Pressure.

Barring something drastic, like the defense being a complete sieve (again) or the Bucs being unable to dig themselves out of the hole dug for them by America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston (and thereby the team getting a mulligan from Team Glazer), it is difficult to see the Bucs having a losing season and head coach Dirk Koetter returning for 2019. [read more]

A preparation wish for Team Glazer

It’s perfectly acceptable Bucs fan etiquette to internally root against Jameis Winston this season while cheering and yearning for the Bucs to have a stunning year and win the NFC South without him. [read more]

Getting the jump on Ronald Jones. (Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers.)

The Bucs had major holes last year that, with some coaching up and a wee bit of luck, could be plugged up. [read more]

Dirk Koetter should know that Tampa Bay needs to be in playoff mode to start the regular season in 67 short days.

And what a statement Koetter could make from the opening kick. [read more]

BY IRA KAUFMAN

Chris Ballard probably won’t make Jason Licht’s Christmas card list this year. [read more]

Former Bucs G Ian Beckles.

What would a holiday be without some wisdom from Ian Beckles? [read more]

Ranked.

The Bucs season is in Ryan Fitzpatrick’s hands. [read more]

24-hour flash poll posted at 7:59 a.m.

Ex-Buc chimes in

There will be many intriguing ways to judge general manager Jason Licht this season, some more obvious than others. [read more]

Challenge.

Right now Joe cannot decide whether to chug a bottle of Jack Daniels or just see how many glasses of Tanqueray and Schweppes (with a twist of lime) Joe can guzzle before blacking out. [read more]

The more Joe studied college film and stats of Bucs rookie manbeast first-round pick Vita Vea, the more Joe was flummoxed that Vea had so few tackles for loss during his University of Washington career. [read more]

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It’s the very first episode after the official NFL ruling on Jameis Winston, and the Ira Kaufman Podcast is absolutely sizzling today! Another intelligent and fun must-listen from the Sage of Tampa Bay sports and Tampa Bay’s only Pro Football Hall of Fame voter. Click play above or tune in at iTunes, Google Play or Podbean.com. Find the Ira Kaufman Podcast ranked on the Google Play podcast “Top Charts” (all genres nationwide), where it’s been for most of the past eight months. Stay informed, thinking and smiling every single Tuesday & Thursday — and there is NO offseason. Click or download above. It’s fun, free and easy. Enjoy!

Breakdown.

So now with the season hanging in the balance — in July no less! — the Bucs turn to Ryan Fitzpatrick as their quarterback. [read more]

Angry with NFL.

Yes, Joe learned like the rest of us yesterday that America’s Quarterback and his agent(s) parted ways. Why, who knows?

Maybe the agents didn’t want to represent Jameis any longer? Maybe Jameis didn’t think he was represented well (which is something Joe speculated on Twitter last week). [read more]

Can he play outside?

If Bucs corner Vernon Hargreaves can resurrect his career, it would go a long way to helping the Bucs trying to survive life without Jameis. [read more]

Alex Cappa photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers

With free agent bust right guard J.R. Sweezy out of the picture, it’s a straight-forward but unique battle to replace him in the starting lineup. [read more]

Perhaps many current Buccaneers don’t know or remember how former Tampa Bay kicker Connor Barth screwed up his career. [read more]

Big year in 2018?

Yeah, much was made about the Bucs flipping defensive line coaches this offseason, bringing in former Stinking Panthers lineman, fiery Brentson Buckner to replace ineffective Jay Hayes. [read more]