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Leader.
The last time Joe saw Jeff Darlington of ESPN he was sitting for 20-plus minutes face-to-face with Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht at a swanky outdoor bar at a Phoenix resort in late March. [read more]
A Mike Evans ranking leads to a reality check on Todd Bowles.
Future Hall of Fame receiver Steve Smith, a hated Buccaneers division rival for 10-plus years, always speaks his mind, more so on his Cut To It podcast than during his NFL Network gig. [read more]
Click to shop now at BillCurrieFord.com. GM Sean Sullivan is ready to help you PERSONALLY and give you the Ira Kaufman discount. Just ask! Lifetime warranty on new vehicles.
BY IRA KAUFMAN
Don’t sleep on the rest of the NFC South.
The history of the NFL tells us lousy divisions don’t stay lousy forever. The 2022 Bucs caught a huge break last year as the Panthers, Falcons and Saints all slogged to 7-10 records, allowing a subpar Tampa Bay team to capture a second consecutive division crown.
Don’t expect another 8-9 finish to get the job done.
Just look at the NFC East as an example of fleeting success and failure. In 2021, the division collectively finished four games below .500, despite a 12-5 mark by the Cowboys.
A year later, the division was plus-20 as the Eagles, Giants and Commanders all improved while Dallas finished 12-5 once again. [read more]
Dissed?
Joe knows all too well that folks outside the Tampa Bay area (maybe also within the Tampa Bay area) are not impressed with the Bucs’ quarterback situation. [read more]
Our beloved Buccaneers kick off Week 1 at Minnesota in 91 short days.
They’ll have a new offense, and running back Rachaad White talked about that change recently on Fantasy Football Morning on SiriusXM radio. [read more]
Race to 10.
If you want a break from wringing your hands over Tristan Wirfs moving to left tackle, fretting how the Bucs can win with Kyler Traskfield or wearing out your rosary hoping Joe Tryon-Shoyinka can get to 10 sacks, here is some happy food for thought. [read more]
Need results this fall.
As Joe has written, it’s a big year for Bucs third-year pass rusher Joe Tryon-Shoyinka. [read more]
Bucs QB Kyle Trask.
So one of the great Buccaneer philanthropists, iconic receiver Mike Evans, is having a gala benefit dinner and auction tonight for his foundation. [read more]
New Bucs TE Payne Durham during his Purdue days.
Joe shared last week that Bucs’ rookie tight end Payne Durham, a late fifth-round pick, made one analyst’s list of draft sleepers.
But now Joe’s got a more credible guy claiming Durham likely is the third- or fourth-best rookie tight end despite him being the 12th TE drafted this year. [read more]
Bucs GM Jason Licht.
Could the Bucs be on the cusp of a long stretch of both quarterback purgatory and NFL irrelevance? One NFL stenographer believes that’s not a crazy thought. [read more]
Baker Mayfield at last night’s Rays game.
Forget what Baker Mayfield has done in underwear football. His smartest move came a few weeks ago. [read more]
Early season challenges.
So looking at the schedule, if one is to believe the Bucs are going to have a dicey season, what is the toughest stretch? [read more]
Lots of Bucs bonding in Kansas City.
A lot of love was flowing in Kansas City this week. [read more]
Major recognition.
Joe will start this encouraging and happy post by noting that big-money Bucs cornerback Jamel Dean is not on this top-10 list, nor was he among the six NFL players that just missed the cut, per official NFL tracking data. [read more]
Vikings QB Kirk Cousins
Joe already is fired up for opening day in Minnesota as the three-month mark hits tomorrow.
Fanning Joe’s flames is what feels like a looming implosion with the Vikings. [read more]
Click to shop now at BillCurrieFord.com. GM Sean Sullivan is ready to help you PERSONALLY and give you the Ira Kaufman discount. Just ask! Lifetime warranty on new vehicles.
BY IRA KAUFMAN
A Buc offense that has gone bone dry is in desperate need of some juice.
Here comes a red-headed stranger, eager to mix it up in the trenches and set an aggressive tone sorely missing in 2022. [read more]
Big Bucs gamble.
Again, someone doesn’t know about the salary cap. [read more]
Assessment of offense.
Teams can do little in underwear football since they cannot hit in any way. [read more]
No respect.
A lot of folks believe — and Joe is among them — that the Bucs have too much talent to tank.
This is why some national NFL analysts have coined the phrase “half-tanking when describing the Bucs. [read more]
