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Bryant Kicking Against Packers Still An Option

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 27, 2008

TAMPA - The Bucs had not signed a replacement for K Matt Bryant late Friday, and chances are they won't before Sunday.

Based on P Josh Bidwell's strong suggestion, Bryant's gear was packed and ready for transport to the stadium, and indications are Bryant will kick Sunday, just four days after his infant son, Tryson, died unexpectedly at the Bryant family's Tampa home.

A funeral service is scheduled for this morning at the Agape First Christian Fellowship in Graves, Texas. Bidwell and several other members of the organization are expected to attend, Bucs coach Jon Gruden said.

A decision on who will handle place-kicking duties for the Bucs will be made Sunday morning. S Sabby Piscitelli is the team's emergency kicker, but Gruden said it is unlikely the Bucs will use him against the Packers.

Gruden is not concerned if a new kicker who has not practiced with the team has to be brought in. He also said the lack of work with LS Andrew Economos and holder Bidwell should not hinder a new kicker. Gruden's greatest concern continues to be the well-being of Bryant and his family.

"Right now, I'm more worried about Matt Bryant the person and how he's doing," Gruden said.

An autopsy was performed Thursday. Officials with the medical examiner's office said there is no indication of suspicious death, but the actual cause will not be known for four to six weeks.

TRUEBLOOD FINED: The NFL apparently agreed with the Bears' claim that Bucs RT Jeremy Trueblood played a little dirty in Sunday's game.

Trueblood was fined $5,000 for unnecessarily striking an opponent, a result of the swing he took at Bears DE Adewale Ogunleye while the two grappled on the ground during a critical third-down play in overtime.

Bears DB Charles Tillman was also fined $5,000 for unnecessary roughness for striking an opponent. Tillman's fine stems from the punch he threw at Bucs WR Michael Clayton at the end of that fracas.

Tillman was also whistled for a personal foul on that play, and the resulting 15-yard penalty allowed the Bucs to keep a game-winning drive alive.

The Bears came away from the game crying foul, saying Trueblood was guilty of dirty play. Trueblood, who has also been whistled for a personal foul this season, said earlier this week he didn't think he played dirty, but he admitted to "tip-toeing" the fine line between nasty and dirty every Sunday.

FRIENDLY ADVICE: Aaron Rodgers doesn't seem too bothered by following a legend in Green Bay.

Bucs QB Brian Griese offered advice anyway on how to go about replacing Brett Favre.

"The less you say, the better," Griese said. "You just have to let your play speak for you."

FOCUS, PLEASE: Ask any NFL scout and he will tell you a lack of focus has plagued Bucs WR Antonio Bryant. Bryant doesn't deny the charge. He knows he has trouble focusing on specific tasks. That's why he spends a portion of the time before each game studying the stadium around him.

"Before the stadium fills up, I want to be in that stadium and I want to see everything there is to see so that my mind doesn't wander off during the game," Bryant said.

"I'm a hyper person, and my attention span is very short, so I just kind of sit there and see all the little pretty pictures and stuff and get that out of my system early."

DECEIVING STATISTIC: Judging by the league's rankings, the Bucs are off to a slow start defensively this season. They go into Sunday's game ranked 27th in total defense, 20th against the rush and 26th against the pass. The Bucs, though, join Baltimore as the only teams that have not allowed a rushing touchdown.

BUCS BITS: In honor of Spanish Heritage Month, former Bucs G Jorge Diaz will make the pregame coin toss Sunday. Diaz played for the Bucs from 1996-99. ... For the second week in a row, WR Joey Galloway is listed as out on the team's official injury report. The news regarding FB B.J. Askew (hamstring) and RG Davin Joseph (foot) isn't much better: Both are doubtful. LB Derrick Brooks (hamstring), Bryant (death in the family), DT Ryan Sims (hamstring) and CB Aqib Talib (hamstring) are questionable.

Roy Cummings

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