Makes hot list.

Boy, do Bucs fans know the feeling. (more…)

Legendary No. 55 is all over Sunday’s game with The Sage of Tampa Bay sports. (Happy 81st, Ira!)

It’s an all-new TAMPA TWO (Brooks and Kaufman, if you’re confused)! The fun is presented by The Identity Tampa Bay and Joe.

Through 25 games, the Bucs are winners under the Bucco Bruce Arians regime, sitting at 6-3 this season with five remaining games against bad football teams. (more…)

“Hey Drew, I could have thrown three picks for the Bucs. And I wouldn’t have to put up with Antonio raiding my fridge every night, either.”

Welcome to nuts-kick Monday. (more…)

Good, hardly great (yet).

Let’s just call it like we see it. (more…)

Joe’s calling for calm.

The Bucs are 6-3. Tell yourself that five times.

Seattle (6-2) had its doors blown off in Buffalo today. (more…)

Handling Antonio Brown.

Joe has to hit the brakes on this one. (more…)

He knows.

Mike Evans spoke for Bucs fans far and wide after Monday night’s game. (more…)

Click through to shop now at BillCurrieFord.com. Family-owned Bill Currie Ford has been a Tampa treasure for generations, one mile north of Raymond James Stadium. Ira Kaufman wholeheartedly endorses them.

BY IRA KAUFMAN

We’re on to New Orleans.

That should have been the mantra for Bruce Arians after Monday night’s forgettable performance at the Meadowlands.

The only positive the Bucs can take out of that slop is they managed to walk out with a win on the road, remaining atop the NFC South. They played better in the second half — in large part because the opening 30 minutes were absolutely unacceptable.

It’s not a stretch to suggest some of Tampa Bay’s minds were already on the Saints, despite all the pleadings from the coaching staff to take the Giants seriously. Those pleas fell on deaf ear holes as New York rolled up 15 first downs in the first half.

The Giants were well prepared for Todd Bowles and his exotic blitzes and a slapdash offensive line opened up big holes for Wayne Gallman and Alfred Morris, two journeymen who will never be confused with Derrick Henry.

“They hit us in the mouth in the first half,” acknowledged Lavonte David.

The Bucs looked wobbly, but they never went down. Perhaps a better opponent would have put them away, but the Giants are 1-7 for a reason. Tom Brady likes to say that if you’re not on your game, you’re in trouble against any NFL team.

The difference is this Buc team has the talent and fortitude to overcome a lethargic effort. The Bucs will have to play a better game against the Saints Sunday night — and they will.

Here’s how the Bucs forged their first 6-2 getaway since the 2002 championship season: (more…)

Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians.

Offense sells tickets and defense wins championships.

That was a saying for decades in the NFL. Thankfully, we have evolved as a society and embraced the fact if you don’t score points, it’s hard to win a scoreless game. (more…)

Future Hall of Fame tight end Rob Gronkowski has been ballin’ this month like it’s the old days. (more…)

Bucs WR Antonio Brown.

Here is a timeline list Joe cobbled together of all of the stunts new Bucs receiver Antonio Brown has found himself entangled with dating back over the last two years.

So when people ask Joe why he’s not fond of the Brown signing, perhaps this helps enlighten readers to understand Joe’s reservations of the Bucs getting into bed with the talented yet mercurial Brown, just as the team seems to have turned the corner and is a legit Super Bowl contender. (more…)

Very cool stuff happened yesterday that many fans gave little attention. (more…)

Click through to shop now at BillCurrieFord.com. Family-owned Bill Currie Ford has been a Tampa treasure for generations, one mile north of Raymond James Stadium. Hustle up on those October specials!

BY IRA KAUFMAN

By one key metric, you could make a credible argument that the Bucs have been the most dominant team in the NFL this season.

No, they’re not unbeaten, but the Bucs have outscored opponents 222-142 in fashioning a 5-2 record. That plus-80 mark in point differential is tops in the league.

Quite a rebound from that bitter setback at Soldier Field two weeks ago. Tampa Bay followed up a majestic final three quarters against Green Bay with a very solid win on the road against a Raiders team coming off a bye week and a confidence-boosting victory at Kansas City.

Jon Gruden wanted this win in the worst way and the Raiders hung in until a turnover and the relentless pressure exerted by Tom Brady proved decisive.

Since that shaky opening quarter vs. Green Bay, the Bucs own an 83-20 scoring advantage. The Packers are very good, the Raiders aren’t bad and the Bucs just might be outstanding.

It’s all coming together for this woebegone franchise. Antonio Brown is on his way, but at this point, the Bucs don’t need much outside help in ending that 12-year playoff drought. They’ve been the talk of the league since Brady arrived and they still generate more than their share of national attention.

Here’s how an all-in franchise cashed out in Las Vegas: (more…)

Late February has arrived early at One Buc Palace.

The misdirection smoke now seen swirling usually is the kind reserved for pre-draft chatter when NFL executives and coaches lie regularly. (more…)

Bucs GM Jason Licht

One might think a general manager who hates free agency wouldn’t sign a player like Antonio Brown, who has failed repeatedly from the neck up in recent years en route to disappointing three franchises and three head coaches with Super Bowl rings. (more…)

What a coincidence, Bucco Bruce Arians was talking diva wide receivers on national radio this week.

Of course Joe was listening. (more…)

Jamel Dean and The Dean of the Bucs defense

Yes, you can finally wear your Bucs t-shirt to Neighborhood Walmart with immense pride.

No more late-October cradling of a package of paper towels to cover the logo. (more…)

Doubted by Tony Dungy

Two generations have passed since Father Dungy coached the Bucs.

But he still pays attention, especially since he lives in Tampa and his ex-roommate is their head coach. (more…)

Bad blood

So yesterday we were treated to an old-fashioned hatefest between Bucs defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh and Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. (more…)