"You would be hard-pressed to find a Bucs player more stung by the team's late-season collapse in 2008 than receiver Antonio Bryant.

Even the four-plus months that have passed since Tampa Bay's elimination from postseason contention haven't eased his pain.

Only one thing will. It's only May, but Bryant already has an eye on January.

"I told ya'll a long time and I'm going to keep saying, I'm a bitter loser," Bryant said. "I'm going to put out, and I want my teammates to feel the same way. … I've had that (taste) a lot of times in this league. I've only been to the playoffs once. Just one game. My mouth is real bitter. It's all about getting in those playoffs. If you get in those playoffs, it's anybody's game."

Squandering multiple chances to squeeze into the postseason only made the frustration grow. The Bucs lost their final four games and were eliminated just weeks after holding a lead in the NFC South.

"Arizona (lost four of five) and they snapped out of it," Bryant said of the NFC champion. "We couldn't do the same. We had so many opportunities. … We still couldn't snap out of it. I hope everybody thinks about that, and it's a little motivation going into the season."

As for Bryant's personal performance in 2009, what should we expect from him after his strong bounce-back campaign last fall? Nothing less, he said.

"I've got a lot to prove," said Bryant, 28. "Last year was for the haters. This year is for the doubters.""