, and I love Mike. And the fact that Mike would come out there to defend me means everything in the world to me as a teammate and a friend. And Mike knows how I feel about him. So in the end, emotions are a part of sports. Sometimes they boil over, and they obviously did (Sunday), and it’s an unfortunate circumstance.”
The 29-year-old filed an appeal of his one-game ban, which was reportedly heard on Tuesday. If his suspension is upheld, Evans will be eligible to return to the active roster following the team's September 25 game against Green Bay.
Evans was found to have violated Rule 12, Section 2, Article 8(g) which prohibits ‘unnecessarily running, diving into, cutting, or throwing the body against or on a player who is out of the play or should not have reasonably anticipated such contact by an opponent, before or after the ball is dead’. He also violated Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1 which prohibits any act which is 'contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship’.
