Antonio Bryant News & Rumors: Pro Sports Daily

September 9

ESPN.com

"Wide receiver Antonio Bryant's agent, Lamont Smith, filed a grievance Wednesday against the Cincinnati Bengals for $3.1 million he believes is owed to his client. Smith said $3.1 million comes from the $1.55 million base salary that Bryant had been scheduled to earn this season in Cincinnati and the $1.55 million roster bonus that was due to him. The Bengals have seven days to respond to the grievance and decide whether they want to settle. If they don't, the case would go to the NFL Players Association and NFL management council for a ruling."

Medical mistakes expensive

August 31

Cincinnati Enquirer

columnist Paul Daugherty

"Antonio Bryant wasn't a mistake. A mistake is ordering scrambled eggs when you wanted poached. It's driving to Los Angeles, via I-95. Paying someone $6.95 million for nothing is a colossal blunder of the highest magnitude. Even in the NFL. Bryant cost the corner store that is the Cincinnati Bengals a lot of money. More, his case shone the light, again, on what ails this franchise, even as it heads with optimism into the season. Mike Brown's way with dollars costs him more cash than it saves. Bryant wasn't the first example of that, only the latest. There is also the sad case of Rashad Jeanty. More about that momentarily. The Bengals signed Bryant in March. They guaranteed him $8 million,"

Bengals release receiver Antonio Bryant, owe him $8 million

August 30

Cincinnati Enquirer

"A series of ill-advised decisions didn't give Antonio Bryant the time he needed to come back from a lingering knee injury. The veteran receiver was released by the Bengals Sunday, confirming speculation that the team would part ways with him and ending a short yet costly five-month tenure. It ended up being one of the most expensive decisions in the team's 43 seasons of existence. Without playing a down, Bryant made $6.95 million via a $3.6 million roster bonus, $3.1 million roster bonus which was paid on March 21 and $250,000 for taking part in the team's offseason workout program. He could be making even more. Bryant's agent, Lamont Smith, said that the team did not approach him about an"

WR Bryant is holding on to hope

August 27

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Antonio Bryant knows that the final decision on whether he plays a down for the Bengals is not up to him. Although speculation swirls about the team possibly releasing the eighth-year NFL wide receiver, one thing Bryant does know is that he is making progress in rehabilitating his surgically repaired left knee. "I've been on the field doing a couple things here and there," said Bryant, who was signed to a four-year, $28 million contract by the Bengals in March. "It's just a matter of timing. We're getting there. We're getting close." Reports that the Bengals would reach in injury settlement with Bryant picked up some steam Thursday, when Newsday reported the team is set to release him."

Antonio Bryant sees progress but misses practice

August 3

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Antonio Bryant has missed seven straight practices, but he is gaining confidence that the recovery of his left knee is on track. "The best thing I can say is there's a lot of progress, a lot of things are on the up and up," Bryant said. "There's no decline in what I'm doing. I feel very encouraged by that. I've been able to do some things with my leg that I haven't done ever since I've been rehabbing it. I feel good about that." After injuring his left knee twice with the Buccaneers last year, Bryant had a meniscus tear and had it scoped only to suffer a bone bruise afterward. Bryant admitted that he came back too quickly but that the recovery should be better this time. It doesn't come"

Bryant surrenders No. 81 to Owens

July 30

Cincinnati Enquirer

"No. 81 was out on the field for the first Bengals Thursday morning practice at Georgetown College, and for the most part didn't look as dire as some might have suspected. At least for one session, No. 81 was Antonio Bryant. Bryant said that he has agreed to give Terrell Owens the number in return for a donation to one of his youth programs in Miami. Owens arrived from Los Angeles Thursday afternoon and was on the field for the evening session. "I talked to him. To be honest with you I'm a realist. Like I told him, I said I was not going to make no spectacle out of it," said Bryant of the number switch. "You've got a bigger legacy with the number than I do. I've changed my number several"

Antonio Bryant feels he's the right fit for the Cincinnati Bengals

March 19

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Less than a week after signing a four-year, $28 million contract with the Bengals, Antonio Bryant was at Paul Brown Stadium Thursday to prepare for offseason conditioning, which begins on March 29. The wide receiver touched on many of the same topics he did after his signing last week. "This organization did a great job of building and stacking a foundation, and every year they tried to find a piece that was weak and repair it," Bryant said. "Everywhere I've been it's either the whole team was cleaned out and we were brought in, or we got cleaned out while I was there." Cincinnati is Bryant's fifth team after stops in Dallas, Cleveland, San Francisco and Tampa Bay. He has played for eight"

Antonio Bryant's a nice catch for Bengals

March 11

Cincinnati Enquirer

"It took six days, but the Bengals finally landed a free agent they expect will become Chad Ochocinco's running mate at wide receiver. Antonio Bryant, who agreed to a four-year, $28 million deal with the Bengals on Wednesday, wasn't their first choice - that would be Kevin Walter, who re-signed with the Houston Texans on Friday. But considering the alternatives, Bryant is the right choice for the Bengals now. Terrell Owens would have provided off-field excitement and in pairing with Ochocinco would have been a marketing department's dream. But there's doubt about how many big games he has left in himat 37 years old. Brandon Marshall is a tremendous talent but is not worth the risk despite"

Wide receiver Antonio Bryant signs with Cincinnati Bengals

March 11

Cincinnati Enquirer

"For the second straight year, the Bengals have agreed to a deal with what they hope will be their No. 2 receiver on the sixth day of free agency. And the team hopes Antonio Bryant turns out to be better than Laveranues Coles. After leaving Cincinnati without a deal Tuesday, Bryant agreed to a four-year deal worth $28 million. The total is the same as the deal for Coles. The agreement was reached after Terrell Owens concluded his visit. The Bengals are expected to formally announce the signing today. "We were talking prior to him coming (to Cincinnati for a visit) and had made substantial progress," said Lamont Smith, Bryant's agent. "After he left, that gave both sides sufficient"

Wide receiver Antonio Bryant signs with Cincinnati Bengals

March 10

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Antonio Bryant has agreed to a four-year deal with the Bengals worth $28 million. With incentives the deal could go to $29 million. The paperwork for the deal is still being completed. The team might not announce the deal until later today or tomorrow since coach Marvin Lewis has left for the NFL Competition Committee meetings. The eight-year veteran was considered to be the top unrestricted free agent wideout. Last year with Tampa Bay, he was hampered due to two knee injuries that happened during training camp. He played 13 games and had 39 receptions for 600 yards, an average of 15.4 yards per catch, with four touchdowns. In 2008, he enjoyed a career year with 83 receptions for 1,248"

Bucs to part ways with receiver Antonio Bryant

February 26

Tampa Tribune

"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"

Tampa Bay announces they won't bring back the wide receiver

February 26

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

"We can all stop speculating as to whether or not Antonio Bryant will be back with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, we can all start speculating as to where the veteran wideout will be playing his football in 2010. Antonio Bryant's career in Tampa Bay is over, according to Rick Stroud of the St. Petersburg Times. Head coach Raheem Morris made the announcement today to reporters. "Antonio missed a significant amount of time last year," said Morris. "And I'm not going to blame Antonio, but really, right now we're going in a young direction. We're going to choose to move on." The eight-year veteran started just 11 games in 2009 as he battled a knee injury for the majority of the season. In"

Antonio Bryant's career in Tampa Bay is over

February 25

St. Petersburg Times

"The Bucs want to surround quarterback Josh Freeman with play-makers but they won't include his best and most experienced receiver. Coach Raheem Morris said Thursday that Antonio Bryant's career in Tampa Bay is over. "Antonio missed a significant amount of time last year,'' Morris said. "And I'm not going to blame Antonio, but really, right now we're going in a young direction. We're going to choose to move on.'' Bryant, 28, the Bucs' franchise player in 2009, will become an unrestricted free agent March 5. He struggled to recover from arthroscopic knee surgery that forced him to miss the preseason and caught just 39 passes for 600 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games. That's significantly"

The situation surrounding WR Antonio Bryant

February 20

Miami Herald

"The story dates back to 2004. During a heated exchange in a Dallas Cowboys practice, tempers flare and WR Antonio Bryant flings a towel at coach Bill Parcells' face. Days later the player is traded to the Cleveland Browns. That was over five years ago and there are reports Bryant and Parcells have patched things up. There are whispers the two exchange text messages. And so, naturally, there are questions whether the Dolphins might consider Bryant as a free agent addition once free agency begins March 5. I don't know if the Dolphins will chase Bryant or not. But my gut tells me no. But, but, but, but, Mando, Bryant is only 28 years old. And he's from Miami, having attended Northwestern"

Five teams could be interested in the big-play receiver Bryant

February 12

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

"Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Bryant had a career year in 2008, hauling in 83 passes for 1,248 yards and scoring seven touchdowns. That stat line earned him $9.88 million in 2009 as the Buccaneers placed the franchise tag on Bryant last offseason. But this offseason looks to be a far different story. Tampa Bay won't be placing the franchise tag on Bryant again this season, according to Rick Stroud of the St. Petersburg times. The main reason? The price is way too high for a soon-to-be 29-year-old wideout who spent the better portion of the 2009 season battling a knee injury. And even if the Bucs were to make an offer, who's to say Bryant would want to stay in Tampa? Speaking"

As disappointing season ends, Antonio Bryant hopes to stay with Tampa Bay Bucs

January 1

St. Petersburg Times

"It wasn't long ago that receiver Antonio Bryant was the Buccaneers' most feared offensive player. In 2008 he caught practically every pass, racked up yards after his catches and was the focal point of each offensive game plan. This was to be the season Bryant made 2008 seem routine. Yet days before the final game of a lost season, Bryant sits with less than half of the receptions and yards he had one year ago, the result of a gimpy knee and a sometimes directionless offense. What's more, Bryant faces free agency in the offseason with nary a clue whether the Bucs intend to re-sign him after designating him their franchise player for 2009. "Nothing is guaranteed," he said. "I pray next year"

Bucs WR Bryant returns to lineup today against Saints

November 22

Tampa Tribune

"Wide receiver Antonio Bryant will start for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers today after missing the past two games with recurring knee pain. The defense, however, will be without the services of cornerback Elbert Mack against the New Orleans Saints. Mack, who plays against three-receiver formations, has a sore ankle and will yield his nickel corner spot to Torrie Cox. The Saints will be without versatile running back Reggie Bush and defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis, neither of whom made the trip because of knee injuries. Pierre Thomas starts at running back and Anthony Hargrove at tackle."

Bryant expected to return for Bucs

November 18

NFL.com

"Tampa Bay wide receiver Antonio Bryant is expected to play Sunday against New Orleans, according to a league source. It will mark the first time Bryant will have seen action since rookie Josh Freeman took over as the starting quarterback. Bryant has missed the past two games with a knee injury while Freeman led the Bucs to their first victory of the season over Green Bay and a two-point loss to Miami last week."

Bryant, Adams and Ward again miss practice for Bucs

October 1

Tampa Tribune

"Defensive end Gaines Adams, running back Derrick Ward, wide receiver Antonio Bryant and quarterback Byron Leftwich didn't practice for Tampa Bay on Thursday as the 0-3 Buccaneers prepare for Sunday's game against the struggling Redskins. Bryant, troubled by a bone bruise in his left knee, had limited participation Wednesday. Adams (groin), Ward (knee) and Leftwich, nursing a hip injury, each did not participate for a second consecutive day."

Cadillac is sore, but Bucs receivers are bigger concern

September 24

Tampa Tribune

"Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Cadillac Williams did not participate in Thursday's practice because of soreness in his knee. Williams' current injury is not related to his two previous season-ending knee injuries, according to Coach Raheem Morris, who expects Williams to start against the New York Giants on Sunday. "(He's) sore after the turf game (in Buffalo) with the knee," Morris said. "(It's) nothing to do with the surgery, nothing like that, just the first time on the turf. (He's) a little sore, but expected to play." Williams, Tampa Bay's fifth-year running back, has 162 total yards during an 0-2 start, becoming the first player in league history to overcome torn patellar tendons"

Bucs' Antonio Bryant 'doubtful' for Buffalo game

September 18

Tampa Tribune

"Antonio Bryant left the season-opener against Dallas early because of knee fatigue. Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Antonio Bryant is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game at Buffalo after missing consecutive days of practice. Bryant is recovering from preseason knee surgery, but took a step backward in his recovery. "Right now, he's doubtful for this game," Coach Raheem Morris said today. "He could possibly show up and be a force, like [No.] 89 would do. I just don't like talking about injuries in general, because it's a gray matter. "If he's not there, we've got to deal. We've got figure out how to win without him. If he is there, we'll be happy and excited and let him play." When a player"

Bryant's status is in question

September 18

Tampa Tribune

"It appears that Bucs WR Antonio Bryant has taken a step back in his recovery from preseason knee surgery. Bryant did not participate in the team's workout at One Buc Place on Thursday, and his chances of playing Sunday at Buffalo are in question. "I'm not in the business of anticipation," Coach Raheem Morris said when asked if Bryant would be ready for Sunday's game. "I'm in the business of guys showing up for work and playing." Bryant had arthroscopic surgery in early August to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee and he left the season-opening game against Dallas early because of knee fatigue. Bryant said after that game that he expected to play at Buffalo. "It's not an injury,""

Buccaneers receiver Antonio Bryant misses practice, might sit out Sunday's game

September 18

St. Petersburg Times

"WR Antonio Bryant missed practice Thursday and is in jeopardy of missing Sunday's game at Buffalo. Bryant, who had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in August and returned to practice about three weeks later, was ineffective late in Sunday's opener against the Cowboys because of discomfort in the knee. Now the pain hasn't subsided. Swelling also is an issue and likely will continue to be. Coach Raheem Morris declined to describe what Bryant is experiencing as a setback. "It's not an injury," he said. "He's just hurt right now. "Obviously, we want Antonio to play for us. If he's not there, the next man has to step up. That's what happens on every team. Everybody is losing starters every"

Bucs WR Bryant has setback in recovery from knee surgery

September 17

Tampa Tribune

"It appears Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Antonio Bryant has taken a step back in his recovery from preseason knee surgery. Bryant did not participate in the team's workout at One Buc Place on Thursday and his chances of playing Sunday at Buffalo are now in question. "I'm not in the business of anticipation,'' Coach Raheem Morris said when asked if Bryant would be ready for Sunday's game. "I'm in the business of guys showing up for work and playing.'' Bryant had arthroscopic surgery in early August to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee and left the season-opening game against Dallas early because of knee fatigue. Bryant said after that game he expected to play at Buffalo. "It's not an"

After missing preseason, Bucs WR Bryant ready for opener

September 8

Tampa Tribune

"Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Bryant has bounced back from something much worse than the knee injury that forced him to miss the preseason. "Coming off the couch last year, that was a big bounce back,'' said Bryant, referring to his return from exile a year ago. And what a return it was. After missing all of the 2007 season, Bryant bounced back to lead the Bucs with 83 catches, 1,248 yards and seven touchdowns. The Bucs, who placed their franchise tag on Bryant during the offseason, are hoping for a similar performance this year. After arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee, Bryant is confident he'll be able to do his part. Though he is not sure what"

Buccaneers receiver Bryant to miss three weeks

August 11

St. Petersburg Times

"Wide receiver Antonio Bryant was unstoppable at times last year. But shutting him down in the preseason took only a directive from his coach. Bryant will miss three weeks with a torn meniscus in his left knee. Coach Raheem Morris said Bryant will not play in the preseason as a precaution but will be ready for the season opener Sept. 13 against Dallas. "We're going to go ahead and work on that knee," Morris said. "We're going to go ahead and scope it, clean that thing out, get him ready for the season. … He was ready to go the other day, ran out there and it swelled up a little on him again. It's just not worth it. Let's get him ready for Dallas. Let's sit him down for three weeks. "He"

Bucs' Bryant ready to lead

May 14

Tampa Tribune

"Raheem Morris is searching for a few new chiefs, and Antonio Bryant says he is eager to heed the call. A year ago, Bryant was hardly deemed a potential locker room leader. He had been forced to sit out the 2007 season because 32 NFL teams simply weren't interested. In previous stints with the Cowboys, Browns and 49ers, Bryant was shackled with a reputation as a troublemaker, a disruptive teammate who bristled at authority. "A.B., sneakily, to his credit, is a guy who just wants to win," Morris said after Wednesday's voluntary practice session. "He has a perception of being selfish, and he's far from that. He's quite a story - from the couch to being a franchise player. I don't know many"

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Bryant, tired of letdowns, hopes strong 2009 erases bitterness of 2008

May 14

St. Petersburg Times

"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,"