Behind-the-scenes influence? (Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Pardon Joe if folks consider the following admission a personal weakness or some professional slight. So be it. (more…)

Target?

A minor October setback from his knee recovery — an unrelated injury — got Louis Murphy cut by the Bucs in early November. (more…)

Downgraded

Joe’s a vocal supporter of Gerald McCoy, who has legions of misguided haters.

Joe adeptly can defend the nonsense peddled by many, but it’s hard to argue against official NFL shoulder-pad sensors. (more…)

Genuine, says teammate. (Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com)

When you watch America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, getting his squad fired up before a game or tomahawk chopping on the sidelines at Kansas City, it’s not schtick. (more…)

Interesting free agent.

A lot of Bucs fans began wigging out on Twitter when Chiefs prospective free agent, Pro Bowl safety Eric Berry, sent a salvo over Kansas City saying he would sit out the 2017 season if the Chiefs franchise him. (more…)

Talks Bucs and the draft.

The NFL draft fascinates Joe on several levels. (more…)

Educated

Bucs fans know how America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, made the Pro Bowl last year and left deeply inspired to make radical upgrades to his body after observing Russell Wilson and Julio Jones, in addition to learning from the greats.

Naturally, a trained reporter like Joe sought to learn whether Mike Evans had a similar experience this year. (more…)

Endorsed by Bucs starter.

It seems a Bucs defender knows exactly who AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht should target come the first round of April’s NFL draft. (more…)

Could DeSean Jackson master Dirk Koetter’s offense?

Bucs fans would be overcome with excitement if electric, separation-master Redskins receiver DeSean Jackson landed with Tampa Bay in free agency.

Yesterday, a Dirk Koetter confidant tipped his cap to Jackson. (more…)

Future Hall of Famer weighs in on the Bucs’ rookie DE

Remember when rookie DE Noah Spence told Joe about perennial Pro Bowl Browns left tackle Joe Thomas helping him during joint practices with Cleveland?

Today at Pro Bowl practice at Disney World, Joe got the other side of the story from Thomas. (more…)

Could an All-Pro receiver be on the market?

Joe’s not big on fantasy football — that’s Todd Wright’s expertise — and Joe is not going to tread on his turf. (more…)

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Wild Tuesday on the Ira Kaufman Podcast. Ira jumps into free agency, the Adrian Peterson debate, Team Glazer & the Falcons, and Ira continues to take fans into all things John Lynch’s fourth shot at the Hall of Fame. There’s more on the table with Joe joining in the podcast. Enjoy! And don’t forget, you can listen and/or subscribe on iTunes or Podbean, too. Joe highly recommends last week’s episodes.

Loyal readers here know JoeBucsFan.com columnist and Tampa Bay’s only Hall of Fame voter, Ira Kaufman, clobbered Joe in his Friday column.

Joe is grateful for the chance to slap Ira back — and to drop some reality on the fear-riddled Bucs fans who agreed with him. (more…)

Donovan Smith has off-field issues.

At 6-6, 335 pounds with excellent feet, Donovan Smith routinely handles immense physical challenges.

But, per Smith, it’s the mental challenges that render him helpless. (more…)

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No snoozing on the Tuesday & Thursday Ira Kaufman Podcast, which has no offseason. Ira continues to take fans into all things John Lynch’s fourth shot at the Hall of Fame, and many Bucs topics of the day with Joe. Enjoy! And don’t forget, you can listen and/or subscribe on iTunes or Podbean, too. Joe highly recommends last week’s episodes.

Potential free agent target?

The Bucs have a Grand Canyon-like crater at wide receiver after Mike Evans (and if you want to throw in Rudy Humphries, that’s fine).

It’s a dropoff in talent like taking a dive off the skywalk at America’s largest natural hole in the ground. (more…)

Gargantuan Pro Bowl DE/DT Calais Campbell could be an instant game-changer.

Everything the Bucs have done since their season ended smells like a team ready to push all its chips into the pot.

Just look at the power play on Mike Smith yesterday. (more…)

Big call from legendary No. 55

In a somewhat stunning move, Mr. Derrick Brooks, surely the Tampa Bay area’s most NFL-knowledgeable man, put his cards on the table for the 2017 season. (more…)

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Free agency is on Ira’s mind today, right after he takes fans deeper inside the quest to get John Lynch into the Hall of Fame next month. Of course, Joe and Ira go head first into other topics, as well. Enjoy! Ira’s podcasts fire every Tuesday and Thursday, and his columns are rolled out every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Ira has been on fire lately, but he’s been advised a raise is not forthcoming.

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BY IRA KAUFMAN

Picture this scenario, which may not be far-fetched.

At approximately 4 p.m. on Sunday, after watching the Chiefs take on the Steelers at Arrowhead, Dirk Koetter sends a text to Jason Licht — succinct and to the point.

“We need one of those.” (more…)