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A Father's Heavy Heart: Grieving Bryant Helps Bucs Win

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By JOE HENDERSON

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 29, 2008

TAMPA - Matt Bryant could have skipped Sunday's game and no one would have said a word. He carried the type of pure, empty pain no parent can allow themselves to imagine, and this was just a football game.

There can be no greater heartbreak than what Bryant and his wife, Melissa, felt when their 3-month-old son, Tryson, died last week. Even in anguish, though, there can be honor. Even when the hurt is deep beyond measure, it's possible to move forward with grace and quiet dignity.

On Sunday afternoon at Raymond James Stadium, the place-kicker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers did just that.

History will record that Bryant kicked three field goals and three extra points to help his team to a 30-21 victory over the Green Bay Packers. Humanity will record something far more substantial.

"I wanted to honor Tryson's name," Bryant said. "Today was his day. It was all about him for me. I talked with him throughout the game. I just wanted him to know he was my baby boy."

Tryson's funeral was Saturday in Texas. Bryant, along with family and a few close friends, flew out and back on a plane provided by the Bucs. He was so tired - he used the word "drained" - and the inner conflict mixed with sorrow must have been overwhelming.

But he played.

"I really don't know what I needed today," Bryant said. "I just buried my son yesterday."

The Bucs were behind by a point when Bryant kicked his third field goal, a 24-yarder with 2:26 to play, to put them ahead to stay. Matt Bryant blew a kiss toward heaven. Toward his baby boy.

"What do you say? What can you say? You can't do anything but show him your love, show him your support," defensive end Kevin Carter said. "Let him know we love him, love his family, and let him know if there's anything he ever needs, we're there for him. My heart goes out to him but my hat goes off to him."

A Happy Baby

Matthew Tryson Bryant was a happy baby, except when the cannons fired at Ray Jay every time the Bucs got close for a score. He was happiest when focusing on the sound of his father's voice.

"He smiled," Bryant said. "All you had to do was talk to him, talk softly."

Who can explain why life can take such an awful turn? Tryson was unresponsive when Melissa went to check on him Wednesday morning. No one yet knows why. Would an explanation help anyway?

"I can't even imagine it. I don't have kids, but I can't imagine that feeling he had dealing with this all week," center Jeff Faine said. "I think it reminded all of us in this locker room how precious it is."

Matt and Melissa Bryant are givers. He was the Bucs' 2007 Man of the Year for the work he does in the community. They have raised thousands for so many good causes, including children's hospitals. He works with the state's Child Predator Cybercrime Unit.

"Matt Bryant is a hero to the Tampa Bay community as well as anyone who is paying attention to the story. That's something that gets outside of football. Nothing we can do on this field adds up to that," running back Earnest Graham said.

"For him to come out here and show that kind of courage and kick with so much of a burden on his heart, it's a big deal. We've got to put our arms around him as a team and a community because that's so much more important than what we do out here."

'It's A Game'

Perspective is hard to find right now. On any other day, we'd be congratulating Bryant on being an integral part of an important win for the Bucs, but it seems so grossly out of place now to be even thinking of such things.

"It may have just helped keep his mind busy for a minute or two. This is nothing in comparison to what that is. This is definitely an afterthought," Faine said. "He's a lights-out kicker and I'm glad he came back and played, but I wouldn't have thought any different if he didn't. This is a game. That's the most important point - it's a game."

It was also a platform, though. A platform to remind the world that Matthew Tryson Bryant lived, touched lives, and is remembered.

"I didn't want to have a bad game today," Bryant said. "I wanted to be focused to lift Tryson up and put him in the spotlight."

So on a day when everyone would have understood if he just couldn't face the thought of playing a game, Matt Bryant decided to be there.

"It just shows what kind of person he is, in that moment to choose to live on and push forward - not leaving it behind, but honoring the memory by moving forward," Carter said.

Fans in the south corner of the end zone stood and applauded as Bryant's final kick went through. His teammates surrounded him. There were a lot of hugs.

There was one more kiss blown toward the sky.

And there was one more soft reminder to Tryson. He will always be Dad's baby boy.

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