The most interesting news to come from the NFL Scouting Combine absolutely was Todd Bowles’ piercing words during his sitdown on the Ira Kaufman Podcast, presented by Bill Currie Ford, which celebrates its 65th anniversary in Tampa today. [read more]

Click through to BillCurrieFord.com to see their extraordinary March offers. Family-owned in Tampa since 1960! Bill Currie Ford general manager Sean Sullivan is ready to help you PERSONALLY and give you the famous Ira Kaufman discount. Don’t Worry, Drive Currie!

BY IRA KAUFMAN

In football, familiarity doesn’t breed contempt. It breeds success. [read more]

Price too steep?

See Joe in a bar after a few beers and ask if Joe would like Maxx Crosby on the Bucs roster for 2026. Joe probably wouldn’t shut up all night, so stoked with the thought. [read more]

The Bucs say publicly that they believe deeply in Baker Mayfield and he’s been everything they’ve asked for and more, the ultimate leader and a team-first talent. [read more]

He is happy at home.

More evidence that Mike Evans’ agent, Deryk Gilmore, is a con artist if not a well-known fearmonger. [read more]

Bring him home, Bucs. Make it happen.

Dang, Joe is starting to wonder about the reach of “Pardon My Take” now that the video feed is behind a Netflix paywall. [read more]

Welcome to your Morning Cup of Joe, an eye-opener to help Joe’s readers ease into their busy workday with a few football links, wacky news and a pleasant distraction. [read more]

Still valuable.

Yes, Joe knows the Bucs have holes at inside linebacker. Joe is on record saying the Bucs need to add three inside linebackers this offseason. The position is that bad. [read more]

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Click above to shop the fantastic March pricing at Tampa’s first family of Ford dealers, 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.

Sage Ira is back in studio for a feisty and loaded episode. Enjoy!

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, including iHeartRadio.

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.

“The Chiefs suck, Mike.”

The Chiefs traded one of their best players today and didn’t get a player in return. [read more]

Twice Joe wrote about inside linebacker E.J. Speed as a quality free agent target for the Bucs last year. [read more]

High ranking unpopular.

Apparently, across NFL fandom, it’s not wise to be a Cade Otton fan. [read more]

“Mr. Glazer, did you see the latest drivel from Mike Evans’ agent?”

When trying to connect dots related to the Bucs, Joe always pays attention to ESPN NFL insiders Peter Schrager and Adam Schefter.

Schrager is a longtime close personal friend of Bucs assistant general manager Mike Greenberg, and Schefter and Greenberg are from the same hometown. Greenberg is likely the only director of football operations (2021) to ever be a guest on Schefter’s podcast. [read more]

So in five short days, various NFL insiders like Adam Schefter, Dianna Russini and Ian Rapoport will start spitting out free agent deal after deal on social media, announcing X player has agreed to a multi-year contract.

It’s a wildly fun and stressful time across the league. [read more]

Vikings shopping Pro Bowl edge rusher.

Joe has a sneaky suspicion this guy just may end up on the Bucs’ roster. [read more]

Doesn’t sound like Mike.

Thanks to intel from Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, we recently learned of demands Bucs free agent wide receiver Mike Evans has for his 2026 team next week when the free agency dinner bell rings on Wednesday.

Or, are those really Evans’ demands? [read more]

Florida boy aims to return home.

To hear the words coming out of Adam Schefter’s mouth, superior sack artist Trey Hendrickson is there for the Bucs to take.

If the Bucs want him. [read more]

Scapegoat?

Can Zac Robinson really make that big of a difference for the Bucs’ offense? Well, we will find out in a few months. [read more]

Joe knows a sect of Bucs fans wants the team to draft the best available edge rusher and hope for the best. [read more]

Allianz Arena in Munich, where the Bucs hosted a game in 2022.

Most folks don’t like it; most folks hate it. But these games aren’t going anywhere. In fact, there will only be more. [read more]

Pizza parties are optional, says Bucs GM Jason Licht.

So over the past couple of the years, the Bucs have gone to great lengths to let fans know the team’s front office has a detailed “I Am That Man” philosophy to identify future players, a mantra inspired by Lavonte David, among others. [read more]

Defensive tackle Greg Gaines.

The free agency dinner bell rings at noon on Monday, March 9. What an exciting day that will be! [read more]