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Bryant Hoping For Long-Term Deal

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By ROY CUMMINGS and ANWAR S. RICHARDSON

The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 20, 2009

INDIANAPOLIS - A day after placing the franchise tag on Antonio Bryant, the Bucs turned their attention to their other potential free agents. Bryant is fine with that - as long as the Bucs eventually turn their attention back to the business of signing him to a long-term deal.

Though he is glad to be returning to the Bucs for the 2009 season, Bryant said he won't be completely happy until he knows he can stay with the Bucs beyond the 2009 season.

"It's an honor to have been named the franchise player, and it's a great sign of respect that they've shown me," Bryant said. "It shows a commitment to me, but at the end of the day I most definitely would like to see them show me more of a commitment than just the franchise tag."

The Bucs have until July 15 to show a greater commitment and work out a long-term deal with their leading receiver. Bryant is confident the deadline will be met.

"I'm not out here worrying about it," he said. "They're in the process of getting something done, and I believe the Bucs and my agent will come up with something."

If they don't, Bryant may have to play under the one-year, $9.884 million tender he was tagged with.

Bryant said there are worse situations and that he won't alter his approach to football if the worst-case scenario arises.

"I'll always play 100 percent," he said. "I can't do it no other way. I mean, come OTAs, I'll be there, because that's my job, and I need to learn this new offense. But I do want the security."

The Bucs seem committed to giving it to him. General Manager Mark Dominik said Thursday the Bucs tagged Bryant simply to protect themselves from losing what they believe would have been the best free agent on the market.

"Antonio is one of those guys who can almost take over a game, and we want him for us," Dominik said. "We want him scoring touchdowns in Tampa and so our thought was, let's make sure we have him here."

The Bucs feel the same way about a few other players, Dominik said. Fellow receiver Michael Clayton, cornerback Phillip Buchanon and left tackle Donald Penn are some of them.

Dominik said he made it clear in talks with the agents for those players Thursday that the Bucs want them back, and he is hopeful he can get deals done that will keep them from hitting the marketplace.

"We're trying to figure out if we have any common ground to bring them back," Dominik said. "That's really our goal first. How many will actually hit the market, it's still too early to tell."

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