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TAMPA – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have apparently given receiver Antonio Bryant an offer he plans to refuse, according to his agent.
Bryant sought a long-term deal with the Bucs, but Tampa Bay put a franchise tag on him Wednesday, guaranteeing him a salary of $9.88 million in 2009. Bryant’s agent, Lamont Smith, said the receiver is unhappy about not having more security.
As a result, Smith said, they do not want to sign the offer. Instead, they are considering several options, which include testing the free-agent market or holding out.
“The other option is to play one year for the roughly $10 million and be in the same position next year,” Smith said. “If that were to occur, that would not bode well long-term for the Bucs.”
Tampa Bay has until July 15 to negotiate a long-term contract with Bryant, and considering how far apart both sides are, it might take that long.
Buccaneers general manager Mark Dominik and coach Raheem Morris were unavailable for comment.
Bryant’s initial reaction to the franchise tag was not adverse. He told the Tampa Tribune and TBO.com on Wednesday night he was happy to be returning to the Bucs: “The plan was to be a Buccaneer anway.” At that point, he had not spoken to his agent.
Bryant had 83 receptions for 1,248 yards and seven touchdowns last season, establishing himself as one of the NFL’s premier receivers after sitting out one year because of a league suspension. Smith said Bryant earned $760,000 last season and is seeking a five- or six-year deal.
“He proved he deserves security,” Smith said. “He puts his body on the line. He thinks he deserves the security and not to play year-to-year like he did last year. That is disappointing.”
Smith would not say how much money Bryant was seeking, but compared his client’s productivity to Minnesota’s Bernard Berrian and Dallas’ Roy Williams. Berrian signed a six-year, $42 million contract, including $16 million in guaranteed money, prior to last season, while Williams signed a five-year, $45 million extension last season.
Berrian had 48 receptions for 964 yards and seven touchdowns in 2008 and Williams had 19 receptions for 198 yards and one touchdown before sustaining a forearm injury and being placed on injured reserve.
Once a player is tagged by a team, he can continue negotiating a long-term contract or receive offers from other teams. The Bucs can match any offer or receive two first-round draft picks from the other team as compensation.
“From our perspective, it [franchise tag] confirms what his market value is on a per-year basis,” Smith said. “We gave them [Tampa Bay] a proposal that would have signed him for multiple years at substantially less, on average, than they will pay for one year.
“Nothing has changed for us. They can put the franchise tag on him, but we don’t have to sign it. They’re the ones who have to get ready to play. We’re still interested in a long-term deal. If that can be worked out, it’s great, but if not, we’re going to go into this market and see what happens.”
Posted by Java, Tampa on 02/23 at 11:24 AM
Lamont Smith is a notorious douche bag. I hope AB is smart enough to realize that Smith is only looking for his own best interest and not the player’s.
Posted by ROLAND, PC on 02/23 at 12:59 AM
And tatmanfish,Stevens had quite a few DUIs. But working in a Trauma ER a lot teaches u that anyone who thinks that is bad and still talks on a cell while driving is a hypocrite… or even worse, rides on a Motorcycle or ATV… And don’t forget the parents who let their kid Cheerlead or do Gymnastics. Child abuse at it’s legal finest.
Posted by ROLAND, PC on 02/23 at 12:51 AM
tatmanfish,I’m a Stevens fan and felt he was under played. I wouldn’t let him babysit my daughter if there was a liqueur cabinet near by, but he was under utilized.
As for Bryant, I’m less concerned with him fighting/ disrespecting authority then I am with his complete lack of effort after his last big signing bonus. He won the loto once and basically quit his job… What makes any of u sure he probably wont do it again?
Posted by tatmanfish, tampa on 02/22 at 06:57 AM
dirtbag te? strong words for a man that was never convicted of a crime that allegedly happened 7 years ago. he also got suspended twice-once when it happened, and once 6 years later because a paper in seatle decided to bring back up the story. the woman that claimed stevens tried to rape her dropped all charges and nothing ever happened. as far as police or public record he has done nothing wrong. just like the bryant “history.” he got into it with a couple coaches-one being parcels(bad idea). the only thing hes been in trouble for was for testing positive for steroids in SF. some history, in a league with t.o.,ocho cinco, and buress. some peoples horses must ride offly high.
Posted by flajoe491, port charlotte on 02/20 at 01:27 PM
Give him three years he is the best reciever on the roster . If he continues to play like he did last year the bucs can alway renegotiate the new contract before its up .Keep the guy happy to be here.Give him Claytons money get rid of stone hands.
Posted by Mitch R, NYC on 02/20 at 09:53 AM
Roland, Bryant will get what the market will bear and based on last years FA WR contracts, the figures I quoted are accurate. AB had a much better year than any FA WR and he got his act together. GMs and teams have short memories when it comes to this stuff and I’m sure there is one GM out there that would pay $$$ to get AB signed. Just look at TO and Ocho Cinco, they are just as risky, yet they continue to get paid.
Posted by HFXBuc, Halifax on 02/20 at 07:34 AM
I agree with Mitch R, NYC this is complete posturing by the agent. Bryant’s comments haven’t been negative in anyway. It’s why he has an agent. Bryant is crazy talented but has a history that hopefully is just that history. He’s never been a bad guy - see J. Stevens our dirt bag TE - just not committed at times. Get the deal done..give him a big guarantee and lots of bonus money and lets go.
I’m excited about our offence this year - I’ve never said that before - with Bryant in it, less so without him.
Posted by Roland, PC on 02/20 at 03:23 AM
And our GM just gauranteed him 10 mil (assuming he doesn’t do anything stupid before he signs it) wich he should have already done if he had a smart agent… Unless his agent is so smart that he planned to act like a fool, pretends to think this is bad for his client and then the day before FA starts, Bryant, in a “act of good faith” signs the deal in hopes of getting the long term deal done shortly there after… In which case with our new rookie GM and no veteran contract negotiators I’d guess we are about to get taken to the cleaners far worse then 3-4 mil more a year then he would have gotten as a FA, guranteed.
Posted by Roland, PC on 02/20 at 03:17 AM
Mitch wrote, “but on the open market he could get $45-$50M with $15-$20M guaranteed”.
No he couldn’t. Maybe u didn’t understand that I think no GM who isn’t a fool would guarantee him that much money.
Posted by Mitch R, NYC on 02/19 at 10:26 PM
Roland, you dont understand what I wrote, re-read my post and get back to me.
Posted by tatmanfish, tampa on 02/19 at 09:24 PM
does anyone pay attention? hes happy making 10 mill, but would be happier making less over a few seasons, instead of just one. the bucs tagged him to prevent him from becoming an unrestricted free agent to where he could sign with any team. this way the bucs are able to match any offer any other team proposes. most guys that this type of tag end up signing a long term contract. most if not all players would prefer a long term deal over a 1 yr. this is the media making a big deal out of nothing. belive it or not but tbo writers arent the best writers. sometimes you have to go somewhere else to get the whole story. tbo makes more drama than what exists.
Posted by Roland, PC on 02/19 at 09:19 PM
If Bryant was a FA he would be happy to get 10 mil guaranteed with his checkered past. He would get a large contract but NOBODY would be dumb enough to guarantee a large portion of his contract when he took the last large signing bonus and got tossed from the league so fast… So Mitch R, NYC, IMO no team would give up more then 10 mil guaranteed to sign him away from us. It looks as though Bryant’s agent thinks our new GM might be as bad at over valueing his clients worth as you.
Posted by Otis, Virginia on 02/19 at 08:41 PM
Sounds like his agent is the one looking for “security”. Bryant’s comments so far seem to be positive. I think he’ll have another great year and we’ll be wishing he had been signed for what he’ll demand this year as opposed to what it will take next year.
Posted by G. Michael Reynolds, Winter Park, FL on 02/19 at 08:30 PM
Wait…earlier it was reported on one of the other sites that Bryant himself was extremely happy about the franchise tag as it meant he was now being paid top 5 money….so…what’s the truth here?
Posted by BUCfaninva, VA on 02/19 at 08:07 PM
I thought this guy had changed, I agree we need to keep him but not for 10 million a season, come on dude come back to camp work your butt off again and make plays on the field not off it. Big time WR put up numbers year after year. I get the strange feeling this guy will not be the same after the “big contract”. If he doesn’t want to play for the “tag” price… Let that bum go!!! GO BUCS
Posted by Mitch R, NYC on 02/19 at 07:37 PM
Greed ladies and gentlemen, Greed is rearing its ugly head. Bryant came in and played last year for all he could get, roughly $700,000 and now he deserves to be paid substancially more or leave. Getting close to $10M is nothing to sneeze at, but after taxes ~45% and agent fees ~15%, he’s only getting $4M, which is still alot of money, but on the open market he could get $45-$50M with $15-$20M guaranteed. If he gets hurt this year or goofs off, he gets nothing after this year. I can understand the greed, but I don’t condone it. I wonder if this is an agent’s play to get more or if this is what Bryant really wants??? Anwar, do some digging!
Posted by TDarwin315, Clearwater, FL on 02/19 at 06:51 PM
This is what i been saying all along.. 1 good year and hes crying cuz he doesnt have security and $10 million?... give me a friggen break, nearly $10 million for 1 year is great security for someone who has done nothing in the nfl cept have 1 good year, heck let him go and get the 2 draft picks and save the money for free agency… sounds like a deal to me and the chump is already starting the bad chemistry under the new regime
Posted by Bill Parcells, Miami, FL on 02/19 at 06:20 PM
Do not sign this fool to a long term contract. I rather have 81 on my team than this punk. Personally, if he is going to complain about being tagged, let him go or trade him for picks. I have talked to many GMs and he is not on many teams radar. Plus, the 10 million salary for ‘09 is way too much for him..The Bucs’ can use that money to address other areas. The ‘09 season will be a learning curve for the team, so why dish out 10 mil for him..
Posted by :PapaJohn, Tampa on 02/19 at 06:12 PM
He’s not happy earning $9M this coming year? I would be.
Prove yourself one more year with the Bucs and you will have earned security. You only have played 16 friggin games with the team!
BTW, suprised Cummings is slow to get this one out that they re-signed Sims. Hope this doesn’t mean they won’t go afters Haynesworth.
Posted by George L Hicks, Dallas,Texas on 02/19 at 05:09 PM
I just don’t know about this fine wr, He was on his last leg. And he turn out to be super WR in 2008. Why don’t Bryant take this tag on him and show the Bucs that he can do it again. If Peppers doesn’t want to play him, There are plenty of Veterans than can fill Tampa Bay need at Defensive line. GO Bucs
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Posted by Alan Kapell, St Pete, FL on 02/24 at 11:55 AM
Bryant made $ 600,000 in 2008 & will make almost $ 10 million 2009 & he is NOT happy ? About 4 million who lost their jobs recently cannot believe this situation. Bucs should tell his agent ” do not let the door hit you in the backside on the way out”.