Ball security an issue for PFF tribe.

Cade Otton can’t buy a break. [read more]

Click on through to shop at BillCurrieFord.com. Incredible financing offers are in effect for EVERYONE in July! Bill Currie Ford GM Sean Sullivan is ready to help you PERSONALLY and give you the famous Ira Kaufman discount on top of their great everyday prices. Just ask! Don’t Worry, Drive Currie!

BY IRA KAUFMAN

In keeping with the 50th anniversary of Buccaneer football, I’m counting down the 20 most notable players in franchise history.

No. 50 – Mark Cotney
No. 49 – Mike Washington
No. 48 – Richard “Batman” Wood
No. 47 – Aqib Talib
No. 46 – Ricky Reynolds
No. 45 – Keyshawn Johnson
No. 44 – Ricky Bell

Mike Evans shares a moment with the late Vincent Jackson.

No. 43 – Vincent Jackson
No. 42 – Mark Carrier
No. 41 – Donnie Abraham
No. 40 – Cadillac Williams
No. 39 – Joey Galloway
No. 38 – Kevin House
No. 37 – Davin Joseph
No. 36 – Shelton Quarles
No. 35 – Michael Pittman
No. 34 – Leonard Fournette
No. 33 – Donovan Smith
No. 32 – Rob Gronkowski
No. 31 – Doug Martin
No. 30 – Baker Mayfield
No. 29 – Ndamukong Suh
No. 28 – Hugh Green
No. 27 – Jason Pierre-Paul
No. 26 – Shaq Barrett
No. 25 – Donald Penn
No. 24 – Brad Johnson
No. 23 – Gerald McCoy
No. 22 – Ali Marpet
No. 21  – Vita Vea

20. Tony Mayberry
Mayberry’s 145 starts are the sixth-most in Tampa Bay history. A fourth-round pick in the 1990 draft, he didn’t miss a game in his final nine seasons. He earned Pro Bowl berths in his last three years as a Buc and anchored the offensive line for a decade before Jeff Christy arrived in 2000. [read more]

The Bucs had an uncommon phenomenon last season. They opened the season against the same team that knocked them out of the playoffs. [read more]

Shutouts still happen.

Something you don’t see much of any longer in the high-octane, pass-first, apologize-second, light-up-the-scoreboard league the NFL has become. [read more]

Needs work on one stat.

A lot of folks will look at these stats below and probably pick up on Bucs coach Todd Bowles’ rallying cry about picks. [read more]

Crossing fingers.

Now Joe doesn’t know who was responsible for this, former Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen or former passing game coordinator and now current offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard. [read more]

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

Subscribe: RSS

Click above to shop the tremendous July pricing and inventory at Tampa’s first family of Ford, BillCurrieFord.com. Don’t Worry. Drive Currie! Reach out to Ira’s friend and Bill Currie Ford GM Sean Sullivan for a hearty JoeBucsFan discount, and remember their extreme commitment to customer satisfaction at Bill Currie Ford.

It’s your Sage podcast extravaganza leading into Bucs training camp with three more episodes coming next week. Dive in!

The wisdom and fun of Ira and Joe is presented by Bill Currie Ford. Click play above or listen at Apple Podcasts or Podbean.com. Many other platforms, too.

A family business since 1960, Bill Currie Ford is one mile north of Raymond James Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway, and Bill Currie Ford GM Sean Sullivan is Ira’s great friend. He’s ready to help you personally — and to give you the Ira Kaufman discount on top of all their amazing deals. E-mail, call or visit Sean at the Bill Currie showroom.

Baker Mayfield

Joe didn’t think Cody Mauch’s story of him allowing a male fan to put a digit in his mouth could be topped on the raunchy scale, but Baker Mayfield managed to do it. [read more]

Rookie Bucs playcaller Josh Grizzard.

Rookie Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard has never called plays on any level other than the scout team with the Dolphins and a little bit in Tampa Bay’s June minicamp. [read more]

Credit where credit is due.

Yes, we are inching toward training camp next week — next week! [read more]

Slowed down?

This is partially for the crowd that reveres the close-only-counts-in-horseshoes-and-hand-grenades sect of pass rushing. [read more]

Over 2,000 yards a goal?

What are the chances Bucs running back Bucky Irving has a season for the ages? [read more]

Road throwbacks, too.

The Bucs threw Joe a curveball this month. [read more]

Last week, Joe took a poke at Jacob Robinson and Dianna Russini for a backhanded slap to the Bucs in their look at the NFC South champs for TheAthletic.com.

They wrote the Bucs are “stronger than most realize,” as if they really ran around neighborhood bars and their New York Times newsroom looking for fans’ take on the NFC South champs of the past four seasons. [read more]

Bucs edge rusher David Walker, the Central Arkansas rookie.

Way too many people are placing far too much importance on fourth-round pick rookie David Walker emerging as a stud Bucs pass rush threat this season.

Joe hopes that happens, but damn, Joe has no problem declaring now that the Bucs can win playoff games even if Walker is a bust who never sees the field. [read more]

Most coaches hate being asked to name players they need to step up unless it’s an obvious injury situation. [read more]

Legendary Bucs cornerback Rondé Barber loves calling himself a true Bucs insider.

It’s accurate. He not only works for official team media, he spends time with players and Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht. [read more]

More questions.

Joe doesn’t know why in the past two days, potshots have been taken at Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht, questioning his motive for drafting Emeka Egbuka at No. 19. [read more]