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Count Baker Mayfield among the parents shaking a head at the legions of obsessed moms and dads that think it’s great for their kid to hyper-specialize in one sport at a young age. [read more]
Happiness in Tampa for Baker Mayfield is about a lot more than his new three-year, $100 million contract. [read more]
So many summer savings are flowing at Bill Currie Ford! That’s new and used vehicles, and don’t forget to ask GM Sean Sullivan for the Ira Kaufman discount. Pick-up, delivery and loaner vehicles are available for service appointments.
Sage of Tampa Bay Sports Ira Kaufman has been covering the NFL since the late 1970s. He landed on the Buccaneers beat in 1985 for United Press International and proceeded to have a storied career at The Tampa Tribune. He abandoned corporate shackles and short lunch breaks when he arrived at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters in 2016.
BY IRA KAUFMAN
The passing of Monte Kiffin hit hard for friends and associates, including Jon Gruden.
Legendary Bucs defnesive coordinator Monte Kiffin in a tender moment with Rondé Barber.
Kiffin ran Tampa Bay’s defense in 2002, when Gruden arrived as head coach and challenged a star-studded unit to score nine touchdowns. Led by NFL Defensive Player of the Year Derrick Brooks, the Bucs promptly responded with one of the most dynamic seasons by a defensive unit in league history.
“It’s a sad day, very sad,” Gruden said. “Monte was the same guy every day, upbeat, positive and prepared. He was a phenomenal teacher and presenter. He did the preparation and he did the presentation. Those are the two things I always thought the great coaches did … and he did it better than anybody. God bless him and his family.”
Gruden and Kiffin had an interesting history before teaming up at One Buc Place. [read more]
Left tackle Tristan Wirfs.
Joe has no shame admitting being wrong, thankfully. And “this Joe” also has no shame in being against this move. [read more]
Average at home.
Joe is getting the shivers and nasty flashbacks typing the following. It’s not good, but it is far from what Bucs fans lived through just a short time ago. [read more]
Bucs coach Todd Bowles.
Famed basketball star Allen Iverson used to bellyache about practice. Maybe that’s why he was never a champion. [read more]
Puzzled.
One reason Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht was — and still is — so perplexed why so many people last year shat on his team (and still do) is he looks at his roster and asks, “What’s the problem?” [read more]
Ring of Honor member Monte Kiffin.
Earlier today, former Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, a 2021 Buccaneers Ring of Honor inductee, passed away in Oxford, Miss. He was 84. [read more]
Reaction.
Reacting to today’s news that Buccaneers Ring of Honor inductee Monte Kiffin passed at age 84, the Glazer Family, owner of the Bucs, released a statement. [read more]
Monte Kiffin reportedly passed today.
Former Bucs defensive coordinator and inductee into the Buccaneers Ring of Honor, Monte Kiffin, reportedly passed away today. He was 84.
Kiffin passed away, per Nick Schultz of On3.com, in Oxford, Miss. The official Twitter account of Ole Miss football, where Kiffin’s son Lane is the head coach, also announced Kiffin’s passing per Kiffin’s grandson Knox.
Joe will update when more details are available. Joe offers condolences to the Kiffin family.
Kiffin of course was the famed former Bucs defensive coordinator who crafted one of the greatest defenses in league history from 1996-2008, tagged the “Tampa 2.” He helped craft the careers of at least four Pro Football Hall of Famers, including Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, John Lynch and Ronde Barber.
It was Kiffin’s defense that was largely responsible for the Bucs’ first Super Bowl title on that glorious day in January of 2003.
Bucs coach Todd Bowles.
For a team that most NFL sophists believe would bottom out without the skill and leadership of the greatest quarterback whoever lived, to actually win a division, win a playoff game and nearly get to the NFC title game, this is how you reward the head coach?
No. 22? [read more]
Locked in.
He’s got goals. And if Rachaad White meets any of his personal goals, Joe is going to take a wild guess and suggest the Bucs will be just fine this fall. [read more]
No. 1!
It’s no longer a belief just among Bucs fans. It has come to fruition: Bucs safety Antoine Winfield is the best, better than all the rest. [read more]
Doomed by coach?
Look, Joe is not about to sit here and say Rachaad White is a good running back. Nothing other than blind allegiance to the pewter and red would allow for someone to make such an empty if not misleading statement. [read more]
Examining different perceptions.
Far and wide amid the clique of NFL analysts spread across the globe, very few seem to be bullish on the Bucs. [read more]
Offensive coordinator Liam Coen.
If the Bucs can only improve their first-half offense, it ought to go a long way to scoring more points and, hopefully, winning more games. [read more]
Two NFC quarterbacks made future Hall of Fame receiver Tyreek Hill’s list of five best NFL QBs. [read more]
This won’t sit well with some Bucs fans. [read more]
There’s a different wrinkle in the Bucs’ training camp schedule this summer. [read more]
Buccaneers RB1 Rachaad White loves his offensive line but wants more out of them. [read more]
So many summer savings are flowing at Bill Currie Ford! That’s new and used vehicles, and don’t forget to ask GM Sean Sullivan for the Ira Kaufman discount. Pick-up, delivery and loaner vehicles are available for service appointments.
BY IRA KAUFMAN
Can you win three consecutive division titles and still be in a rut?
The question appears ludicrous upon first glance. [read more]
