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Bengals coaches: Bryant top receiving prospect, clutch playmaker
Bengals coaches are singing the praises of their newest wide receiver, Antonio Bryant.
The team made the signing official today.
Bryant, an eighth-year NFL player who spent the last two seasons with Tampa Bay, was designated for 2009 as Tampa Bay’s franchise player, following an outstanding 2008 season. He became an unrestricted free agent for 2010 when his latest Bucs contract expired, according to a press release from the Bengals.
Though he turned 29 years old only this week, Bryant (6-1, 205; University of Pittsburgh) has 106 games NFL experience, with 82 starts. He has 372 career receptions for 5,685 yards, a 15.3-yard average, and he has scored 30 touchdowns.
He entered the NFL in 2002 as a second-round draft choice of Dallas, and he played for the Cowboys, Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers before joining Tampa Bay in 2008.
“We believe Antonio was the top receiving prospect among this year’s unrestricted free agents, and we are excited to have him with us,” said Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis. “We accomplished our first goal last year, winning the division championship, but that was not enough, and we are moving forward to get better offensively, particularly in the passing game.
“As I’ve said, we need to keep putting key pieces around our very fine quarterback (Carson Palmer) to utilize his skills as much as we can.”
Bryant was a solid performer last season for a Tampa Bay club that struggled to a 3-13 record with a 28th-ranked offense. He played 13 games with 11 starts and caught 39 passes for 600 yards (15.4) and four touchdowns. In 2008, with a Bucs team that was a defending division champion, he posted career highs of 83 receptions, 1248 yards and seven TDs.
“Antonio plays wide receiver like a tailback,” said Palmer, Cincinnati’s eighth-year QB. “By that I mean he is fast, physical and aggressive, and in the AFC North, you want guys with that kind of toughness. He can do a lot for the Bengals, and I think the Bengals can do a lot for him.”
In his rookie season with Dallas, Bryant joined Hall of Famer Michael Irvin as only the second Cowboys rookie to open a season in a starting WR role. He led all rookies for the season in receiving yards (733). He led Cleveland in 2005 in receptions (69) and receiving yards (1009), and in 2007 with San Francisco, he became the first WR in 49ers history to record 100-yard receiving totals in each of his first two games with the team.
“Antonio has impressed me as a clutch playmaker, a tough guy who really just loves to play the game,” said Bengals offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski. “He’s got a passion that’s going to make us better.”
BENGALS SIGN ANOTHER WR
The Bengals today signed free agent wide receiver Chris Davis, a third-year NFL player from Florida State, according to a press release from the team.
Davis (5-10, 181) was a fourth-round Tennessee draft choice in 2007, and in two seasons (2007-08) with the Titans, he played in 17 games plus two postseason games as a receiver and kick returner. He averaged 9.1 yards on 33 punt returns, 26.0 yards on six kickoff returns and had seven receptions for 69 yards. He also had two special teams fumble recoveries.
Davis was waived by Tennessee, with an injury settlement, on Aug. 28 of last year, and he was not with an NFL team during the 2009 regular season.
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Comments
By Joe
March 12, 2010 11:44 AM | Link to this
Did anyone really think that locker-room dividers like Marshall or Owens were a good idea? Bryant is an experienced professional and will be a nice addition. Matt Jones has something to prove and will have a BIG season. A Solid O-line, good ground game and a very talented receiving corp. One would think that Palmer shouldn’t have any excuses this year.
By Derrick V. Roberts Sr
March 12, 2010 11:54 AM | Link to this
I think we should focus on the play selections now and with these wide outs we should be able to spread the field and be more effective on offense.
By Dude
March 12, 2010 1:00 PM | Link to this
Wonder if he’ll cuss out the coaches & throw a towel in the face of the head coach like he did in Dallas. Wonder why he’s been with so many teams in a short period? Troublemaker…perfect fit for the Bengals.
By Zabka
March 12, 2010 1:31 PM | Link to this
The bungles have been, and will always be a joke.
By dale1
March 12, 2010 2:50 PM | Link to this
Dude - most jocks are idiots so you need to lower your expectations a little. Yelling at a coach is not against the law. The Bengals may be a joke but they did better than all the other team in the AFC north last year. The past means nothing unless you like to dwell in the past. Remember the Browns used to be a very good team but times change they are now the worse team in football. This year could be a different story.
By hank
March 12, 2010 5:26 PM | Link to this
The bengals should have picked up the best tight end out their,thats whats hurting the offense carson needs a target he can count own a TIGHT END.THE COLTS,RAVENS,STEELERS HAVE TIGHTENDS.
By HANKY
March 12, 2010 5:30 PM | Link to this
THE BENGALS NEED A TIGHT END,THE COLTS,RAVENS,STEELERS,SAINTS,ALL HAVE GOOD TIGHT ENDS TEAMS THAT WIN SUPERBOWLS HAVE ALWAYS HAD GOOD TIGHT END.
By fish
March 12, 2010 11:23 PM | Link to this
Hank, Matt Jones is gonna play tight end….he is a field stretching wide receiver that will make a great tight end. As for all you Bengal bashers keep your comments to yourself and if you are browns fans you really have no room to say anything. Cleveland is the mistake by the lake, the best thing ever come out of cleveland is an empty bus.
By stevo
March 15, 2010 10:41 PM | Link to this
Hey Fish, Cleveland does have the best bands around come there though. The best thing about Cleveland. You can always catch a good show.(Besides Browns and Indians,)
By stevo
March 15, 2010 10:43 PM | Link to this
Hey Fish, Cleveland does have the best bands around come there though. The best thing about Cleveland. You can always catch a good show.(Besides Browns and Indians,)