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Stories, insight and more as Joe and the Sage of Tampa Bay sports fire away on key Buccaneers topics. So dive in here, or enjoy at iTunes, Google Play or Podbean.com. Ranked on the Google Play podcast “Top Charts” for three consecutive months (all genres nationwide), the Ira Kaufman Podcast keeps you informed and entertained every Tuesday & Thursday — and there is NO offseason. Click or download above. It’s fun — free and easy, too. Enjoy!

BY IRA KAUFMAN

Dirk Koetter and Mike Smith have been here before. It’s the sunken place.

It’s the place where your football team doesn’t flex its muscles nearly enough to win the line of scrimmage. (more…)

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Tampa Bay’s only Hall of Fame voter and Joe return to Hooters in Port Richey to extract Ira’s sage knowledge. Joe and the Sage fire away on many Bucs-related topics, as usual. So dive in here, or enjoy at iTunes, Google Play or Podbean.com. Ranked on the Google Play podcast “Top Charts” for three consecutive months (all genres nationwide), the Ira Kaufman Podcast keeps you informed and entertained every Tuesday & Thursday — and there is NO offseason. Click or download above. It’s fun — free and easy, too. Enjoy!

Ira Kaufman is the most revered sports personality and writer 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 hear Ira every Wednesday on SiriusXM Mad Dog Radio at 5 p.m. (but not this Wednesday), and see him Mondays and Fridays at 10:30 p.m. on Spectrum Sports 360.

BY IRA KAUFMAN

The man has some serious leverage. He knows it — and the Bucs know it.

Brent Grimes has made a nice living playing defense in the NFL for the past 11 years. Now, he’s on offense. (more…)

Ira gauges pulse of Bucs fans.

A couple of guys Joe is proud to be associated with had a meeting of the minds yesterday and, as one can expect, a good result could be heard. (more…)

BY IRA KAUFMAN

Jason Licht says the NFL is a pass-fail league, and he’s right.

The grades are in for the 2017 Buccaneers and they get a big, fat “F.” Virtually nothing went right after a 2-1 start and Buc fans are naturally worried this slide will continue under the same braintrust. (more…)

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Ira and Joe are live at Hooters in Port Richey dissecting Bucs news and happenings of the week. And Ira is slightly in disbelief. Joe and the Sage of Tampa Bay sports fire away on various Bucs and NFL topics. So dive in here or enjoy at iTunes, Google Play or Podbean.com. Ranked on the Google Play podcast “Top Charts” for three consecutive months (all genres nationwide), 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 Bucs aren’t set at running back by any means, but they shouldn’t feel desperate, either. (more…)

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Fresh, fiery, funny and insightful, the Ira Kaufman Podcast takes no prisoners, as Joe and the Sage of Tampa Bay sports fire away on various Bucs and NFL topics. Dive in here or enjoy at iTunes, Google Play or Podbean.com. Ranked on the Google Play podcast “Top Charts” for three consecutive months (all genres nationwide), 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

It’s one of the great sound bites in NFL history and Herm Edwards is still asked about it more than 15 years later.

“You play to win the game,” Edwards bellowed that day as head coach of the New York Jets, reminding the media of Job 1.

Here’s my contribution, and I’m sure Herm would be proud: (more…)

Ira heads to the locker room for today’s column.

Ira Kaufman is the most revered sports personality and writer 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 hear Ira every Wednesday on SiriusXM Mad Dog Radio at 5 p.m., and see him Mondays and Fridays at 10:30 p.m. on Spectrum Sports 360.

BY IRA KAUFMAN

NFL locker rooms are delicate creatures.

It doesn’t take much to tinker with a winning formula and mess with chemistry.

Every player in this league is talented, so I’m convinced more than ever that character is an indispensable ingredient for success.

Talking to Buc players after the final game, they swore to a man that this team stuck together through the tough times. They talked about playing for each other and the mutual respect that was evident within the walls of One Buc Place. (more…)

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No weeks off on the Ira Kaufman Podcast, so much to dissect. Always! Dive in here or enjoy at iTunes, Google Play or Podbean.com. Ranked on the Google Play podcast “Top Charts” for three consecutive months (all genres nationwide), 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 revered sports personality and writer 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 hear Ira every Wednesday on SiriusXM Mad Dog Radio at 5 p.m.

BY IRA KAUFMAN

Just how close are they?

According to the scoreboard, the Bucs are close. Real close.

According to the eyeball test and the depth chart, they have a huge challenge ahead to compete with the big boys in the NFL’s premier division. (more…)

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The gloves are off, Brooklyn-style, and Ira is swinging and putting Joe on the ropes. The Ira Kaufman Podcast continues to dazzle year-round at iTunes, Google Play or Podbean.com, or right here! 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 coronation of Jon Gruden is at hand.

On Tuesday, the former icon of Buc Nation will return to the scene of his first NFL head coaching job after a 16-year absence. (more…)

Inside Ira’s esteemed ballot

BY IRA KAUFMAN

The Associated Press asked me for my All-Pro selections this week and when I obliged, I realized there were no Buccaneers on my list.

No surprise there.

These are the best of the best, not overcrowded Pro Bowl rosters influenced by reputation and team popularity. (more…)

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Buckle up. Ira is in overdrive on the hot topics of the day and shares a Hall of Fame story that illustrates the shady behind-the-scenes maneuvering that arises. Dive in here or enjoy 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

System corner.

That’s the belittling phrase I heard from several members of the Hall of Fame Selection Committee regarding Ronde Barber when his name came up during the NFL owners meeting last March.

That was a warning shot, advance notice that a key member of an iconic defense was going to have problems making it to the finalist stage in his first year of eligibility. (more…)

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Wow! So much meat on the buffet on the first postseason podcast of 2018. Dive in here or enjoy 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!