Bryant Signs Franchise Tender

Tampa Bay wide receiver Antonio Bryant signed his franchise tender from the Bucs on Thursday (Cliff Welch)

Tampa Bay wide receiver Antonio Bryant signed his franchise tender from the Bucs on Thursday (Cliff Welch)

Tampa Bay wide receiver Antonio Bryant signed his franchise tender from the Buccaneers on Thursday, guaranteeing him a $9.884 million base salary in 2009. Bryant, 27, led Tampa Bay in receptions in his Bucs debut last season. In other news, former Bucs LB Derrick Brooks will hold a press conference at One Buc Place on Friday.



 
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers managed to make a splash signing before the free agent signing period was even scheduled to begin at midnight on Friday.

Bucs wide receiver Antonio Bryant opted to sign his one-year franchise tender from the Bucs Thursday, guaranteeing him an increase in base salary from $605,000 in 2008 to $9.884 million in 2009.

Bryant was franchised by Tampa Bay on Feb. 18. He was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent, but the Bucs prevented that from happening by using the franchise tag on Bryant, something that the team had not done since 1999 when it franchised defensive end Chidi Ahanotu.

Bryant, 27, led Tampa Bay and established some career highs in 2008 with 83 catches for 1,248 yards and seven touchdowns in his Bucs debut.

Even after franchising Bryant and re-signing quarterback Luke McCown and defensive tackle Ryan Sims, the Bucs head into free agency tomorrow morning with a league-high $65 million in salary cap room.

In other news, former Bucs linebacker Derrick Brooks, who was released with four other players on Wednesday, will hold a press conference at One Buc Place on Friday morning.
 

Comments

HoustonBucsFan

good

8:29pm, February 26, 2009

ALong13

Glad he signed it without much fuss...Now lets sign us some big FA and get him, Penn, Ruud, and Joesph signed long-term

8:42pm, February 26, 2009

JDouble

Good stuff. I think this was the perfect situation to use the tag. Let him prove he is for real this year and if he produces like last year....sign em to a real contract for 4-5 years.

So friggin excited about midnight! Hope we make some real upgrades.

8:44pm, February 26, 2009

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