Written by Mike Tripplett at ESPN.com
A lopsided game turned ugly when a brief skirmish broke out between the Saints and Buccaneers on Tampa’s sideline in the third quarter Sunday.
Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans was flagged 15 yards for running across the field and drilling Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore in the back, then pouncing on Lattimore when he hit the ground. A Saints player then tackled Evans to get him off Lattimore.
The dustup started when Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston — who was not playing at the time — pushed Lattimore in the back of his helmet while appearing to suggest that he go back to his own sideline. Lattimore turned around and shoved Winston in the chest. Then Evans flew in for the tackle.
“I was telling [Lattimore] to go to his sideline,” Winston said after the game.
Saints players rushed over from the opposite sideline, but the situation was quickly defused after that.
Saints coach Sean Payton was livid with officials until the flag was finally thrown at Evans for unnecessary roughness.
“I know it went to New York to look at,” Payton said. “If there’s not an ejection in that situation, then I don’t know when there’s supposed to be an ejection. So he was a little angry, [Evans] was.”
Evans, who said he was concerned about potential discipline from the league, acknowledged that some of his anger and frustration stemmed from offensive struggles.
“It was something I shouldn’t have [done]. It was very childish,” Evans said after the game. “Unprofessional. I just saw the shove, and I thought he was going after Jameis. I was just trying to protect my quarterback. I let my emotions get the best of me.”
Lattimore said he was “surprised” when Evans shoved him.
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