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It should be obvious. When you can take a week off in the NFL, you do.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had really nothing to play for Week 17, with a locked wildcard spot and no shooting at a division title (although locking the No.5 seed meant the Bucs would get the NFC champion. Is in the first round of the playoffs). Head coach Bruce Arians wanted to play the starters for the pride of their seed, he said. And he may have lost one of his best players.
Star receiver Mike Evans dropped a touchdown pass in the first quarter and was down. It appeared that he had injured his knee. Evans left the pitch, but headed straight for the locker room.
Then, to hammer home how reckless it was to play starters when the Buccaneers could have taken what amounts to a much-needed week off, Tom Brady banged his hand on a helmet later on the ride and l ‘has caught. Brady stayed in the game.
The Arians got a weird response last week when asked about playing starters.
“We’re going to play to win,” Arians said. “Eleven and five is very rare. To have any chance of reaching 11-5, keep that ranking – we want this ranking just for pride. We don’t care who we play, it’s more for pride. I should probably beat guys in the head with a stick to try and keep them from playing anyway. I told them about it before and [they said], ‘I’m playing.’ We’re going to practice and play as if everything depends on it. It won’t be an easy game either. “
“Pride” for a seed or keeping a good receiver healthy for the playoffs? You make the call.
Hope Evans isn’t too bad. It was reminiscent of Wes Welker who blew his ACL for the Patriots in a Week 17 game when they had nothing to play.
In a tough turn, Evans set a record just before the injury.
And There you go! Mike Evans is now the first player in NFL history to start his career with seven consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons. However, he is currently being examined for a potential knee injury.
– Scott Smith (@ScottSBucs) January 3, 2021
If Evans can’t play the wildcard weekend, or if any other Buccaneers player gets caught playing a largely insignificant Week 17 game, that should be a warning to other coaches for years to come. Just take the week off. Don’t overthink it.
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