Mike Evans was just hit with a one-game suspension by the NFL after fighting Saints' defensive back Marshon Lattimore on the field during the Bucs-Saints game, the league announced Monday.
The Tampa Bay Bucs star wide receiver will be suspended without pay ... after the league deemed his behavior violated unnecessary roughness and unsportsmanlike conduct rules in Sunday's game.
NFL exec (and former star lineman) Jon Runyan said Evans -- who saw Tom Brady engaged in a war of words with Lattimore -- and ran towards the men and violently threw his body at Marshon.
MIKE EVANS WAS PISSED pic.twitter.com/htpmCLjsrk
— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthewCFB) September 18, 2022
"You knocked your opponent to the ground, and a melee ensued involving players from both teams," Runyan wrote in a letter to Evans. "Your aggressive conduct could have caused serious injury to your opponent."
"And clearly does not reflect the high standards of sportsmanship expected of a professional," he continued.
The beef between Evans and Lattimore is well-documented -- the two had a dustup in 2017 after Lattimore and then-Bucs QB Jameis Winston exchanged words on the field.
When we talk about the #Saints #GoBucs grudge match, I often think back to this hit & the irony that Mike Evans was standing up for his QB Jameis Winston who is now the NOLA QB… Lattimore is obviously still there too
— 𝗭𝗮𝗰 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗻𝗲𝗿🎙 (@ZacOnTheMic) September 16, 2022
Lots of SPICE in this matchup 🔥
pic.twitter.com/m5c7sUu0Gc
Evans can appeal the suspension, but he'll likely miss the Bucs' highly anticipated matchup against Green Bay next week.
Assuming he serves the suspension, Evans will be eligible to return to Tampa's active roster on Monday ... after the Packers game.