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Joe and The Sage Of Tampa Bay Sports are fired up for the 2026 schedule. 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.

Scoffed at by CBS.

Like draft grades, it seems every Tom, Dick and Harriette has to type up a “Winners and Losers” of the NFL schedule release. [read more]

Flash poll posted at 6:56 a.m. Poll closed at 8:51 a.m.

No secret to NFL fans before yesterday’s schedule release was the teams that will open the season in Australia after the Seahawks host the Fighting Russinis in Seattle. [read more]

Getting Bucs intel from Liam Coen?

Bucs offensive coordinator Zac Robinson and former Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen, now Jags head coach, became best friends when they found themselves on Sean McVay’s staff in Los Angeles. [read more]

Snapping mid-season slumps.

You may have heard of the “middle eight.” It’s a phrase former NFL suit Mike Lombardi sort of made famous. [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]

Defensive makeover coming?

Joe doesn’t know what to expect from the Bucs defense this fall. Cornerback looks really shaky, unless you are referring to nickel corner. The Bucs have the market on nickel corners, well, cornered. [read more]

Todd Bowles spoke on national radio yesterday about what he looks for first when the schedule comes out.

Based on what he said, he’ll like one thing about the 2026 schedule released tonight and hate a few others. [read more]

Ahhh, it’s finally here.

Start memorizing, agonizing, hypothesizing and fantasizing. [read more]

Hello Joe.

[UPDATE: 6:50 p.m.] Here are Joe’s leaks/reports so far on the Bucs’ 2026 schedule. [read more]

Rookie inside linebacker Josiah Trotter.

Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles is not holding back when it comes to 2026 expectations for the 2026 season, and for his young players. [read more]

When Joe thinks about a pending revival of the Buccaneers defense, Joe thinks of one thing Todd Bowles has a great handle on but somehow fumbled in ugly fashion last season. [read more]

“It’s a tough league, Kyle.”

Joe can’t recall the last legitimate Bucs offseason quarterback competition. Sorry, 2023 doesn’t ring a bell. [read more]

Spectacular offers now at Tampa’s first family of Ford dealers. Visit Bill Currie Ford, which is celebrating 65 years of family-owned service to the Tampa community, one mile north of the stadium on Dale Mabry Highway. And ask GM Sean Sullivan for the JoeBucsFan/Ira Kaufman Discount.

Tez Johnson with his 2025 season highlight 45-yard TD catch.

Joe can’t recall a Bucs offense more riddled with injuries than the offense last year. But there was a hidden blessing behind the march to the sideline peep show tent. [read more]

Big themes. Big dreams.

The Buccaneers’ head coach is fired up and thinking big — very big. [read more]

Could ignite offense.

When Bucs offensive coordinator Zac Robinson spoke Tuesday, he cautioned folks that rookies often have a long way to go before they naturally go with the flow and contribute. [read more]