Restoring Order
Wednesday, November 11th, 2020BY IRA KAUFMAN
There’s a symmetry to the 2020 Buccaneer season that breeds optimism. (more…)
BY IRA KAUFMAN
There’s a symmetry to the 2020 Buccaneer season that breeds optimism. (more…)
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Buckle up for what might be an instant classic on the twice-weekly Ira Kaufman Podcast presented by Bill Currie Ford.
Bill Currie Ford general manager Sean Sullivan is Ira’s great friend and is fired up to help you personally and give you a JoeBucsFan discount! E-mail, call or visit him at the Bill Currie showroom one mile north of Raymond James Stadium. And remember their nationwide lifetime warranty on new and used vehicles!
Big Storm beer from Big Storm Brewing Co. is the official beer of the podcast and their Clearwater location is where Ira watches ALL Bucs road games with fans. Try Florida’s best craft beer, especially Bromosa, their amazing tangerine IPA. Listening to Ira is fun, free and easy! Click play above or listen Apple Podcasts, Google Play or Podbean.com, Stitcher, too, and more.
BY IRA KAUFMAN
Let’s go to the highlights.
Ryan Succop didn’t suck. Blaine Gabbert took a knee without tripping.
The rain held off, for the most part.
What else ya got?
The most lopsided loss in the unparalleled career of Tom Brady left two announcers and a national TV audience wondering why the Bucs have been generating so much hype. After two weeks of slop, even Tampa Bay’s most passionate supporters are questioning the players and coaches operating out of One Buc Place. (more…)
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Episode 2 of this week has The Sage of Tampa Bay Sports all jacked up and firing on many Bucs subjects. All the fun is presented by Bill Currie Ford, Tampa’s home to the nationwide lifetime warranty on new and used vehicles.
Bill Currie Ford general manager Sean Sullivan is Ira’s good friend and is always ready to assist you personally and give you a JoeBucsFan discount! E-mail, call or visit him at their showroom one mile north of Raymond James Stadium. And remember their nationwide lifetime warranty on new and used vehicles at Bill Currie Ford!
Big Storm beer from Big Storm Brewing Co. is the official beer of the podcast and their Clearwater location is where Ira watches ALL Bucs road games with you. Try Florida’s best craft beer, especially Bromosa, their amazing tangerine IPA. Listening to Ira is fun, free and easy! Click play above or listen Apple Podcasts, Google Play or Podbean.com, Stitcher, too.
BY IRA KAUFMAN
Forget about Antonio Brown’s highly anticipated Buc debut for a moment. Let’s focus instead on a veteran wide receiver who can’t wait to torment the Saints Sunday evening. (more…)
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All kind of Sage of Tampa Bay Sports wisdom flowing from Joe’s good buddy Ira Kaufman. All the fun is presented by Bill Currie Ford, Tampa Bay’s first family of Ford. Tampa Bay’s only Hall of Fame voter hangs with Joe to dive head first into all kinds of Bucs angles. This is Episode 1 of this week.
Bill Currie Ford general manager Sean Sullivan is Ira’s good friend and is always ready to assist you personally and give you a JoeBucsFan discount! E-mail, call or visit him at their showroom one mile north of Raymond James Stadium. And remember their nationwide lifetime warranty on new and used vehicles at Bill Currie Ford!
Big Storm beer from Big Storm Brewing Co. is the official beer of the podcast and their Clearwater location is where Ira watches ALL Bucs road games with you. Try Florida’s best craft beer, especially Bromosa, their amazing tangerine IPA. Listening to Ira is fun, free and easy! Click play above or listen Apple Podcasts, Google Play or Podbean.com, Stitcher, too.
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…)
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The twice-weekly Ira Kaufman Podcast is can’t-miss fun and wisdom presented by Bill Currie Ford, Tampa Bay’s first family of Ford. The Sage of Tampa Bay Sports hangs with Joe to share all kinds of news, nuggets and insight.
Bill Currie Ford general manager Sean Sullivan is Ira’s good friend and is always ready to assist you personally and give you a JoeBucsFan discount! E-mail, call or visit him at their showroom one mile north of Raymond James Stadium. And remember their nationwide lifetime warranty on new and used vehicles at Bill Currie Ford!
Big Storm beer from Big Storm Brewing Co. is the official beer of the podcast and their Clearwater location is where Ira watches ALL Bucs road games with you. Try Florida’s best craft beer, especially Bromosa, their amazing tangerine IPA. Listening to Ira is fun, free and easy! Click play above or listen Apple Podcasts, Google Play or Podbean.com, Stitcher, too.
BY IRA KAUFMAN
As Vince Lombardi famously remarked, if you strive for perfection, you can catch excellence along the way.
The 2020 Bucs aren’t perfect by any measure, but they’re sure playing some inspired football. Ol’ Vince would be proud of the way Tampa Bay has rebounded from that dispiriting evening in Chicago, dismantling the Packers and pulling away from the Raiders in crunch time. (more…)
Back in 1979, a young reporter from Brooklyn became a New York Giants beat writer. The NFL hasn’t been the same since — and neither has the Tampa area. The Sage of Tampa Bay Sports arrived in 1985 to cover the Buccaneers, and Ira has since earned Ph.D. status in mauling buffets, schmoozing front office types, never revealing sources, and podcasting.
BY IRA KAUFMAN
Through seven weeks, it’s all going according to schedule for a franchise that often didn’t seem to have a plan.
The 5-2 Bucs are rising up the power rankings and some prominent league pundits are starting to praise Tampa Bay as the most complete team in the NFC. That’s quite a leap of faith after a bitter Week 5 loss at Soldier Field, where Tom Brady lost track of downs and a prideful defense forgot to make key stops. (more…)
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Presented by the iconic Tampa Ford dealership, Bill Currie Ford, it’s the podcast you’ve been waiting for. The Sage of Tampa Bay Sports shares all kinds of Bucs wisdom and more with Joe.
Bill Currie Ford general manager Sean Sullivan is Ira’s good friend and is always ready to assist you personally and give you a JoeBucsFan discount! E-mail, call or visit him at their showroom one mile north of Raymond James Stadium. And remember their nationwide lifetime warranty on new and used vehicles at Bill Currie Ford!
Big Storm beer from Big Storm Brewing Co. is the official beer of the podcast and their Clearwater location is where Ira watches ALL Bucs road games with you. Try Florida’s best craft beer, especially Bromosa, their amazing tangerine IPA. Listening to Ira is fun, free and easy! Click play above or listen Apple Podcasts, Google Play or Podbean.com, Stitcher, too.
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…)
BY IRA KAUFMAN
The Saints may have won the first skirmish, but they’re destined to lose this war. (more…)
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It’s the podcast that stirs the drink — and the pot — featuring The Sage of Tampa Bay Sports. All kinds of Bucs subjects on today’s steaming buffet with Joe. It’s the twice-weekly Ira Kaufman Podcast presented by Bill Currie Ford.
Bill Currie Ford general manager Sean Sullivan is Ira’s good friend and is always ready to assist you personally and give you a JoeBucsFan discount! E-mail, call or visit him at their showroom one mile north of Raymond James Stadium. And remember their nationwide lifetime warranty on new and used vehicles at Bill Currie Ford!
Big Storm beer from Big Storm Brewing Co. is the official beer of the podcast and their Clearwater location is where Ira watches ALL Bucs road games with you. Try Florida’s best craft beer, especially Bromosa, their amazing tangerine IPA. Listening to Ira is fun, free and easy! Click play above or listen Apple Podcasts, Google Play or Podbean.com, Stitcher, too.
BY IRA KAUFMAN
Jon Gruden won’t be the only participant in this Bucs-Raiders matchup with some extra motivation.
Devin White also can’t wait for Sunday night’s game at Allegiant Stadium. Gruden is out for revenge because he was fired. White wants payback because he wasn’t hired.
Make sense? (more…)
Joe is writing the following because the Super Bowl is scheduled to be played at the Den of Depression in February. And, because the Bucs are gunning to be the first team to play in and host a Super Bowl. (more…)
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Ecstasy and excitement is pulsating through Bucs fandom and The Sage of Tampa Bay sports is all over it with Joe in the twice-weekly Ira Kaufman Podcast presented by Bill Currie Ford.
Bill Currie Ford general manager Sean Sullivan is Ira’s good friend and is always ready to assist you personally and give you a JoeBucsFan discount! E-mail, call or visit him at their showroom one mile north of Raymond James Stadium. And remember their nationwide lifetime warranty on new and used vehicles at Bill Currie Ford!
Big Storm beer from Big Storm Brewing Co. is the official beer of the podcast and their Clearwater location is where Ira watches ALL Bucs road games with you. Try Florida’s best craft beer, especially Bromosa, their amazing tangerine IPA. Listening to Ira is fun, free and easy! Click play above or listen Apple Podcasts, Google Play or Podbean.com, Stitcher, too.
BY IRA KAUFMAN
If Todd Bowles interviews for an NFL head coaching job in a few months, he might consider bringing Jamel Dean along for the ride. (more…)
BY IRA KAUFMAN
For nine days, the Bucs heard all the chatter. The naysayers were out in force, pointing out the relatively easy early schedule and Tampa Bay’s self-destructive tendencies.
And then, on a muggy October Sunday, the Bucs buried their skeptics in the soft turf of Raymond James Stadium. For an added bonus, they pushed the smarmy face of Aaron Rodgers into the sod for good measure.
Jamel Dean lit the match and every Buccaneer danced on the flames during a nasty beatdown of the previously unbeaten Packers. The final three quarters ushered in a dominant performance by the home team in front of an adoring crowd.
Any early enthusiasm by Cheeseheads in attendance melted once Rodgers suffered his first interception of the season. The Packers led 10-0 at the time and even though they didn’t know it, they would offer only token resistance the rest of the way.
This was the team Buc Nation envisioned once Tom Brady arrived — focused, physical and brimming with talent. The Packers flew home to Wisconsin Sunday evening, probably wondering how Tampa Bay managed to lose two of its first five games.
If this was a crossroads moment for this franchise, the Bucs chose the right path, the one that leads to postseason play. Here’s how they ransacked Mr. Rodgers’ neighborhood: (more…)
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It’s a powerful and thought-provoking edition of the Ira Kaufman Podcast, one Joe suspects will leave Bucs fans barking at their podcast playing devices. Plenty of fun, too, as The Sage of Tampa Bay Sports talks all things Bucs with Joe presented by Bill Currie Ford.
Bill Currie Ford general manager Sean Sullivan is Ira’s good friend and is always ready to assist you personally and give you a JoeBucsFan discount! E-mail, call or visit him at their showroom one mile north of Raymond James Stadium. And remember their nationwide lifetime warranty on new and used vehicles at Bill Currie Ford!
Big Storm beer from Big Storm Brewing Co. is the official beer of the podcast and their Clearwater location is where Ira watches ALL Bucs road games with you. Try Florida’s best craft beer, especially Bromosa, their amazing tangerine IPA. Listening to Ira is fun, free and easy! Click play above or listen Apple Podcasts, Google Play or Podbean.com, Stitcher, too.