Bucs’ Mike Evans suspended for one game for blindside hit on Saints’ Marshon Lattimore

The NFL announced on Monday afternoon that Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans has been suspended one game without pay for a violations of unsportsmanlike conduct and unnecessary roughness rules in Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints.

Evans blindsided rookie cornerback Marshon Lattimore after a sideline confrontation with quarterback Jameis Winston, which you can see here if you haven’t by now somehow.

Per the release, NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan issued the suspension for a violation of Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1 – which prohibits unsportsmanlike conduct, including “any act which is contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship,” such as (a) “throwing a punch, or a forearm, or kicking at an opponent, even though no contact is made” – as well as Rule 12, Section 2, Article 6 (g) which states that “there shall be no unnecessary roughness. This shall include, but will not be limited to: (g) unnecessarily running, diving into, cutting or throwing the body against or on a player who (1) is out of the play or (2) should not have reasonably anticipated such contact by an opponent, before or after the ball is dead;”

Runyan wrote this to Mike Evans:

“During the third quarter, after a play had ended, you struck an unsuspecting opponent in the back, knocking him to the ground. Your conduct clearly did not reflect the high standards of sportsmanship expected of a professional.”

Evans can appeal the suspension (and he will), but either way it was a bad look for the Bucs. It’s as if Dirk Koetter didn’t care about team discipline.