On Sunday, one year exactly after the Buffalo Bills traded him to the Baltimore Ravens, the Jacksonville Jaguars released veteran wide receiver Lee Evans. The former Raven was replaced on the Jags’ roster by another former Raven, 6-year vet Demetrius Williams. Maybe the Jaguars simply chose to do the merciful thing and spare Evans the agony of returning to M&T Bank Stadium on August 23 when Jacksonville is scheduled to play the Ravens.
Evans’ rapid descent into the scrap heap of NFL receivers is somewhat surprising.
He’s a decent route runner with above average speed. The Ravens believed that Evans was a good player and that he could be a nice complementary piece to the offense.
Besides being a very capable receiver, Evans was among the most well liked of the Bills in Buffalo. One media member who has covered the Buffalo Bills for years stopped just short of tears describing the quality of Evans’ character.
Good football player.
Good guy.
So what happened?
One team source expressed concerns about Evans when they made the trade yet they followed through still believing the deal made sense.
Did Evans lose his love of the game? To play without passion in a league where competition is fierce is akin to an antelope walking with a limp in the Serengeti. Eventually they’re going to get you.
Survival of the fittest.
Despite the drop in the AFC Championship, many team observers believed that the Ravens should bring Evans back, inspired by his resume and good character. Yet the Ravens took a pass and apparently this time they were right.
When you lose your mojo, you lose your edge and quickly thereafter your game.
Best of luck to you Lee Evans.
Here’s hoping that time can erase your failures during the 2011 season and as time goes on you aren’t viewed as Baltimore’s answer to Bill Buckner.
