"Mike gave us everything he had for his 12 seasons here and established himself as one of the best players in the league. So to say it again, one of our best players we've ever had -- I don't feel betrayed. He earned the right. I said that over and over. He earned the right to make this decision. And sometimes you've got to talk it over with your family and just sometimes you're just ready for another chapter."
"He means everything to me, but he means everything to the entire organization. Obviously best offensive player we've ever had and even better person than he is player. So it's always tough. That one's really tough."
"Evans' agents, Deryk Gilmore and Darren Jones, said in a statement just after Evans and the 49ers agreed to terms that the deal wasn't about money, something Evans echoed in his introductory news conference with the Niners."
Mike Evans, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' all-time scoring leader and franchise icon, signed with the San Francisco 49ers in free agency. General Manager Jason Licht addressed Evans' departure, expressing no feelings of betrayal despite Evans' past statements about wanting to remain a Buccaneer his entire career. Licht acknowledged Evans' 12 seasons of excellence and stated that Evans earned the right to pursue another chapter. Evans was Licht's first draft pick in 2014 and played a crucial role in the Buccaneers' 2020 Super Bowl LV victory. Evans' representatives emphasized the decision was not financially motivated but driven by football considerations and personal readiness for a new opportunity.
Read at ESPN.com
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