The NFL has suspended Tampa Bay receiver Mike Evans one-game for his role in Sunday’s fight in the Buccaneers 20-10 win over the Saints. Evans knocked Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore down to the ground during a shoving match between Lattimore and Bucs running back Leonard Fournette. Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas says the Bucs instigated the fight.
“It’s hard not to react like Marshon does when you are getting pushed in the back, that’s reaction when you are trying to protect yourself,” said Thomas.
This is not the first incident between Evans and Lattimore. In 2017, Evans was suspended for one game for coming onto the field and shoving Lattimore in the back. In 2020, the two had a shoving match that resulted in Lattimore knocking Evans’ helmet off. Lattimore was fined $10,500.
Thomas says Evans’ antics are tiring.
“That’s not tough that’s not cool, that’s not whatever you want to call it, that’s like, it’s getting old,” said Thomas.
The NFL says Evans was walking off the field when he turned around and violently struck an unsuspecting Thomas. Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu says Tampa Bay is trying to purposely trying to get under Lattimore’s skin.
“He’s one of the better cornerbacks in this league, majority of the game, guys won’t be able to catch balls on him, so I think that’s a tactic that guys are going to use against him to get him out of his game,” said Mathieu.
It appears Thomas will not be suspended, but he’ll likely be fined and the same could occur for Fournette. Also, former Bucs’ coach Bruce Arians was on the sidelines and said something to Thomas before he ran onto the field to hit Lattimore. The NFL is reportedly looking into Arians’ role who is now in Tampa Bay’s front office.
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