What A Transformation!
March 20th, 2020
Bill Currie Ford is open and ready to serve you today. General manager Sean Sullivan personally will guide you and give you a special Ira/JoeBucsFan discount. Click above to shop.
BY IRA KAUFMAN
Ah, sweet relevance.
That’s the prevailing fragrance wafting over One Buc Place after Tom Brady made it official on Friday morning. He’s coming to Tampa – and star gazing along Dale Mabry Highway is imminent.
It turns out Brady was indeed lurking behind Door No. 2 for Bruce Arians, the quarterback whisperer who had been screaming for No. 12 behind closed doors. Brady ultimately decided Let’s Make A Deal with a franchise that has posted the worst overall record in the four major sports.
What a rush for Buc fans who spent their fall Sundays wondering how their favorite team would find a way to lose. Far too often, the Bucs obliged.
Meanwhile, Jameis Winston’s representatives are looking for a place to land, probably as a backup. Pittsburgh makes a lot of sense, sitting behind Ben Roethlisberger on a storied franchise with one of the league’s best head coaches in Mike Tomlin.
What a transformation.
From polarizing to unifying, writes Ira Kaufman.
The Bucs just replaced the most polarizing player in their history with the most unifying.
Brady’s appeal reaches across gender and political lines as he embarks on the final phase of an unparalleled NFL career.
Nothing is guaranteed here. If it doesn’t work out, if Brady and Arians ride off together in 2022 with the Bucs ensnared in a 14-year playoff drought, that would be the ultimate Deflategate for No. 12.
Brady will turn 43 during training camp, if there is a training camp in August. He’s certainly not brittle, but at his age Brady figures to take longer to recover from the punishment any pro quarterback endures — no matter how quickly he gets rid of the football.
Still, it’s a quest worth taking for this particular franchise at this particular moment. After three consecutive losing seasons led to dwindling attendance and national indifference, the Glazers agreed with Arians: the pursuit of Tom Brady was imperative.
Life After Tommy
“Ira, stop badgering me to draft a quarterback next month. I get it.”
Mission accomplished, but there’s more work to do. Now I want Arians looking at tape of college quarterbacks until his eyes bug out.
Hall of Fame executive Ron Wolf drafted a quarterback seven times between 1992 and 1999, even though Brett Favre was entrenched under center for Green Bay.
“I learned very early in this game, if you don’t have a quarterback, you don’t have a chance,” Wolf said. “We were very lucky that we had a unique quarterback that never missed a game. But that didn’t stop me from drafting in late rounds. It’s the premier position, and you better be able to cover yourself.”
What better mentor to learn under than Brady, who knows the end of his NFL career is lurking just over the horizon?
Tampa Bay has selected only two quarterbacks in the past seven drafts. Both Mike Glennon and Jameis Winston are current free agents looking for a job.
Any job.
The Ron Wolf philosophy apparently has no hold at One Buc Place, but it’s time for a change. Somewhere across the first two days of the draft, a rookie quarterback needs to be summoned to his new home in Tampa.
There will be life beyond Tom Brady — and it will be here before you know it. In the meantime, revel in the knowledge that the Bucs believe the future is now.
This just in: Joe Buck and Troy Aikman are heading to the broadcast booth at Raymond James Stadium this fall.
Hope someone gives them directions.
Click on Ira’s nose to start shopping at Bill Currie Ford, Tampa’s first family of Ford for the past 60 years.
Lots of ZERO percent financing options now at Bill Currie Ford. Huge showroom, ideal for social distancing.
March 20th, 2020 at 1:21 pm
Hype train. Full of biscuits.
2020 Bucs are the 2019 Browns. All hype. Games still have to be played. See 2019 Browns
March 20th, 2020 at 1:22 pm
Next podcast gonna be 🔥🔥🔥
March 20th, 2020 at 1:22 pm
High hopes here. Hoping they draft Clyde from LSU for RB…
March 20th, 2020 at 1:23 pm
Brady will retire in two years with 8 SB 🏆
March 20th, 2020 at 1:33 pm
Suddenly bucs site flooding with images of Brady and cleansing their brand from that of the images of their yesterday mistakes…
March 20th, 2020 at 1:35 pm
lama with all the great stuff going on how can you be such an A HOLE ?
March 20th, 2020 at 1:38 pm
Ira I’m SO happy and EXCITED about this that I’m offering a bye gobs be bye gones truce with you!!!
March 20th, 2020 at 1:42 pm
Because I’m a Bucs fan. We dont win SB in March
March 20th, 2020 at 1:44 pm
Melvin Gordon to the Broncos
March 20th, 2020 at 1:46 pm
Lamarcus, the 2019 Browns had a 2nd year QB that hadn’t won anything; they traded for a diva me first WR; and they had a woefully over his head HC. We have arguably the best (and certainly most experienced in playoffs and SB’s) QB, home grown WR’s that are better than the overpaid diva, and a HC that has been around the block more than a few times with success at most stops. Aside from the possible narrative of the Bucs “winning” the offseason and that being analogous to the Browns in 2019, there is no comparison at all..
That said, yes the game still need to be played. We shall see.
March 20th, 2020 at 1:47 pm
Positivity… we need it everywhere. Joe needs to purge the site of these taunting images of Jameis… and we all need less of the posts that seem to be hoping Brady falls on his aged face instead of dreaming with the rest of us that he and his new crewe soar into the playoffs, SB and immortality. C’mon people, rally!
March 20th, 2020 at 1:49 pm
Happy times! Hoping for O-Line #1 and Running Back#2 or #3 and a safety and get a later round QB, get an edge–if they really pan out then they are worth their money in gold.Hope we can get a solid run game going.
March 20th, 2020 at 1:54 pm
We could have paid 2 years, $16 million for Gordon like the Broncos just did. $13.5 mill of it guaranteed.
Beck in no state income tax, 2 years $14 million might have worked
March 20th, 2020 at 2:00 pm
Jameis should have taken a cap friendly 1 year prove it. Egos and hungry money agents can ruin a player.
March 20th, 2020 at 2:02 pm
Buck and Aikman can stay where they are if they desire…. I can’t stand that monotoned voice
March 20th, 2020 at 2:02 pm
Bold
Used to do play by play in an earlier incarnation. Jack Buck simply had one of the greatest set of pipes ever. His voice was perfect for long boring baseball games.
Joe doesn’t have Jack’s instrument that’s for sure but he doesn’t have a bad voice. Jack Buck sets the bar very very high in terms of voice and delivery there is no shame for Joe in that.
In terms of commentary…overall I like Joe better and he’s a better interviewer…his cable one on one interview show with past stars is excellent. I think he and Aikman make a great team. I’m looking forward to them this year.
March 20th, 2020 at 2:07 pm
Steven007
That was an excellent response. Kudos to you for even respecting his post enough to respond. I perceive him as a Jameis or nothing kinda guy.
My son and my wife were once blasting me for being “too nice”. LMAO I said fine put it on my tombstone please. Here lies Lee he was just too damn nice.
That was nice of you to take the time to craft such a well written RATIONAL response. Don’t know if it will earn you “nice guy” on your tombstone but I give you credit for being more decent than me.
March 20th, 2020 at 2:08 pm
Wrong Buck, Ira. It’s Joe Buck and Troy Aikman.
March 20th, 2020 at 2:13 pm
Jack is Joe Buck’s dad…
March 20th, 2020 at 2:31 pm
I’m elated everybody is enjoying this Brady Hype. Bucs needed an..imaginary shot in the arm for fans. We been losers so much over the years, its affected our thinking to the point we are placing our entire hopes in an ageless wonder..so we think. I hope it works out. But I am very cautiously optimistic. We will see. I just hope we get a great backup. I fear we will need him sooner than we think.
March 20th, 2020 at 2:37 pm
LaMarcus is right – there is a current hype train in Tampa.
However, Steven007 is correct. Comparing the 2019 Cleveland situation to our situation is for someone who has not looked at the details.
March 20th, 2020 at 2:53 pm
It’s so telling to see so many previous Jameis-Or-Die posters on this site now switching from their undying-love-for-Winston-and-insult-all-others-that-don’t-agree, to now just a very pessimistic and negative outlook for the 2020 Buccaneers.
Lamarcus, Ardnagy, Ndog, and others. They have such spite for this team now that their hero was made to walk the plank that they will continue to post criticism after criticism and make tons of negative ‘predictions’ about the 2020 Bucs before even a single snap is played.
Give it a rest, fellas, we get it. You’re heartbroken that your hero was sent packing. But if you’re a true Bucs fan, and not just a Jameis homer, then you’ll support the team and look forward to a New Beginning rather than spending all your time speculating only negative outcomes when the roster isn’t even finalized for 2020 yet.
GIVE IT A REST.
March 20th, 2020 at 3:05 pm
Ira,
Jersey #3 should be retired along with that Photo..
Better days ahead boys & girls…
March 20th, 2020 at 3:07 pm
@St Pete, thanks man. This coming from a guy that really respects your posts and some of the other regular non trolls. I only go off the rails occasionally when responding to trollmax, haha. You got to change the baby’s diaper occasionally… 😉
March 20th, 2020 at 3:16 pm
I’m sure most Buc fans will be happy if the Bucs make the playoffs and then get bounced out in the first round like the Patriots did in 2019. It will be an improvement over every season since 2007. But deep down it will also feel like a disappointment that the Bucs didn’t at least get to the Super Bowl in their own stadium.
There’s always 2022 in Los Angeles.
March 20th, 2020 at 3:27 pm
Buccaneers are the 2020 version of the 2019 Browns. Everyone’s anointing them and calling them Super Bowl contenders. And they haven’t done squat. When Brady is being carted off the field because of a failed blitz pickup in game 2, and Blaine Goobert comes in, all that hype will go up the chimney.
March 20th, 2020 at 3:45 pm
Please show me anything I have posted as negative about Brady since the signing?
March 20th, 2020 at 3:56 pm
Ndog, I agree. You’ve been very gracious since the transition.
March 20th, 2020 at 3:57 pm
∆ Sign of a true Bucs fan by the way.
March 20th, 2020 at 3:59 pm
Swampbuc…people think when you say hold your horses you are being negative. But you are not. Everybody is so happy now..I get it. They fail to contemplate a scenerio where the old 43 yr old goes down. To them it cannot happen. But those of us who have played know..Its not if its going to happen, the question is only when. Bellacheat is in my opinion one of if not, the smartest coaches alive. he has that 6th sense for when a player has served out his time and is near his end.I do want us to win with Brady. I just do not see it. Not at the end of his career. He has been the GOAT and will always be. But some Goats don’t know when to ..head out to pasture. Our Bucs will surely..get him there.
March 20th, 2020 at 4:03 pm
Seems only two teams made Brady an offer. The Bucs and Chargers. Two teams that need to put butts in the seats. What do the other teams know that these two didn’t or will it be vice versa? We’ll found out soon enough.
March 20th, 2020 at 4:37 pm
Mike
“Bellacheat is in my opinion one of if not, the smartest coaches alive.”
May I disagree slightly or put a modifier to your statement….”defensive”.
No doubt Belicheat is one of the great DEFENSIVE minds. It was Charlie Weis and BRADY who turned Belicheat into a winner in NE.
BB was a LOSER in Cleveland over the same five year length of time we just gave JW….BB was 36-44 in five years. He went to NE and his first year there he went 5-11 again a LOSING record! But in 2000 Scott Pioli did as much as anybody to further BB’s career and start his legend. He found Brady in the 6th round. BB didn’t play him and lost year one…put him in year two and the rest is history…six rings later.
There will be the never ending debate over whether it was the loathsome creep roaming the sidelines who made the Pats great or the QB who led the offense.
There is NO clear answer but there is this…Belicheat had ONE winning season in first SIX years as HC in the league. Brady shows up and suddenly BB and the Pats go on a long historic roll.
Coincidence is not the same as causation…I get that but it does provoke a lot of questions.
If life is fair…it isn’t I get that…but karma is a beotch…I would love for BB to miss the playoffs for the next three years and go out as simply a great defensive mind who LUCKED into the GOAT QB who made BB’s career.
March 20th, 2020 at 4:52 pm
Please Lamarcus… don’t get too far over your skis. We know deep down as a Buc fan, you are likely happy you are to have Brady in town, just as about 99% of the Tampa Bay area is. Jameis will get a job somewhere… even those of us that predicted this day for months, wish him the best. Go Bucs…
March 20th, 2020 at 5:14 pm
Stpetebucfan..I have only one reply….Tell all of that to the many championships garnered by the New England Pats under his command. And his ability to take late rd draftees and acquisitions others give up on and make them into contenders.
March 20th, 2020 at 5:39 pm
Sweet! Just like Favre with the Jets! And Montana with the Chiefs! We are gonna win it all!
Good to see that they are still putting the cart before the horse. Just like declaring Jameis ( a really young rookie) the savior a few years back, all in the name of ticket sales, now they are anointing a 43 year old legend that just got cut (essentially) from his old gig the thjng of tye future.
Let’s all say it together. You sign contracts for future production, not past performance.
Tampa! Browns!
Tampa! Browns!
Tampa! Browns!
March 20th, 2020 at 7:46 pm
Swampbuc Says:
March 20th, 2020 at 3:27 pm
Buccaneers are the 2020 version of the 2019 Browns. Everyone’s anointing them and calling them Super Bowl contenders. And they haven’t done squat. When Brady is being carted off the field because of a failed blitz pickup in game 2, and Blaine Goobert comes in, all that hype will go up the chimney.
Technically every team at this time of the football season are contenders, just some are more probable. As for the rest of your predictions…. well they are just as valid as the hype either can happen just like claiming a team to be a contender.
March 20th, 2020 at 7:57 pm
Mike
But he NEVER won anything until Brady arrived…literally a LOSING HC for five of his first six years. If you write that off as coincidence as I conceded coincidence is not the same as causation.
Boston has not drafted a QB in the first round since Drew Bledsoe back in ’93…that’s freaking 27 years thanks to Brady. Other FA’s who came on the cheap came to play for Brady not the dick of a head coach. Players…including Brady loathe BB.
I concede that Belicheat is such a horses arse that it probably prejudices his media coverage in Boston with guys who have to deal with him regularly.
His D head ways certainly motivate my dislike of him.
BA is going to be a breath of fresh air for Brady.
March 20th, 2020 at 11:44 pm
shameis wanted 30…
tommy took 25…
go figure
March 21st, 2020 at 12:51 pm
I like that you are looking down the road a bit, Sage. I hope that the Glazers and Jason Licht had a short term as well as long term plan when they negotiated with Bruce Arians to draw him out of retirement.
Since BA also sees himself as a mentor and a prod for the careers of coaches on his staff I believe he looks around from time to time while keeping eyes on his primary goal of winning the Lombardi.
I have to have faith that the principle people involved also want to build a sustainable perennial contender for a decent number of years.
In BA I trust!
March 21st, 2020 at 1:18 pm
It is easy to make a “slip of the tongue” typo when you have been football fan or a sports reporter for a very long time. I do remember Jack Buck well. I guess I am really old now. Actually, even a young person can make the same kind of mistake. So what!
Speaking of announcers, I am so glad that another old timer, Gene Deckerhoff, gets to be around while the Buccaneers ride another wave of “relevance” and have a competitive NFL team for a change to call games for.
March 21st, 2020 at 7:14 pm
March 20th, 2020 at 1:21 pm
Hype train. Full of biscuits.
2020 Bucs are the 2019 Browns. All hype. Games still have to be played. See 2019 Browns
—————————————
The browns started a second year QB. Everybody and there mom knew Odell Beckham was a hype job, including Jarvis Landry. Myles Garrett was suspended at the end of the season.
Bucs just signed a top 3(if not the best)QB all time to start. Everybody and there mom knows mike Evans and Chris Godwin are 2 of the best receivers the NFL has to offer. Shaq Berret lead the NFL in sacks last year.