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Keeping Bryant Was Bucs' Top Priority

Tribune file photo by JOSEPH BROWN III

Antonio Bryant gets a pay raise from $600,000 to $9.884 million while talks continue on a long-term deal.

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By JOE HENDERSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 19, 2009

TAMPA - We've all seen "The Catch" over and over again – the sight of Antonio Bryant flying through space to make a one-handed grab for a touchdown against Carolina this past season. It was arguably the finest catch in Tampa Bay Buccaneers history, but it was just one of 83 catches he made.

He was basically their only weapon.

So it was obviously the top priority for the new regime at One Buc to make sure Bryant was back for next season, a mission accomplished Wednesday when the Bucs placed the "franchise player" restriction on him.

Even though it's smart for the team, it can be a little risky because it makes it virtually impossible for a player to leave even if he has a hankering to do so. A lot of players chafe at that designation.

Fortunately for the Bucs, Bryant didn't.

"The plan was to be a Buccaneer anyway," Bryant told reporter Roy Cummings of The Tampa Tribune and TBO.com.

That may be the most encouraging thing that came out of this. Hearing Bryant say that is important.

So Bryant gets a pay raise from $600,000 last season to $9.884 million while talks presumably continue on a long-term deal. It won't be cheap, and there is a risk in committing too much money for too many years.

No one can blame Bryant for trying to cash in after a season in which he was named the 2008 NFL Comeback Player of the Year by The Sporting News. He is 27 years old – in other words, he's in his prime – and on a team without many ways to move the ball, Bryant stands out even more.

But there are some caution lights.

He came here highly motivated last season, for one. He sat out the 2007 season after being released by San Francisco following a four-game suspension for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. This was after the 49ers gave him a four-year, $13.9 million contract in 2006. Money and security can change things. He also has a history of disputes with his coaches – even Bill Parcells, when he was with Dallas.

But to be fair, Bryant was just fine here last season.

He played hard and essentially pushed Joey Galloway out of a job. Without him, there's no telling what that 9-7 record for the Bucs would have turned in to. He seemed to fit in well in the locker room, too.

So, obviously, there was no way the Bucs could take a chance on losing him. And Bryant seems to understand he has a found a home, a place where he is comfortable and where his considerable skills can flourish.

Now they can move forward with other priorities. They can get involved in the Albert Haynesworth sweepstakes if they want. They can look at other receivers to complement Bryant. They can see whether there is a veteran quarterback available to push Luke McCown.

They can do all that knowing their top priority has been achieved because Bryant will be back.

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