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Bucs WR Mike Evans likes what he sees from Jameis Winston

 
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) fends off Atlanta Falcons cornerback Robert Alford (23) and Atlanta Falcons strong safety Kemal Ishmael (36) for a first down in the third quarter during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. the Atlanta Falcons at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2014 in Tampa, Fla. The Falcons won 27-17. (Brendan Fitterer/Tampa Bay Times/MCT)   1159811
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) fends off Atlanta Falcons cornerback Robert Alford (23) and Atlanta Falcons strong safety Kemal Ishmael (36) for a first down in the third quarter during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. the Atlanta Falcons at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2014 in Tampa, Fla. The Falcons won 27-17. (Brendan Fitterer/Tampa Bay Times/MCT) 1159811
Published May 6, 2015

TAMPA — Bucs WR Mike Evans says he preferred new teammate Jameis Winston to Marcus Mariota because he delivers the ball from the pocket, though Evans caught passes from scrambling QB Johnny Manziel while the two were at Texas A&M.

"Out of him and Mariota, I liked Winston more," Evans said Tuesday. "He doesn't run as much. With that being said, I think he'll come in and do well for us. He can sit in the pocket and deliver the ball. That's more opportunities for the receiver. Mariota can play ball as well."

When reminded he caught passes from a scrambling Manziel at Texas A&M, Evans didn't budge.

"I did my time with a mobile quarterback and that was fun," Evans said. "It was fun, it got me more opportunities for more balls on scramble rules and stuff like that. But in this league, it's tough to scramble. I think Jameis will be fine."

But Evans didn't seem ready to name Winston the starting quarterback.

"You don't know if he'll be throwing to us for sure," Evans said. "But he's a No. 1 pick and he's a great player. I watched him throughout his college career and he can hang in that pocket and deliver the ball."

Moving back: After a three-game audition at left tackle at the end of last season, Demar Dotson spent the offseason training as if that were his future position. But the Bucs' drafting of Donovan Smith in the second round Friday means Dotson is moving back to right tackle.

"When I left, there were indications that I was going to come back and start off on the left, so I did train myself, prepare myself to come back and play left," Dotson said. "Shortly after we got back (April 20), they said it depends on who we draft. Then after we drafted the kid from, I'm not sure where he's from, but the kid, Donovan kid, they said they were going to put me back to right and perhaps put that kid on the left."

Smith is Tampa Bay's highest-drafted offensive lineman since Davin Joseph in 2006, and the team also traded up into the late second round to draft possible right guard starter Ali Marpet from Division III Hobart College. Given the trouble last year's offensive line had, Dotson said it's good to have more competition all across the line.

"I heard (Smith) is a good football player, heard he's big and strong, somebody that can come in and perhaps play right away," Dotson said. "We struggled in so many ways last year. It's going to be good competition, with guys coming back that are hungry and young guys coming in that I hope are hungry."

This and that: Despite Winston, gambling site bovada.lv has the Bucs with the longest odds to win the NFC, at 75:1. Their odds to win the Super Bowl are 100:1, with only the Titans and Jaguars facing longer odds. … The Bucs open rookie minicamp Friday, with most players arriving Thursday.

Around the league

NEW ORLEANS — La'el Collins isn't meeting with NFL teams, but some former LSU teammates are recruiting the offensive lineman.

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Teams were apprehensive about drafting the All-SEC performer after Baton Rouge Police said they wanted to interview him about the shooting death of a pregnant woman he knew. Collins has not been named as a suspect or a person of interest in a crime and authorities say he has been cooperating.

Collins was undrafted after being projected as a first-round pick.

Agent Deryk Gilmore did not detail Collins' NFL plans, but was emphatic in a text to the Associated Press saying his client is "not meeting with teams. You can quote me."

Obituary: Marv Hubbard, a bruising fullback who made three Pro Bowls in the early 1970s for the Oakland Raiders, died Monday in Livermore, Calif., the team said. He was 68. His wife, Virginia, said he had a long bout with prostate cancer. Mr. Hubbard played 90 games for the Raiders from 1969-75 plus a season in Detroit.

Elsewhere: Cardinals TE John Carlson announced his retirement a week shy of his 31st birthday. … The Chiefs waived former Ohio State and Raiders QB Terrelle Pryor. … The Patriots released former starting CB Alfonzo Dennard, who played six games last season.

Information from Times wires was used in this report.