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Bucs Receiver Bryant Irked By ESPN's Smith, Dilfer

Tribune photo by JAY CONNER

Antonio Bryant stretches for a touchdown catch in the fourth quarter against Carolina. Bryant is upset about remarks made on ESPN during that game.

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By ROY CUMMINGS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 10, 2008

TAMPA - Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Antonio Bryant is not happy with former NFL players and current ESPN commentators Emmitt Smith and Trent Dilfer.

Bryant, who caught 9 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns in Monday night's loss at Carolina, apparently took umbrage to comments Smith and Dilfer made about Bryant's somewhat troubled past. Bryant was released by the Cowboys and 49ers after run-ins with former coaches Bill Parcells and Mike Nolan, respectively.

Bryant is obviously trying to put that behind him and seems to believe Smith, Dilfer and the media in general continue to make more out of the situations than necessary.

Whatever the reason for the scolding, which is pretty much what it amounted to, here's what Bryant said after being asked if his success this season is satisfying to him, coming in the wake of a year spent in exile at home.

"It's satisfying because I'm still trying to figure out what all this baggage is that I'm supposed to have,'' Bryant said. "I'm being serious. I'm a real person and that bull---- that Emmitt said about 'get my life right,' Trent Dilfer mentioned something about get my life right outside of football.

"Last time I checked, man, don't be a hypocrite, man. This is me; you know what I'm saying? A lot of y'all can't really walk, you know what I'm saying, on the side of the street that I can walk on and still go and put on a suit.

"I can put on a suit just like you and talk just like you. But I can still go home and still be me. So remember that before you disrespect me like that on TV.

"I never say nothing bad about anybody out here. Just don't disrespect me like that. That's real. I'm here, I'm a hard worker. I've always been a hard worker. So don't take that away from me man and just let me play football.

"You got something to say to me man, say it, you know what I'm saying? Anyone of you all can [inaudible] to me and that's to Emmitt and Trent Dilfer and I really mean that. That bothers me, that bothers me.''

Bryant apparently spoke to Smith before Monday's game at Carolina, and he said he was shocked to hear that Smith was critical of him after having that conversation.

"I spoke to Emmitt but I can't believe he went back and said I got in trouble because of my mouth,'' Bryant said. "I'm really not that type of dude; I don't really talk to people like that. So don't take shots at me like that.

"I'm a real person. I talk to all them guys outside of football – [Warren] Sapp - those guys they know me, they know where I'm from; they know how we're built where I'm from.

"I talk to Sapp, Deion [Sanders]; go ask some of them; talk to Sapp, Deion and [Michael] Irvin, talk to someone who's going to tell you something real. Not nobody's who's doing it for TV.''

Bryant also talked a little bit about the success that he and quarterback Jeff Garcia are having in the passing game and he hinted that some surprises may be forthcoming.

"Hopefully we got some more things coming,'' Bryant said. "We've got a lot of great playmakers here we're trying to get going. Cadillac Williams - two games two touchdowns; Joey [Galloway] – we anticipate some big things from him.''

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