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BY IRA KAUFMAN

The protection racket is a grim business.

For much of this season, the men paid to keep Tom Brady upright have heard and read a litany of their shortcomings. According to more than a few members of Buc Nation, Tampa Bay’s issues up front have been holding this offense back. [read more]

Stats can bite you in the arse.

So it was wild yesterday seeing failing Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich suddenly embrace what he has mocked all year. [read more]

Bucs coach Todd Bowles.

For the Bucs to pull the trigger on first-year coach Todd Bowles, that would tell Joe there is a major, major move coming a few hours after news would break. [read more]

Bucs DL Will Gholston.

So yesterday Joe brought word from NFL Network’s Brian Baldinger, a former Colts offensive lineman, who broke down Bucs’ run defense tape and highlighted Will Gholston’s play. [read more]

Bucs coach Todd Bowles.

Now we know that Bucs coach Todd Bowles did not want the Bucs to run a no-risk-it; no-biscuit offense because he believed that the Bucs were gassed in the playoffs last year because of that offense. [read more]

His teammates want to present Tom Brady with a consolation prize after a rough season. [read more]

Joe will call this answer Brady Math: 97-for-139 for 995 yards, 10 touchdowns and 1 interception.

So what’s the question? [read more]

Fresh ridiculousness from Byron Leftwich.

Joe needed a Big Storm beer after this one from offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich. An ice cold Bromosa was poured. [read more]

“Your fans got to Coach, Kyle.”

The Buccaneers’ playcaller seems like he’s been reading wacky fan comments on this here website. Or maybe he’s been hearing too many drunks barking behind the Bucs’ bench. [read more]

Here’s a stat that let’s you know records don’t matter too much in the playoffs. [read more]

Wanted in Vegas.

Within the next month, Tom Brady will become the top story in sports. [read more]

Joe was all fired up for NFL Films having head coach Todd Bowles mic’d up against Carolina on Sunday in Tampa. [read more]

Bucs are paying him. May as well use him for TDs.

One thing that got jacked up about last Sunday’s win over the Stinking Panthers was the return of Mike Evans. [read more]

Flash poll posted at 10:37 a.m. Poll closed at 12:11 p.m. Last week’s results linked here.

SAS: Bucs need work.

It seems Todd Bowles has a powerful friend in the Fourth Estate. [read more]

Akiem Hicks explains.

Look, the last two years were fun as could be. A Super Bowl win and a team that looked like it was headed to a second straight title game but got tripped up. [read more]

Talkin’ takeaways.

Joe hears this sentence about once a week over at One Buc Palace. And it seems to be coming true. Again. [read more]