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Bucs Mourn Loss Of Place-Kicker's 3-Month-Old Son

Tribune file photo

Buccaneer Matt Bryant and his wife, Melissa, have four older children.

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By ROY CUMMINGS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 25, 2008

TAMPA - The Bucs ended practice in prayer Wednesday, with 60 players and more than two dozen coaches and staff members kneeling, heads bowed, for a family member who never got the chance to kick a football.

Matthew Tryson Bryant, the 3-month-old son of Tampa Bay Buccaneers place-kicker Matt Bryant, died unexpectedly in the family's home early Wednesday morning.

"We lost a key member of our family," Bucs coach Jon Gruden said. "It's a horrible tragedy. My understanding is the young man just didn't wake up."

Bryant's wife, Melissa, was getting the couple's four oldest children ready for school Wednesday morning. When she went to wake the baby, he did not respond, said Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Debbie Carter.

Deputies went to the Bryant home about 7:35 a.m. The sheriff's office is conducting an investigation, but Carter said the death "doesn't appear to be suspicious."

Bryant did not practice with the team Wednesday, and Gruden did not say whether Bryant will play Sunday when the Bucs host the Green Bay Packers at Raymond James Stadium.

The Bucs also gave punter Josh Bidwell the day off. Bidwell is the holder for Bryant's kicks and one of Bryant's closest friends on the team.

"Like everyone, the news of Matt and Melissa Bryant's son Tryson hit me hard today," Bidwell said. "Having kids of my own, I couldn't imagine the pain that is associated with such a terrible loss."

Bucs quarterback Jeff Garcia can. He lost a brother and a sister when he was a child.

"The love you have for your own child is like nothing else in the world," said Garcia, father of a 5-month-old girl. "I know the sense of loss in my family is something that has never left my parents. It's just tragic."

In a statement late Wednesday, Matt Bryant said: "Melissa and I are overcome with the amount of support we have received from the community during this difficult time. We would like to thank our Buccaneers family and the Glazers for their support and outpouring of love.

"Tryson enriched our lives for the short time that he was with us, and we will never forget his smile. We know Tryson's death has deeply touched the community, and we appreciate the love and prayers from our Buccaneers fans."

In 2006, the Bryants' first child together, son Tre, was born prematurely and spent about two weeks in the hospital. That encouraged the Bryants to support the March of Dimes in efforts to prevent birth defects, premature births and infant mortality.

The Bryants were named the 2008 Ambassador Family for the March of Dimes Florida Chapter and in August were named Florida's March of Dimes Volunteers of the Month.

"They were not just honorary volunteers; they were active volunteers," said Betsy Herman, the executive director of the Florida Bay Division of the March of Dimes.

Herman said the child was not known to be suffering from any illness.

"I just can't imagine how sad that family is," she said. "And I really can't imagine a nicer family than theirs."

Weeks after Tre was born, Bryant kicked the third-longest field goal in National Football League history, a 62-yarder to beat Philadelphia at Raymond James Stadium on Oct. 22, 2006.

In 2007, Bryant was named Bucs' Man of the Year for charitable work. A finalist for the NFL's 2007 Walter Payton Man of the Year award, Bryant received $1,000 for the March of Dimes Florida Bay Division, the nonprofit organization of his choice.

"The entire Buccaneer family is deeply saddened by this tragedy," General Manager Bruce Allen said in a statement. "The Bryants have been an inspiration to our entire community through their commitment to their family and their exhaustive efforts working with children and those in need."

In lieu of flowers, the Bryant family asks that donations be made in Tryson's name to March of Dimes, 405 N. Reo St., Suite 105, Tampa FL 33609.

Reporter Raymond Reyes contributed to this report. Reporter Roy Cummings can be reached at rcummings@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7979.

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