Brutal

First Ryan Smith was a cornerback the Bucs insisted was a safety. That didn’t work.

Then he was a kick returner. That didn’t work. He was historically bad.

Now he’s a cornerback — with glaring weaknesses since training camp — who got torched today in Minnesota. (more…)

Defends Noah Spence.

Shouldn’t folks already know better than to toy with Miko? (more…)

Changed man

Something about seeing an old friend on the other side of the football drove Gerald McCoy mental Sunday. (more…)

Walked the walk

Legions of Bucs fans and Joe want to buy Dirk Koetter an ice-cold beer.

What he did at the end of the first half today brought tears of joy to tens of thousands. (more…)

T.J. Ward gets up after blasting Bears running back Tarik Cohen. (Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com)

Winning Bucs coach Dirk Koetter isn’t one to throw around accolades much. But he sure did in his postgame presser. (more…)

Ira’s also got some locker room nuggets mixed in to today’s takeaways. Nice!

BY IRA KAUFMAN

Someone in the national media is sure to diminish Sunday’s dominant opener by reminding us that the woeful Bears were in town.

Yes, the Bears were awful, but there are no mitigating circumstances in the NFL. Chicago almost beat Atlanta last week and besides, the Bucs have lost a lot of games they should have won over the past decade.

A win’s a win, so here’s how this one breaks down: (more…)

Welcome to a new feature on JoeBucsFan.com. Joe has challenged Ira Kaufman, Tampa Bay’s only Hall of Fame voter, to pick against the spread this season for a $500 prize. Every Friday, Ira will type out his picks for each Friday-through-Monday game. If he hits at 53 percent or better for the regular season, then Ira gets $500 in gift cards to Abe’s Place in Clearwater, home of historically amazing food and 44 craft beers on tap. Feel free to send Ira your stone cold locks on Twitter, @ikaufman76. The sage of Tampa Bay sports could always use some help.

BY IRA KAUFMAN

Not exactly an auspicious opening week for your supposed NFL guru.

I picked 14 games against the spread last week and managed to get only four of ’em correct. A 4-10 record makes me the 49ers of prognosticators, but hey, it’s only Week 1.

There were a few squeakers like Denver and Buffalo winning but not covering, but close doesn’t count on this rapidly growing web site.

It’s a long season and I remain confident things will balance out in the long run. Of course, I also thought Hurricane Irma was going straight up I-95, so there’s that.

Nevertheless, here we go in Week 2 as the Bucs and Dolphins make their 2017 debuts: (more…)

Wants an easier life

Chris “Iverson” Baker is living up to the nickname JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman gave him many months ago.

And now Baker has thrown fresh gas on the fire. (more…)

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Week 1 is here and Ira Kaufman is in midseason form. Tampa Bay’s only Pro Football Hall of Fame voter, as always, talks all things Bucs with Joe on the popular Ira Kaufman Podcast. Listen right here, or at iTunes, Google Play or Podbean.com. The Ira Kaufman Podcast keeps you informed and entertained every Tuesday & Thursday — all year long. Dial in now by clicking or downloading above. It’s free and easy. Enjoy!

Another confusing Lovie move.

Man, oh man. And folks wonder why the Bucs are still digging out of the dungeon. (more…)

Target of GM’s barbs responds.

Last week Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht may have had one of the funniest quips in the history of “Hard Knocks.” (more…)

Targeted his desire.

It just about shocked the Bucs world last week when, after a busy offseason restocking his safeties toolbox,AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht picked up former Pro Bowl safety T.J. Ward who was abandoned by John Elway and the Broncos. (more…)

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Special guest Chris Myers joins Bucs Uncensored today in an interview you do not want to miss! Bucs Uncensored is the birthplace of the Stick Carriers and home of hardcore Bucs talk and fans. Three times per week here Bucs Uncensored unifies Tampa Bay fans in every corner of the universe. Host Justin Pawlowski is a former voice on the Buccaneers Radio Network, and an ex-college football player and a lifelong Bucs fan. Hear your Bucs take (if it makes the cut). Just email a 90-second-or-less audio blast to BucsUncensored@gmail.com. Listen above or subscribe on iTunes right here, or at Podbean.com. Justin’s work is not influenced by JoeBucsFan.com. Joe just thinks it’s very, very, very special. **CAUTION: some R-RATED language!* 

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Broncos players are unhappy.

As Joe detailed earlier, credible reports claim three-time Pro Bowl safety T.J. Ward, who was just cut by Denver, is your newest Buccaneer. (more…)

Bernard Reedy is in

Here is the official list!

Of course, look for changes soon as the Bucs work the waiver wire. (more…)

BY IRA KAUFMAN

That’s what he’s here for.

So far, Buc fans have noticed that Chris “Swaggy” Baker is an extrovert who doesn’t mind showing off his playful side. He’s been a natural for those Hard Knocks cameras, flashing a wide smile and some nifty dance moves.

Baker’s first tango with his new teammates comes Sept. 10 in Miami, where Jay Ajayi is eager to strut his stuff against a rush defense that ranked 22nd last fall. (more…)

Eye-opening claim

Man, Bucs icon Ronde Barber served up all kinds of insight last night from movers and shakers at One Buc Palace. (more…)