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Bryant Apologizes To Nugent

Posted Sep 4, 2009 by Roy Cummings

Updated Sep 4, 2009 at 05:04 PM

By ROY CUMMINGS
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TAMPA – One day after the battle for the Bucs kicker’s job spilled over onto the public airwaves, Matt Bryant apologized to Mike Nugent for comments he made during a radio interview Thursday.

“I talked with Nugent this morning [and] apologized for some of the comments and tried to relay [that they] came from an offseason of frustration,’’ Bryant told The Tribune in a text message.

Bryant’s latest comments came as he continued to ponder whether to try to kick in the Bucs exhibition finale against the Houston Texans tonight at Raymond James Stadium.

Bryant has been hampered all preseason by a sore right hamstring, and he was told on Monday by Bucs coach Raheem Morris and general manager Mark Dominik that he needed to kick in the finale to have any chance of saving his job.

Bryant refused to say whether he intended to kick or not and would not confirm a report that suggested he was told in a meeting Friday with Morris and Dominik that he could not kick because he was injured.

Bryant was asked during an interview on Thursday with WSUN-FM (97X) about his plans for Friday and whether he was getting along with Nugent, who was brought in to challenge for the kicker’s job during the offseason.

We pretty much go about our business,’’ Bryant said in the interview. “It’s not like we’re shutting the door on somebody’s foot. But the other day, it dawned on me. He made some comment awhile back when he was asked why he would sign here, and he said he thought this was the best opportunity for him.

“Did (Morris and Dominik) tell him something to make him think this was the best opportunity? Or did he look at a number of teams and single me out? If he singled me out, then he’s out of his damn mind. If I would have been 100 percent healthy, like we do back home, you take somebody out behind the woodshed and kick their butt. But that hasn’t been the case, so you go on with your business.”

When asked who might win the kicker’s job Bryant said, “It’s not necessarily going to be Nugent. You’ve seen the preseason? Even though that could be your next $2.5 million kicker.’’

Nugent has made all of his point after attempts but he has missed three of seven field goal tries, with the misses coming from 50, 46 and 52 yards.