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Bucs' Bryant blames plane ride for sore knee

Staff file photo by CLIFF McBRIDE

Antonio Bryant is playing on a one-year, $9.8 million contract as the Bucs' franchise player.

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By ROY CUMMINGS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 6, 2009

TAMPA - Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie quarterback Josh Freeman may not have wide receiver Antonio Bryant to throw to on Sunday, and it's all because of that long plane ride back from London last week.

That, at least, is where Bryant is placing the blame for the pain in his surgically repaired left knee, which has him listed as questionable for this week's game against Green Bay at Raymond James Stadium.

"That plane ride didn't help me,'' Bryant said. "I was good for like two weeks before that. Then I got on that plane ride coming back, and I got up to go to the bathroom and I was like, 'Oh!' ''

Bryant said he fell asleep during the place ride back from London, which resulted in a shrinking of his quad muscle. That and the fact he was "all crunched up'' during the flight combined to create renewed pain his knee, he said.

Bryant, who is under a one-year contract worth $9.8 million as the team's franchise player, had preseason surgery to repair a torn meniscus. He left the season-opening game early because of knee fatigue and did not play the next week against Buffalo.

After leading the Bucs with 83 catches for 1,248 yards and seven touchdowns last season, Bryant has 16 catches for 229 yards and two TDs this year.

Bryant's comments came after he missed a second straight day of practice Friday. He said he's unsure whether he'll play Sunday, adding that he is concerned about the longterm implications.

"I don't have no contract,'' Bryant said of his status beyond this season. "It don't do me no good to play for a game or two and then be right back and have to sit down again.

"[But] if I feel good then I'm going to run out there and be like, 'Hey let's go.' It's all about going to the stadium and coach will let me know. If he lets the dogs out I'm good, if not, hey, it's about longevity.''

In addition to Bryant, the other Bucs listed on the team's injury report are WR Michael Clayton (wrist, questionable), CB Elbert Mack (ankle, questionable), CB Aqib Talib (ankle, probable) and LG Jeremy Zuttah (shoulder, probable).

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