PFT INTERVIEW: ANTONIO BRYANT
PFT INTERVIEW: ANTONIO BRYANT
February 18, 2006
by PFT editor Mike Florio
We'll be honest. (There's something new.) We're still not quite sure how best to present these interviews we're now doing. Our initial plan was to record them in a podcast-type format, but more than a few readers have suggested that they prefer to see the interviews in written form, primarily since it makes it far easier to check the thing out while at work.
Still, we're not sure that we like the verbatim "Q&A"-style format, either.
So bear with us, please, as we search for our groove. . . .
Antonio Bryant arguably is the most underrated player hitting the free agent market in 2006. Written off by many two years ago after a well-publicized altercation with Cowboys coach Bill Parcells, Bryant was shipped to Cleveland for Quincy Morgan, and Bryant essentially fell out of sight playing for one of the more talent-challenged franchises in the league.
At a time when Steelers receiver Antwaan Randle El is preparing to become one of the prize jewels of free agency, we were stunned by the comparison between his 2005 receiving stats and Bryant's. In 2005, Randle El snared 35 passes for 558 yards and one touchdown. Bryant, in contrast, caught 69 passes for 1009 yards and four touchdowns.
So with his rookie contract expiring, where does Bryant want to try to continue to put up those kinds of numbers?
"I'm interested in going anywhere that somebody wants me," Bryant told us on Thursday evening.
But that doesn't mean Bryant is ruling out a return to Cleveland. Bryant says that the Browns have expressed an interest in bringing him back, and Bryant is interested in playing with a healthy Braylon Edwards and a healthy Kellen Winslow. Both tore ACLs in 2005.
"Braylon is the type of kid you want to play with," Bryant said. "Kellen Winslow knows what it's about when you step on the field, and he knows what it's about to have team camaraderie."
Besides, Bryant isn't ready to turn his back on the Browns. "I am a loyal person. I'm going to be loyal to what my opportunity was."
It was, in hindsight, a huge opportunity, and it came at a crucial time in his football career.
Bryant made a relatively big splash in 2002 as a rookie second-rounder with the Cowboys. Starting 15 games across from Joey Galloway, Bryant caught 44 passes for 733 yards, and six touchdowns.
But then it happened. Coach Dave Campo got the heave-ho, and owner Jerry Jones lured Bill Parcells to Big D.
"One minute I'm starting as a rookie," Bryant said. "I want to help us get better. I want to be part of something great. The next year, my progress is impeded. It's no one's fault. [Parcells] surrounded himself with guys who were familiar with him."
Specifically, the guy who bumped Bryant to the bench was Terry Glenn, a Parcells first-rounder in 1997, who paired with Joey Galloway as the starters. Soon, Bryant realized that he might not fit in.
His youth and desire to succeed fueled frustrations that eventually boiled over during offseason workouts in June 2004. "I didn't just snap one day," Bryant said. "It was built up. I'm a competitor. It's like taking a greyhound and putting him on a leash and telling him not to chase the rabbit. Why you got me a leash with the gate up?
"I never questioned it, but I felt like the opportunities weren't there," Bryant said.
As to the day on which Bryant's relationship with his former head coach temporarily turned physical, Bryant was candid -- and contrite. "It was a reaction," Bryant said. "[Parcells] tossed the jersey at me. I could have reacted better than I did. I reacted. I picked that jersey up, I was already on fire. I tossed it right back at him."
But Bryant says he's matured as a result of the incident. "I'm not concerned about going off on people. I've been through too much. I know what's down that street, and I'm not going back down it."
Nearly two years later, Bryant has no hard feelings toward Parcells. "I always tell people I can never bad mouth him. I learned so much from being around him. It helped me to be more of a man and to have more character."
Indeed, Bryant spent several more months with the Cowboys before an October 2004 trade sent him to the Browns. "I think it was a good move for me," he said. "Ray Lewis said it best when he was going through his tribulations. Pressure is either going to break you, or you're going to break records. Sometimes things happen good for both parties."
Of course, the Cowboys can't say they got the better of the trade. Quincy Morgan was a so-so performer over the balance of the 2004 season, and he was released by Dallas on September 6, 2005.
Though a return by Bryant to Dallas is unlikely, the four-year pro has his eyes on a few franchises, if a new deal isn't worked out in Cleveland.
In response to reports suggesting that the Steelers will pursue Bryant if current starter Randle El leaves town, Bryant "definitely" would be interested. "I'm no stranger to Pittsburgh," he said, referring to his college career as a go-to receiver for the Pitt Panthers.
How about a team like the Redskins, which plays the Cowboys twice a year?
"I don't take it personal, but that's going to cross my mind. I know what they're working with, and they know what I'm working with. That would be a great challenge."
His ideal team, however, plays in his hometown of Miami.
"That's a dream," he said regarding the possibility of playing for the Dolphins. "More of a fantasy, actually."
He says he was a fan of the Dolphins while growing up in South Florida. "I used to watch the Jets beat our butts every year. And it's crazy for me to come into the NFL and catch passes from a guy like Vinny [Testaverde] after I used to watch him smoke the Dolphins."
Apart from wanting to play for a team that genuinely wants him on it, Bryant has one other factor that's important to him. Winning.
"I want to be on a team that has a great chance to win. I've played four years in this league. I want to win. I want to play [postseason] games. I want to have a lot more success and be part of that camaraderie.
"There's one feat to accomplish every year," he said. "Super Bowl. That's what it's about."
Along the way, Bryant also hopes to perfect his craft of running routes and catching passes. He's motivated by a fear of failure, and he realizes that many players are out of the league in far less than the time he's been earning an NFL paycheck. So he plans to stick around as long as he can.
To get ready for his 2006 season, wherever it may be, Bryant will spend time in Houston, working out with long-time NFL wideout Keenan McCardell. Their regimen includes roller blades and basketball (though not both at the same time). In the past two years, McCardell and Bryant have been joined by guys like veteran running back Antowain Smith and, as Bryant told us, "the young cornerback from Oakland whose name I can't pronounce."
"He's fast," Bryant said of Raiders defensive back Nnamdi Asomugha.
But if you can't pronounce his name, we asked, what do you call him?
"I just say, 'Hey, what's up, man.'"
The offseason efforts with a fast guy like Asomugha apparently worked well for Bryant, given that he's now so fast he nearly ran out of his pants in a game last year. It happened at home against the Bears. Bryant caught a pass, made it into the end zone, hit the ground, and then inadvertently gave the world a quick glimpse at his bare ass.
"I pulled that stunt so I could score some points with the women," Bryant said.
So did it work?
"I don't think it did. My mom said, 'Pull up your pants, boy.'"
Bryant managed to keep his pants up for the rest of the season, as he finished off one of the most unheralded 1,000-yard receiving seasons that we can remember. In 2005, only 18 players had more receiving yardage than Bryant. And with the Colts prepared to slap the franchise tag on Reggie Wayne, Bryant has the most receiving yards of any of the coming free agents.
Still, Bryant knows that some teams might be concerned about pursuing him, given his past. Due to the media attention resulting from the incident with Parcells, Bryant fears that he might be misunderstood. "Nobody ever really sat down and talked to me," Bryant said. "They assume they know me based on one moment of my life. People don't sit down and talk to me."
We sat down and talked to him for a solid 30 minutes. And we think that whoever acquires his services in 2006 will be pleasantly surprised.
February 18, 2006
by PFT editor Mike Florio
We'll be honest. (There's something new.) We're still not quite sure how best to present these interviews we're now doing. Our initial plan was to record them in a podcast-type format, but more than a few readers have suggested that they prefer to see the interviews in written form, primarily since it makes it far easier to check the thing out while at work.
Still, we're not sure that we like the verbatim "Q&A"-style format, either.
So bear with us, please, as we search for our groove. . . .
Antonio Bryant arguably is the most underrated player hitting the free agent market in 2006. Written off by many two years ago after a well-publicized altercation with Cowboys coach Bill Parcells, Bryant was shipped to Cleveland for Quincy Morgan, and Bryant essentially fell out of sight playing for one of the more talent-challenged franchises in the league.
At a time when Steelers receiver Antwaan Randle El is preparing to become one of the prize jewels of free agency, we were stunned by the comparison between his 2005 receiving stats and Bryant's. In 2005, Randle El snared 35 passes for 558 yards and one touchdown. Bryant, in contrast, caught 69 passes for 1009 yards and four touchdowns.
So with his rookie contract expiring, where does Bryant want to try to continue to put up those kinds of numbers?
"I'm interested in going anywhere that somebody wants me," Bryant told us on Thursday evening.
But that doesn't mean Bryant is ruling out a return to Cleveland. Bryant says that the Browns have expressed an interest in bringing him back, and Bryant is interested in playing with a healthy Braylon Edwards and a healthy Kellen Winslow. Both tore ACLs in 2005.
"Braylon is the type of kid you want to play with," Bryant said. "Kellen Winslow knows what it's about when you step on the field, and he knows what it's about to have team camaraderie."
Besides, Bryant isn't ready to turn his back on the Browns. "I am a loyal person. I'm going to be loyal to what my opportunity was."
It was, in hindsight, a huge opportunity, and it came at a crucial time in his football career.
Bryant made a relatively big splash in 2002 as a rookie second-rounder with the Cowboys. Starting 15 games across from Joey Galloway, Bryant caught 44 passes for 733 yards, and six touchdowns.
But then it happened. Coach Dave Campo got the heave-ho, and owner Jerry Jones lured Bill Parcells to Big D.
"One minute I'm starting as a rookie," Bryant said. "I want to help us get better. I want to be part of something great. The next year, my progress is impeded. It's no one's fault. [Parcells] surrounded himself with guys who were familiar with him."
Specifically, the guy who bumped Bryant to the bench was Terry Glenn, a Parcells first-rounder in 1997, who paired with Joey Galloway as the starters. Soon, Bryant realized that he might not fit in.
His youth and desire to succeed fueled frustrations that eventually boiled over during offseason workouts in June 2004. "I didn't just snap one day," Bryant said. "It was built up. I'm a competitor. It's like taking a greyhound and putting him on a leash and telling him not to chase the rabbit. Why you got me a leash with the gate up?
"I never questioned it, but I felt like the opportunities weren't there," Bryant said.
As to the day on which Bryant's relationship with his former head coach temporarily turned physical, Bryant was candid -- and contrite. "It was a reaction," Bryant said. "[Parcells] tossed the jersey at me. I could have reacted better than I did. I reacted. I picked that jersey up, I was already on fire. I tossed it right back at him."
But Bryant says he's matured as a result of the incident. "I'm not concerned about going off on people. I've been through too much. I know what's down that street, and I'm not going back down it."
Nearly two years later, Bryant has no hard feelings toward Parcells. "I always tell people I can never bad mouth him. I learned so much from being around him. It helped me to be more of a man and to have more character."
Indeed, Bryant spent several more months with the Cowboys before an October 2004 trade sent him to the Browns. "I think it was a good move for me," he said. "Ray Lewis said it best when he was going through his tribulations. Pressure is either going to break you, or you're going to break records. Sometimes things happen good for both parties."
Of course, the Cowboys can't say they got the better of the trade. Quincy Morgan was a so-so performer over the balance of the 2004 season, and he was released by Dallas on September 6, 2005.
Though a return by Bryant to Dallas is unlikely, the four-year pro has his eyes on a few franchises, if a new deal isn't worked out in Cleveland.
In response to reports suggesting that the Steelers will pursue Bryant if current starter Randle El leaves town, Bryant "definitely" would be interested. "I'm no stranger to Pittsburgh," he said, referring to his college career as a go-to receiver for the Pitt Panthers.
How about a team like the Redskins, which plays the Cowboys twice a year?
"I don't take it personal, but that's going to cross my mind. I know what they're working with, and they know what I'm working with. That would be a great challenge."
His ideal team, however, plays in his hometown of Miami.
"That's a dream," he said regarding the possibility of playing for the Dolphins. "More of a fantasy, actually."
He says he was a fan of the Dolphins while growing up in South Florida. "I used to watch the Jets beat our butts every year. And it's crazy for me to come into the NFL and catch passes from a guy like Vinny [Testaverde] after I used to watch him smoke the Dolphins."
Apart from wanting to play for a team that genuinely wants him on it, Bryant has one other factor that's important to him. Winning.
"I want to be on a team that has a great chance to win. I've played four years in this league. I want to win. I want to play [postseason] games. I want to have a lot more success and be part of that camaraderie.
"There's one feat to accomplish every year," he said. "Super Bowl. That's what it's about."
Along the way, Bryant also hopes to perfect his craft of running routes and catching passes. He's motivated by a fear of failure, and he realizes that many players are out of the league in far less than the time he's been earning an NFL paycheck. So he plans to stick around as long as he can.
To get ready for his 2006 season, wherever it may be, Bryant will spend time in Houston, working out with long-time NFL wideout Keenan McCardell. Their regimen includes roller blades and basketball (though not both at the same time). In the past two years, McCardell and Bryant have been joined by guys like veteran running back Antowain Smith and, as Bryant told us, "the young cornerback from Oakland whose name I can't pronounce."
"He's fast," Bryant said of Raiders defensive back Nnamdi Asomugha.
But if you can't pronounce his name, we asked, what do you call him?
"I just say, 'Hey, what's up, man.'"
The offseason efforts with a fast guy like Asomugha apparently worked well for Bryant, given that he's now so fast he nearly ran out of his pants in a game last year. It happened at home against the Bears. Bryant caught a pass, made it into the end zone, hit the ground, and then inadvertently gave the world a quick glimpse at his bare ass.
"I pulled that stunt so I could score some points with the women," Bryant said.
So did it work?
"I don't think it did. My mom said, 'Pull up your pants, boy.'"
Bryant managed to keep his pants up for the rest of the season, as he finished off one of the most unheralded 1,000-yard receiving seasons that we can remember. In 2005, only 18 players had more receiving yardage than Bryant. And with the Colts prepared to slap the franchise tag on Reggie Wayne, Bryant has the most receiving yards of any of the coming free agents.
Still, Bryant knows that some teams might be concerned about pursuing him, given his past. Due to the media attention resulting from the incident with Parcells, Bryant fears that he might be misunderstood. "Nobody ever really sat down and talked to me," Bryant said. "They assume they know me based on one moment of my life. People don't sit down and talk to me."
We sat down and talked to him for a solid 30 minutes. And we think that whoever acquires his services in 2006 will be pleasantly surprised.
posted by The Gryphon at 9:34 AM
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