Bucs to part ways with receiver Antonio Bryant

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were a young football team last year. They're going to be even younger this year, especially at wide receiver, where veteran Antonio Bryant will not be a part of the 2010 squad.

Though they plan to make a point of improving the talent around quarterback Josh Freeman, the Bucs have decided to part ways with the playmaker they tagged as their franchise player just a year ago this week.

"Antonio missed a lot of time last year, and I'm not trying to blame Antonio but really, right now, we're going in a young direction," Bucs coach Raheem Morris said Thursday during a break at the NFL Scouting Combine.

"So we're going to choose to move on there. Antonio is going to test the free-agent market, and it's going to be our decision to move on and go in another direction."

Bryant, 29, could not be reached for comment. His agent, Lamont Smith, said he was surprised by the news, which came from a reporter just one day before he was scheduled to meet with the Bucs to discuss Bryant's future.

"I'd say this comes as a recent development to us," said Smith, who also represents Bucs receiver Maurice Stovall, also slated to hit free agency.

"I think Antonio would have liked to have returned. But at the same time, free agency is a hard-fought opportunity that only comes around once or twice, so I'm sure he's looking forward to what eventually happens there."

Bryant came to the Bucs two years ago following a year-long exile from the league, and he steadily established himself as their best offensive threat, catching 83 passes for 1,248 yards and seven touchdowns.

After the Bucs made Bryant their franchise player, he spent the better part of 2009 struggling with knee problems, but he was second on the team in catches (39 in 13 games).

On several occasions during and after the season, Bryant expressed his desire to return to the Bucs. After making $9.8 million last year, he likely will be the top wideout in free agency.

Morris hopes Bryant finds success elsewhere, adding that he was proud of what Bryant did for the Bucs. He made it clear, though, the team is looking for receivers Freeman can grow with.

"You look at Marques Colston and Drew Brees; at Michael Irvin and Troy Aikman; at Reggie Wayne, Marvin Harrison and Peyton (Manning); those guys grew together," Morris said. "So it's going to be Josh Freeman and whoever - Sammie Stroughter. Here we go. Let's grow."

One receiver the Bucs will let Freeman grow with is Michael Clayton. Morris is excited to see what new receivers coach Eric Yarber can do for Clayton's productivity.

The Bucs may dabble in free agency, Morris said, but he and General Manager Mark Dominik have a plan for building the Bucs mostly through the draft.

"We're setting ourselves up for long-term winning, and the only way you do that is if you do it through the draft and get guys that you drafted to become your Pro Bowlers," Morris said.