Welcome to a weekly 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 types 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

You know that sliver of light I talked about last week? That was just a tease.

Here comes that rainy day again. (more…)

Podcast (ira-kaufman-podcast): Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS

Loads of deep analysis in this episode of the Ira Kaufman Podcast as the Bucs sit at a major franchise crossroads — last week was just a season crossroad. eye-RAH! dissects all things Bucs with Joe. Tune in right here, or at iTunes, Google Play or Podbean.com. The Ira Kaufman Podcast keeps you informed and entertained every Tuesday & Thursday — and there is no offseason. Click or download above. It’s free and easy. Enjoy!

BY IRA KAUFMAN

Buc fans are running out of patience and this franchise is running out of time.

A 2-1 start has given way to a three-game losing streak heading into the opening of divisional play Sunday. If Tampa Bay doesn’t snap out of its funk within the next two games, this season will be toast at the midway point.

A lot of jobs, including some big ones, are on the line as the Bucs prepare for a home game against the reeling Panthers and a road meeting with the division-leading Saints. (more…)

Podcast (ira-kaufman-podcast): Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS

The Buffalo collapse has The Sage of Tampa Bay sports going in many directions during this episode of the Ira Kaufman Podcast, where eye-RAH! dissects all things Bucs with Joe. Tune in right here, or at iTunes, Google Play or Podbean.com. The Ira Kaufman Podcast keeps you informed and entertained every Tuesday & Thursday — and there is no offseason. Click or download above. It’s free and easy. Enjoy!

Ira Kaufman is the most beloved, revered and esteemed Buccaneers columnist in town. He has hung his hat at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters since July 2016. Tampa Bay’s only Pro Football Hall of Fame voter, Ira busts out columns here every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and his award winning podcasts fire Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can also see Ira every football Sunday at 10:30 a.m. on FOX-13, Scott Smith’s Tailgate Sunday.

BY IRA KAUFMAN

Buc fans went to bed Sunday night with an incomprehensible thought racing through their heads.

Are the Chicago Bears better than we are?

The NFL standings suggest as much, only five weeks after the Bears trudged out of Raymond James Stadium looking like a 3-13 team playing for a lame-duck coach. (more…)

Hey, you missed a JoeBucsFan.com Watch Party event at Abe’s Place in Clearwater yesterday, but sports multimedia guru Rock Riley (@RealRockRiley) was in the house getting fan reaction and talking to Pro Football Hall of Fame voter Ira Kaufman. Enjoy!

Ira believes Bucs season may be over! from Rock Riley on Vimeo.

BY IRA KAUFMAN

I can’t put it any better than Dirk Koetter:

“We let this one slip away.”

This was a galling setback, in some ways more hurtful than the embarrassment in the Arizona desert. The Bucs simply didn’t man up against the Cardinals. On Sunday, they didn’t smarten up against a Buffalo team that was there for the taking.

This one stings like a yellow jacket, so let us count the ways: (more…)

Welcome to a weekly 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 types 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

There’s a sliver of light peeking through the clouds. (more…)

Podcast (ira-kaufman-podcast): Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS

Pure passion and plenty of analysis from The Sage in this edition of the Ira Kaufman Podcast, where eye-RAH! dissects all things Bucs with Joe. Tune in right here, or at iTunes, Google Play or Podbean.com. The Ira Kaufman Podcast keeps you informed and entertained every Tuesday & Thursday — and there is no offseason. Click or download above. It’s free and easy. Enjoy!

BY IRA KAUFMAN

The time is now.

Somebody has to step up in the Buc locker room behind closed doors and tell 52 other guys that this nonsense won’t be tolerated.

Somebody has to put his reputation on the line and assume a leadership position. That’s not a natural role for a lot of Tampa Bay players, and that’s alright. (more…)

Podcast (ira-kaufman-podcast): Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS

Man, sage Ira Kaufman sounds like a young man of 25 in this fiery, post-debacle edition of the Ira Kaufman Podcast, where eye-RAH! dissects all things Bucs with Joe. Tune in right here, or at iTunes, Google Play or Podbean.com. The Ira Kaufman Podcast keeps you informed and entertained every Tuesday & Thursday — and there is no offseason. Click or download above. It’s free and easy. Enjoy!

Ira Kaufman is the most beloved, revered and esteemed Buccaneers columnist in town. He has hung his hat at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters since July 2016. Tampa Bay’s only Pro Football Hall of Fame voter, Ira busts out columns here every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and his award winning podcasts fire Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can also see Ira every football Sunday at 10:30 a.m. on FOX-13, Scott Smith’s Tailgate Sunday.

BY IRA KAUFMAN

Flat, flat, flat. Simple as that.

If only the 2017 Bucs could be summed up in a nursery rhyme. Let’s try another:

If you’re flat and you know it, miss a tackle

If you’re flat and you know it, miss a tackle

If you’re flat and you know it and you really want to show it

If you’re flat and you know it, blow a coverage. (more…)

Ira’s can’t-miss postgame colunn

BY IRA KAUFMAN

Don’t be fooled.

The Bucs made it close at the end, but this game was lost at the start — that awful start. While the Cardinals came out aggressive, Tampa Bay came out flat.

How does that happen?

The Bucs have played two road games in 2017 and they’ve looked awful in both of ’em. Don’t trust the final score — trust your eyes.

The Bucs are now below .500 for the first time in almost a year and Jameis Winston could miss his first NFL start. Add it all up and this team gets a big, fat “D” at this point of the season. (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

This handicapping gig is getting out of hand. (more…)

Podcast (ira-kaufman-podcast): Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS

Thursday gunslinging on display today from Tampa Bay’s only Hall of Fame voter, who is joined by Joe on the wildly popular Ira Kaufman Podcast. It’s a must-listen as the Bucs prepare for Arizona. Tune in right here, or at iTunes, Google Play or Podbean.com. The Ira Kaufman Podcast keeps you informed and entertained every Tuesday & Thursday — and there is no offseason. Click or download above. It’s free and easy. Enjoy!

Ira Kaufman is the most beloved, revered and esteemed Buccaneers columnist in town. He has hung his hat at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters since July 2016. Tampa Bay’s only Pro Football Hall of Fame voter, Ira busts out columns here every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and his award winning podcasts fire Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can also see Ira every football Sunday at 10:30 a.m. on FOX-13, Scott Smith’s Tailgate Sunday.

BY IRA KAUFMAN

This was as close to a bye week as the Bucs are going to get during this strange season, so they need to pounce.

I’m smelling another five-game winning streak. (more…)

Ira on the Bucs. Video style!

You can never get enough eye-RAH! (more…)

Podcast (ira-kaufman-podcast): Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS

The kicking circus and the state of the Bucs at 2-2 has the attention of Tampa Bay’s only Pro Football Hall of Fame voter. JoeBucsFan.com columnist is firing away with Joe on his popular podcast as the Bucs have a new kicker and prepare for Arizona. The Ira Kaufman Podcast is a must-listen. Tune in right here, or at iTunes, Google Play or Podbean.com. The Ira Kaufman Podcast keeps you informed and entertained every Tuesday & Thursday — and there is no offseason. Click or download above. It’s free and easy. Enjoy!

BY IRA KAUFMAN

He’s got to go.

Get this straight — it’s tough to see people lose their jobs, but it happens every week in the NFL. Nick Folk will understand if the Bucs move on from him in what has morphed into their eternal quest for a reliable kicker. (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

That .500 mark continues to prove elusive for your favorite soothsayer. (more…)

Podcast (ira-kaufman-podcast): Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS

It’s 2 a.m. in the bowels of Raymond James Stadium and Tampa Bay’s only Pro Football Hall of Fame voter is firing away with Joe on his popular podcast after last night’s loss to the Patriots. The Ira Kaufman Podcast is a must-listen. Tune in right here, or at iTunes, Google Play or Podbean.com. The Ira Kaufman Podcast keeps you informed and entertained every Tuesday & Thursday — and there is no offseason. Click or download above. It’s free and easy. Enjoy!