I hope they keep Jermaine Phillips as well, just from a depth perspective. Having both him and Sabby proved to be a great thing this season.

good that were trying to get our players locked up! GET R DONE BRUCE!

I agree on keeping Phillips. Because of his injury history he should be cheap, and in a new blitz-heavy system his experience and discipline is invaluable. Come on Bruce!

no question on Bryant - he is without question the real deal. I've heard some express concern that he might be a typical "contract year" / one-year wonder ala Clayton; but Bryant made some catches this season that I've never seen another player in a Buc uniform make (including Galloway).

His greatest attribute is the catches he make in the clutch as evidenced by his big catch in Kansas City in the 4th quarter and the amazing TD grab against Carolina to bring the Bucs within a score.

He's just now entering his prime - this is a no-brainer. A 4 year 32 million dollar contract are some of the numbers being floated on the web. It's a lot - but he's worth it.

we need to lock him up long term.ASAP

Resign him but it doesn't matter is he has to throw the pill to himself...GET A QB!!!

I met Antonio's uncle on the plane flying back from Pittsburgh. He was flying in to go to the Panthers game. He was sporting a Bryant game jersey and sitting in first class.That tipped me off that he might be a relative. He said Antonio was really happy to be playing for the Bucs and was very proud of him.

Funny how the the responses to the original signing of Antonio were either "ho hum" or "not another thug." I wonder how many of those in the media who were so quick to criticize the move have apologized to Bruce Allen and Bryant himself.

He has proven himself to be the best receiver on the team and I like his quiet swagger.

FIRE GRUDEN

Jermaine Phillips is a must at this point.... without Monte around we will need all the leadership and skill to do something next year

Somebody please tell me why we would make Bryant :a franchise player" and have to pay him 9 million? That would so throw off the present Buc salary positions and cause a big back lash.
Bryant is good, not great. He deserves maybe 2-3 million at most.
As I look around the league and see how teams have dealt with players who leave or get in trouble and find replacements, I am convinced now it's about the scouts. I am not sure if we even have an average scouting group?
I wish the PR would discuss the scouts like they did last year. Who's done a decent job and who hasn't.
PR can you help me here?

I disagree with ya' Horse that Bryant is worth " 2-3 million at most as the market would suggest a receiver with his youth (only 27) and good career numbers would command more money-maybe in the 6 million a year range for 4-5 years would be a lot more in alignment with the market. He was a high second round pick material when drafted but had a rep as having a 'tude and so he's established and isn't a one hit wonder in terms of pure talent and he's proved he's matured and kept his attitude in check with his maturity.

It would be a MAJOR failure not to get this deal done and have to franchise him at 9 million per. I think it's Clayton that deserves a lower dollar amount with a contract that's incentive laden (maybe around 3 million per max with tons of incentives and only for 3 years max with the Bucs having an option on the fourth year to extend him if he continues to keep his weight down and holds on to the ball)

Galloway's contract and injury status should influence the contracts of Bryant and Clayton as he's still the biggest pure playmaker and homerun threat when healthy even at his age and to pay Byrant too much more than Galloway wouldn't be good for morale with Galloway having several productive seasons in Tampa while being paid well below market value for his numbers while with the Bucs.

I'm still also hoping they keep the seam finder of defenses with great hands and ability to find space in Ike Hilliard as well. In a short pass offense his ability to find the alleys and spaces in zone coverage is very valuable and Garcia has a good comfort zone in his ability to break off his routes and get free especially on third down.

Beyond the above mentioned receivers, I'd burn a high draft pick on a WR in the draft as Galloway and Hilliard are obviously getting a bit long in the tooth although barring hamstring injuries Galloway defies time and the normal standards as a WR much in the same way that Darryl Green did in Washington even when he was 40 years old (he reportedly ran a 4.2 barefoot at 40 years old) I love our vets at WR and am hoping that Clayton isn't the one playing for a contract this past season but new blood is needed.

Phillips must be resigned because too much youth at safety is a liability as tackling angles and instincts and recognition are irreplaceable at that position and only come with experience combined with atheleticism and Phillips has both and I thought Barber's play declined especially against taller receivers and this creates a need for more experienced safety support than Sabby can give the Bucs at this point in his career IMO. An experienced safety (maybe a free agent in addition to Phillips who can play both FS and strong) would also give Buchanon the much needed help he needs in coverage and tackling.

I've never been a fan of too much youth and pure athleticism in the defensive backfield while neglecting experience WITH the youthful athleticism. It robs the team of the veteran recognition that's crucial with the support of the corners who could use more support and correct tackling angles and not biting on play action and being out of position and slow to drop back in support are typical of DB's who lack experience.

Hell, with 46 million the Bucs have the money to keep everyone happy and fuse veteran athleticism with our youth in the secondary as well as maintain that same balance at WR AND sign Garcia to a good contract and maybe even Cassel. If the teams stretches out Cassels' huge up front bonus long term his deal shouldn't cost the team too much on a yearly basis and Garcia would be an excellent backup or even start over Cassel if Cassel struggles with the WC offense. You gotta be 2 deep at QB and with 46 million the Bucs should do better than McCown at backup (not enough experience).

Starting Cassel would also give Garcia much needed rest and possibly extend his career and keep his lockerroom fire and competitive warrior mentality.

....but that's just me

I don't think you understand Pewterdude that the Bucs are not, I repeat are not, going to spend even close to that 46 million. It's the economy that will drive the salaries down not up.
Nine million now a days is not going to happen. We are in a new era of financial responsiblity and this includes sports.

Bryant would have even displayed more dominance this season if we had a QB with more accurate passing skills, recognition, and pocket savy than Garcia. Just think would Bryant's number would have looked like this year if it hadn't been that Garcia consistently overthrew him when he had clearly beaten his man and was wide open. I can distinctly remember two times against San Diego and another two times against Oakland when he had left his man in the dust and Garcia missed throws that even average QB's complete. That doesn't even mention all the times when Gracia prematurely spazzed out in the pocket when he really had more time and failed to allow the play to develop nor the times where balls were thrown poorly and he still managed to make an acrobatic catch.
I went into this season truly believing we could win a Super Bowl with Jeff Garcia, even going as far as saying I was against bringing in Brett Favre and that we had a better chance of a successful season with Garcia at the helm. Boy was I WRONG. Garcia absolutely killed us this year. There is no question we win the firts game of the year against the Saints if we had a QB that even played an average game. He was absolutely atrocious in that game. He consistently choked by throwing key interceptions and missing wide open receivers at crunch time in the fourth quarter when their were many plays to be made on throws that even a lot of average QB's make. It baffles me how a lot of people choose to blame our late off season offensive struggles on the head coach. Anyone who was at the games knows the plays were designed well and were there to be made in tha passing game. The QB just failed to execute at the most critical times. I admire his grit, determination, and the fact he always gives 110%. Nevetheless, I have no hesitation saying I hope he has played his last game in a Bucs uniform. At first glance, it may be attractive to bring him back as a back up. However, that would be way too distracting for a lot of different reasons. I understand the likelihood of bringing in a Matt Cassel or D. McNabb now looks pretty bleak, but I would rather resign MCCown, try trading for a Derek Anderson to compete for the starting job and go into next season with them and Griese as our QB's. I saw enough out of Bryant to convince me he is worth being paid the kind of money that a top 10 receiver in this league makes.

I never suggested the Bucs use all of their 46 million dollars in cap room but that the Bucs pay what is now considered market value for Bryant and if the market goes down with respect to player salaries, then his contract should still be fair for the revised market value and that the Bucs (if they want to contend for for a Super Bowl) have the money and should use a good portion of it to revise their talent pool. I am not for franchising Bryant as the market would demand we pay him 9 million per year.

The market still is based on the average salaries of the top players at their respective positions so it hasn't affected player's salaries yet, and one would think the economy would slow down the skyrocketing salaries we've been seeing, but if a quarterback who was considering being replaced and inadequate as a backup in the preseason (Cassel) is now being discussed as a 14 million dollar per year starter, then I don't see the market or the economy keeping a significant lid on escalating salaries.

I also think when Garcia played his worst this year it was due to rust and/or coming off of injury as was the case in the opener when he didn't play much in the preseason, and I thought he was off mark late in the year but that was due to injury as well when Griese started against the Saints (I believe). When Garcia came back he needed a few games to shake the rust off and is obviously a rhythm passer who needs to get off early and find his groove and touch and get into the flow of the game. I still stand by a healthy, well conditioned Garcia as starter or sign Cassel and let that allow Garcia's career to be extended and to give the team the depth that a team with HIGH aspirations should have.

Pewterdude, got it. Just remember the top dollars goes to QB's.
Bryant is a good WR nothing more. Sorry if you disagree with me. He dropped some passes this year that he should have caught, but he also made some good catches. I would put him in the top 20-25 WR's in the league base case.

Let Garcia, Haye and Simms go and re-sign everyone else. Here's what the priority should be:

A. Bryant
L. McCown
J. Phillips
M. Clayton
J. Stevens
J. Haye
P. Buchanon

Oh yeah, let K. Carter go too.

I meant to put Carter instead of Haye in the "let 'em go" list.

SIGN BRYANT STAT