Ira Kaufman on Mike Evans to 49ers and His Hilarious Giants Riffs

Every day, excessive delays and denials from big insurers keep patients from accessing

the care they need.

And when care is urgent, these delays can be disastrous.

These practices cost billions in wasteful spending, driving up costs for American families.

But while big insurers put up barriers, America's hospitals and health systems are in your corner,

navigating endless reviews and appeals to get you the care you need when you need it

most.

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Brought to you by the Coalition to Strength in America's Healthcare.

I'm doing well, gentlemen, you know, Melvin, Melvin has to go, Melvin has to go, and I'll

give you a way, because that line up, I believe, was after the all-star game, they just

stopped hitting.

They couldn't score any runs.

And that went on for about a month, and they dropped totally out of contention.

And my problem with Melvin is, he didn't add a manufacturer runs.

You know, there's no hitting run, there's no stolen base.

And you know, you can't wait for the whole run with the judge.

This is not the dodgers.

So that was my problem with Melvin.

I think they were lucky to finish at 500.

I'm optimistic this year.

If they can figure out the bullpen, I'm worried about Walker as the main reliever.

He was lousy last year.

I don't know what happened to him.

If he bounces back, I think the giants are going to be okay.

Ira, Bob Melvin had a lot of experience coaching the bigs.

The giant wavis skipper this year that has never stepped foot on a major league field.

What are your thoughts on Tony Vitilo making that transition from Tennessee to San Francisco?

I'm excited.

I don't think it's necessarily a negative.

I think he'll try some different things.

I think he's going to be aggressive.

You know, look, there's no reason why the right fielder, the Japanese guy, why he can't

steal 25 bases.

I mean, why not?

I mean, he's not a home run hitter.

You know, when he hit 266, so you got to give me something as a corner outfielder.

I'm a little disappointed in that guy.

He didn't play a good center field.

They got a good defensive center field now and beta.

So we'll see what happens.

I'm not worried about Vitilo.

You know, last year they held the spring and a really good start in April.

And I'm kind of looking for the same thing to happen this year.

I love it.

I love it.

Hey, John Hulee has been playing well for Team Korea.

So take it easy on him.

So we're expecting a better year.

So he's going to be down in Miami in the quarter finals.

You can hop a short flight and go check him out.

Go yell them.

I need more.

I need more.

I need more.

I need more.

I need more.

Hey, all right, Ira, please tell us everything you know about Mike Evans leaving Tampa Bay

for the 49ers.

What was your reaction?

Well, I know plenty about Mike Evans because I was covering a box in 2014 when he became

the first draft pick of General Manager Jason Light.

So it was a very emotional moment for Light yesterday when Evans moved on.

The guy's going to Hall of Fame.

I'm a Hall of Fame voter.

Let's not get carried away.

People in Tampa think he's a slam dunk first ballot.

I mean, I'm not going there.

I mean, he's not Randy Moss.

Let's take it easy.

But he's a Hall of Famer.

You know, and here's what you're getting, a consummate pro.

An anti-Diva in a position that is filled with divas, you know, the AJ Browns of the World

give me the ball.

Give me the ball.

Tyree Kill.

He's not like that.

Neither is Chris Godwin.

So these two, the Bucks have been very lucky to have them.

I've never heard Evans complain about a lack of targets and speaking of a target, Brock

Purdy is going to love this guy in the Red Zone.

I mean, six different years, he's had double-digit touchdowns.

He's number 10 all the time.

All the time.

He's got, I think, 108 if he catches 10 this year, which is not crazy.

He could move up to number seven.

So if you're looking for a comparable, I think it would be Devonte Adams.

They came in at about the same time.

They've had similar careers, both elite, absolutely elite, a very aggressive receiver knows

how to use his body, guys.

And don't be shocked if about three or four times this year he gets called for offensive

pass in the parents.

That's okay.

It's just the case that him jockey in and trying to block out the DB.

But more often than not, he's going to win those battles.

He's a guy who throw two even if he's covered.

He's one of those guys.

Mike Evans will be 33 years old.

The first time he puts on 49er jersey this season.

So Ira at this point in his career is Mike Evans still a wide receiver one.

He is when he's on the field.

The problem is, you know, he's had hamstring issues and it's more than one season.

And at 33, you know, that's not going to get any better.

So I think you're looking at a guy maybe that might play 13, 14 games for the Niners.

But I think John Lynch and the shine handle be okay with that.

If the production is there, last year his production fell out.

But the first game he came back from after missing a lengthy, you know, period of inactivity

was against Atlanta, guys.

And he had a big, big game and I don't know if you guys know about this.

This kind of marked the turning point with Mike Evans in the bucks.

That was a game where the bucks were up to touchdowns in the fourth quarter at home.

National television and they lost that game.

And the 49, the Falcons had a third and 28 and they threw a 14 yard pass.

Now it's fourth and 14 and they converted that and then went on for the winning touchdown.

And when the game ended, I was standing right there by the tunnel.

As the buck players will leave in the field.

And everybody that was standing next to me could hear Mike Evans.

As he's walking to the buck locker room screaming third and freaking 28 third and 28.

And he was so pissed off because that was a huge game for the buck playoff

chances and it ended up that they didn't make it if the start in six and two total collapse.

And I think that sealed the fate where Evan said this ain't a playoff team anymore.

They're not going anywhere to mediocre.

I'm going to go to San Francisco.

And by the way, the buck fans are screaming about all the injuries the bucks had.

I'm not sure who led the league, but I think the Niners had to be tough five in most games.

Miss last year and they still had a good season.

Every day excessive delays and denials from big insurers keep patients from accessing the care they need.

And when care is urgent, these delays can be disastrous.

These practices cost billions in wasteful spending driving up costs for American families.

But while big insurers put up barriers, America's hospitals and health systems are in your corner.

Navigating endless reviews and appeals to get you the care you need when you need it most.

It's time to curb these harmful practices and put the focus back on patients.

Brought to you by the Coalition to Strength in America's Healthcare.

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Many positions are open to residents as young as 16.

All voices are welcome because diversity strengthens our community.

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It's great stuff.

I have a really good background.

Ira Kaufman, of course, Hall of Fame Boater from Tampa and NFL columnist for JoeBucksFan.com.

Does he have any, I wouldn't say beef or did he, did Todd Bolz's head coaching 10 year,

not sit totally right with him?

Is that what he's possibly seeking?

Is maybe a higher ceiling with Kyle Shanahan?

Well, the defense was terrible.

It was just terrible.

And of course, that's Bolz's baby.

He calls the place. He's the coordinator.

A lot of Buck fans are shocked that he's back.

I don't think Evans had a bad relationship with Bolz.

I wouldn't go that far.

He certainly never criticized them publicly.

But I think Evans looked around at this defense and the front seven in particular on defense.

No pass rush.

Lavane David might retire.

That's another problem in Tampa with the defense.

And I think he just looked at it.

I don't think it was money.

I don't think it was money.

And I think he just said, I want to win a Super Bowl.

That's the priority.

I'm 33.

I'm going with Shanahan and a pretty damn good offense with McCaffrey, Purcell, Jennings and Kittle.

This guy Evans is really going to help Purdy and the Red Zone guy.

He is a huge target.

And he's great on those fade passes.

And he's going to take a lot of pressure off Kittle.

It's a plus for the Niners.

But I do want to say that from a buck perspective, you know, Buck fans are up in arms.

They are.

They're up in arms.

He's an icon.

No question.

He's going in a ring of honor sooner rather than later.

But you know, three years, 33 year old guy with a Bucks R in their arc of the franchise.

I don't think it was a terrible move by the Bucks to let him go.

They got a good receiving group without him, better with them.

But from a buck perspective, the fans are screaming.

But I understand why the Bucks didn't try to get in a bidding war.

So fans are screaming down there, huh?

They are absolutely.

He's great in the community too.

Fantastic.

Big community guy, fundraisers, left and right.

You never hear a bad word about Mike Evans.

Great locker room guy.

I always love talking to him.

He loves the NBA, by the way.

He played a lot of basketball growing up.

I think he's a darn good basketball player.

Don't tell him that because you might get him heard out there in a practice.

Oh, man.

We'll get him to get him to court side with Steph if Steph ever got back on the court.

When he's healthy, I think he's going to be a big plus for the 49ers.

All right.

It's always great checking in with you, man.

And love hearing your takes.

And I love your optimism about the giants.

Because usually you come with a little bit of that hard bit in cynicism.

But you're being optimistic.

You know what?

This is not a bad lineup.

This is not a bad lineup.

Chapman Devers, you know, the shortstop.

The hit machine they picked up are Reeves.

Who knows what else you're just going to do?

You know, I don't quite think Eldrids is ready.

I don't want to rush them.

But the kids got a load of potential, as you guys know.

I think Bailey will hit better.

It's hard to imagine he's going to hit worse than last year.

So, you know, Bader is a big improvement in their outfield defense.

Ramos.

Learn how to catch a fly ball.

Ramos.

Learn.

Learn, baby.

Yeah.

I think the giants are going to be more aggressive in trying to build runs, you know, with running, hitting runs.

And that was a big weakness for Melvin.

So, if Walker gets the job done and can recapture his 2024 form, I think the giants going about 87 games.

That's what I'm picking.

Now, Ira, you know that the number one problem for the giants is they play in the same division as the Dodgers.

And Larry Bare made some headlines this off season saying that the Dodgers are actually good for the sport of baseball.

So, Ira, I'll ask you, is seeing what the Dodgers do right now with Backspack World Series and the amount of money that they're spending are the Dodgers good or bad for baseball.

I don't like it.

I'm not buying that argument, some things.

You need somebody to shoot for, you know, the Niners in the 80s and the Cowboys and the Patriots.

I'm not buying.

I'm a Giants fan.

I don't expect them to match the Dodger payroll guys, but I'll tell you this.

I don't like some of the things I hear from a Giants ownership in terms of temper your thoughts about free agents.

We don't want to spend too much luxury tax.

Giants don't want to hear it guys.

They don't want to hear it.

And I think they checked out in September.

And the same thing could happen now.

Don't match the Dodgers, but if there's a free agent out there, you know, they try to get some big guys and they fail.

So, I'm a little concerned about Giants ownership a little bit.

See, we got you.

We poked long enough that we finally got to the hard bit inside of Ira.

There you go.

Hey, man, great catching up with you.

Thanks for sharing that some time.

We appreciate you.

Thanks, Ira.

Talk to you down the line, boys.

Ira Kaufman, he's awesome.

Right into Marcus Thompson, who's also awesome next on these sports later.

Listen up, Redwood City residents.

Your city council is calling on you to make your voice heard.

The city is seeking passionate individuals to serve on various advisory boards, commissions, and committees.

Multiple positions are available on the arts commission, library board, planning commission, and other important advisory bodies.

Many positions are open to residents as young as 16.

All voices are welcome because diversity strengthens our community.

Ready to make a difference?

Find out more and apply today at redwoodcity.org

forward slash BCC that's redwoodcity.org forward slash BCC.