Bryant: ESPN's Smith, Dilfer 'disrespected me'

   Bucs receiver Antonio Bryant said he was disrespected by ESPN's Emmitt Smith and Trent Dilfer for describing him as a player with off-field baggage.

   The comments were made prior to Monday night's game at Carolina. Bryant had nine catches for a career-high 200 yards and two touchdowns against the Panthers.

   Dilfer said of Bryant, "He's got immense talent. Could be one of the best receivers in the NFL if he can get a handle on some of the off-the-field emotional issues.''

   Bryant took exception to those comments and more.

   "I'm still trying to figure out what all this baggage is I'm supposed to have,'' Bryant said. "I'm being serious. I'm a real person and that bull---- Emmitt said on the TV about 'get my life right,' Trent Dilfer mentioned something about getting my life right outside of football. Last time I checked, man, don't be a hypocrite, man. This is me. A lot of y'all can't really walk on the same side of the street I can walk on and still go put on a suit. I can put on a suit just like you and get on TV and talk just like you. But I can still go home and still be me. So remember that, before you disrespect me like that on TV. I never said nothing bad about anybody out here, man, but just don't disrespect me like that. That's real. I'm out here, I'm a hard worker. I've always been a hard worker. So don't take that away from me, man, and just let me play football. If you've got something to say to me, say it...that's to Emmitt and Trent Dilfer. I really man that. That bothers me, man.'

   Bryant said he spoke to Smith, who was broadcasting from Bank of America Stadium, prior to Monday night's game. Dilfer was a teammate of Bryant's in 2006 with the 49ers.

   "I spoke to Emmitt, but I couldn't believe he went back and starting talking about how I got in trouble because of my mouth,'' Bryant said. "I'm really not that type of dude. I don't really talk to people like that. Like I said, don't take no shots at me like that, man. I'm a real person, man. I talk to all those guys outside of football. (Warren) Sapp. Those guys know where I'm from. They know how we're built where I'm from. I've talked to Sapp, I've talked to Deion (Sanders). Go ask some of them. Talk to Sapp, Deion and (Michael) Irvin. Talk to somebody who's going to tell you something real. Not nobody that's doing it for TV.''

   Bryant leads the Bucs with 66 receptions for 936 yards and five touchdowns. His 200-yard performance against the Panthers was the second-best single-game output by a receiver in club history.

   After well-documented dustups with Bill Parcells in Dallas and Mike Nolan in San Francisco, Bryant was out of football last season. He was suspended four games by the NFL toward the end of the 2006 season because of his arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence. Bryant did not play in 2007.

   Since coming to Tampa Bay, he has started every game and not missed a practice.

   "They think I'm crazy because I do some wild stuff,'' Bryant said of his Bucs teammates. "But we have fun, man, and I like the feeling that everybody knows, hey...it's the feeling when I was in high school we used to say before every game, coach would go down the roster and everybody would say, "Count on me.' That's the mentality I come in this locker room with. I want guys to be able to count on me so I just try to go out there and put myself in position where they can feel that way.''

Bucs coach Jon Gruden said he wished people would judge Bruant for what he's accomplished since coming to Tampa Bay.

   "I just know why we have to do that. My opinion is judge him yourself,'' Gruden said. "I wish people would do that. We have a tendency, I think sometimes, to forget about the reality that this guy has come in here and been a heck of a Buccaneer, a heck of a player. There's a lot of good things happening.

   "There are a lot of guys that come from different situations. You don't know the exact details of what happened or what's true or what isn't. I just would prefer for us all to judge Antonio Bryant for what he's done since he's been here. And all he's done for me and this team and this city is play his heart out. And I commend him. I think he's got a chance to be one of the great Buccaneers receivers we've ever had here.''

       

   

      

    

   

      

Comments

[DR]

Geez, these quotes don't help him much. Dilfer and Smith have every right to criticize Bryant. Not many athletes get run out of their own sport like Bryant did. He's fortunate to be playing today after his actions warranted a year off. Nobody cares about where you came from and how you were brought up. Thats about as dumb and immature a comment any athlete can make. Oh, I feel sorry for a guy making tons of money in a game because he grew up in the ghetto. Marshall Faulk grew up in the ghetto and he didn't toss his jersey at his coach. Faulk was criticized while he was in Indy and he didn't cry about it. He just played football. Bryant should just play football and shut his mouth. If the comments that were made were meaningless, than they deserve no response. Quit being so defensive.

[Nathan]

The comments from Emmitt and Dilfer took away from a brilliant performance by Bryant. I have not seen one wrong move by Bryant this season off the field. Let the guy play football, talk about his performance. Talk about Gruden's guts for bringing the guy in and believing in him. I hope Bryant goes out and kicks some butt again. Good for you man.

[jerseybuc]

I agree with DR that Bryant needs to toughen up regarding his overreaction to the supposed "disrepecting" on the air by Emmitt and Trent. However, the man sat out a year, has not missed a practice, and has been arguably our best offensive player this year. What is the point of going after Bryant, he has been nothing short of sensational on the field, and haven't heard one word from anyone regarding being a problem off it. Mr. Cowboy should look no further than Dallas for stories on players with "baggage". The angle should have been how Bryant has turned things around this year, not rehashing old news...

[jerseybuc]

I agree with DR that Bryant needs to toughen up regarding his overreaction to the supposed "disrepecting" on the air by Emmitt and Trent. However, the man sat out a year, has not missed a practice, and has been arguably our best offensive player this year. What is the point of going after Bryant, he has been nothing short of sensational on the field, and haven't heard one word from anyone regarding being a problem off it. Mr. Cowboy should look no further than Dallas for stories on players with "baggage". The angle should have been how Bryant has turned things around this year, not rehashing old news...

[Jay]

I'm with Antonio on this one. Parcells is a VERY difficult coach to work with, so I'm not surprised he had a conflict of personalities. He was a rookie, and they tend to be immature. The same can be said for Mike Nolan, who threw his own QB under the bus, then got fired halfway through the season like it was the NHL.

It just bugs me that a guy who sat out a year because no one would take a chance on him has to hear crap like this from talking head former players, and then someone like Pacman Jones gets 20 chances and a kind of pity party from the same guys. Bryant has proven himself this year both on and off the field, and deserves a great deal more respect than he's been given.

God, can you imagine if Michael Irvin played in today's NFL? What would they say about him?

[Rick]

Bryant was so made he couldn't even form complete sentences.

[Willycp]

Nobody has a right to criticize anybody on TV, that's just Dilfer & Smith running out off things to say, they just keep saying the same boring stuff. What's strange to me, is that after an awesome game and one of the greatest catches of the year by Bryant, they would bring back Bryants past, thats ridiculos! but it's the media soo this should be no suprise at all!
By the way... i really miss EG! i hope he gets healthy soon!
GO BUCS!!!

[DR]

You guys need to get a clue. This is the first prime time game for the Bucs, the only game on TV, and what, they're not supposed to talk about a player who could be up for come back player of the year? Man, get rid of your biased thoughts. I don't like the media much. I think they should promote Dunn's deeds off the field every week, but this was an unavoidable subject. He's the Bucs best receiver. They did credit him for having no problems this year. Bryant's reaction just proves that he isn't over his past just yet. He's comparable to Elijah Dukes in baseball. Had a lot of talent but no common sense, no intelligence.

[Opinion Master]

Also have to agree w/ Bryant growing some thicker skin, and his comments should have been more in line w/ 'sure I made some mistakes in the past, key word, past. What have you heard about me THIS year. Did I beat up a teammate? No. was I in court for DUI? No. (Carolina WR Smith, Jarrett "

and left it at that.

As for Trent, great guy, but how serious can one take his critque on QB's play, after watching him play horribly as a Buc QB?

[DR]

Jay, are you kidding me? Michael Irvin played for one of the hardest coaches in league history, Jimmy Johnson. That guy sold his family for football. If you know anything about the Cowboys, Irvin was one of the hardest workers on the team and one hell of a motivator. To say Pacman Jones is getting a pity party is ridiculous. That guy gets criticized every week by whatever program is running the Cowboys game.
Bryant would have been a better man if he just came out and said he regrets what he did in the past and has moved on. Instead, he wants to be a thug.

[DR]

Opinion Master, I agree that Trent Dilfer was not a great QB by any means but lets not forget what he had to work with here in Tampa and everywhere else he played. He had Reidel Anthony and jacquez Green as WRs. Its a wonder how he resisted the urge to drive to the Sunshine Skyway with the WRs he had.

[OAR]

Blah, blah, blah. DR is all knowing don't you guys know that. All hail the Great DR. Actually DR it is not the first primetime game(Seattle
sunday night was.) Kinda like when you said Griese hadnt taken a team to the playoffs. "Bro" you should really think before speaking ...oh wait that's right I forgot, you just like to hear yourself speak.

[abuckanear]

All I know is I would put Bryant up against anyone like "Short Arm" Moss or "Time Out" Owens with that catch he made Monday night.

[Joe Simmons (Slow Joe)]

Can someone translate Bryant's quotes into English, please? Thanks.

[OAR]

Who cares? I'am glad its a good thing he only needs his hands(or only one! sweet catch monday night) and feet, not his mouth.

[WS]

WHO CARES!!!!!! Keep up the spectacular play Antonio! Sign him to a long term deal. Trent Dilfer never had half the talent of Bryant. If you don't like Bryant I will trade you my old #12 jersey for AB's!

[Opinion Master]

DR, sure Green and anthony will never be confused with House, Carrier or even Harper.... well, maybe Harper.
But it would have been easier for them to catch a ball, throw actually to them.
Copeland's injury, imo, was Dilfer's demise.

ok, thats a stretch.

[Dave]

DR just likes to stir the pot. Pay no attention to the closet Cowboys fan. Antonio Bryant is the reason for this team being in every game this year. Give credit where it's due.

[BBFan10]

You guys can rag on Dilfer if you want, but all I know is he is the only NFL QB I can remember being thrown out of a game for beating the crap out of someone! It was 1995 or so and I think it was a national game against Green Bay. Dilfer got sacked (naturally) and the guy was talking trash to him, Dilfer took him down and gave him the business. Our backup QB had to get ready quickly. From that point on Dilfer has been ok in my book.

[Stephen Holder]

You can say what you want about Bryant, but the one thing that's great about him (from a reporter's perspective, at least) is that he'll always speak his mind. Frankly, I think that's the primary reason he's been labeled as uncoachable. The guy is honest -- maybe to a fault.

[Drew]

The way he plays the game speaks for him. He's a great player, a little rough on the communication. But he at least has the balls to say what he thinks. The world would be a better place if we all had a little more spine and said what we thought. I seem to remember our founding fore fathers said what was on their minds and told an English King to go F#$@ himself.

[Jay of St Pete Beach]

Hmmmm, I really didn't give much thought to Emmitt's and Trent's statements as I heard them. Remember, they are not radio guys who have talent. They are just hollow suits filling air time for the 4-letter network. Was Bryant thin skinned? Yeppers. Is this now a story? Nope. Is Antonio's year shaping up into a nice story? Yeppers. Now, can the Bucs just find room for Galloway on the field with Bryant? Please?

[Jesse Henn]

Personally, I agree with Bryant. When I heard those comments by Dilfer & Smith, respectively, my 1st reaction was "why bring that up?" I doubt anybody else, prior to Bryant, would have reacted to those comments. He defended himself, & if you don't stand up for yourself & say something; then, people keep talking, which is intentionally unfair, especially since Bryant is doing the right things. And there is a difference between things happening beyond our control that are unfair that affect you and people intentionally putting you in an unfair situation, making it much more personal. My guess is, if people don't bring up Bryant's past, you won't hear another word about this from him.

[DR]

You guys just don't get it. The reason it was brought up is because Bryant is having a good year. A year after missing football. Hmmm, why did he miss one year of football? They aren't supposed to bring that up? Are you kidding me?! Bryant could be the Come Back Player of the Year and he wouldn't be up for that award if he wasn't black balled for a whole freaking year. This is what happens when you make mistakes and act stupid. Bryant would be a better man by saying he was over his past issues and his actions this year prove it. Instead he went the baby route and a 5 year old could probably form actual sentences and make sense. I'm sure the University of Pittsburgh right now is erasing all of Bryants academic records. There is no way he passed English.

[OAR]

So just what are you trying to say DR? Its cloudy and stormy and I cant' make out what your saying from up there.

[BucFandango]

Bryant is a just slightly hard to understand. Maybe he needs an interpreter. Parcels and Nolan could have just miss understood him when he told them off. He may have said "Yo sorry" & meant "I'm sorry"...or "Yo QB & deez plaze suc bad" and meant "Dat QB can play, he da man"...or "Parcels yo a sorry m-f" and meant "those sorry foes lost my package from mom"... or "F__ off Nolan, you piece of Sh__" and meant "Luck would have it, I was mowing my lawn & stepped in dawg Sh__." It may just be a complete missunderstanding. So how exactly do these idiots get through college? Doesn't that undermine the entire collegiate academic system? If so, the degree isn't worth the paper it's written on. Someone please get this guy an English tudor or a roll of Duct Tape for his mouth. Oh wait, don't criticize a black, oops sorry, African American for speaking ebonics or street language, because that makes you a racist. C'mon man.

[OAR]

Bucfandango, with those lyrics you should be a rapper.
Like I said before, Who Cares? He's not a doctor, lawyer or engineer he plays football(and plays pretty dang good too).

[Duffiedawg]

BucFandango,

If we get him an English Tudor, that would mean digging up a King or Queen of England.

I think you meant "tutor", and you could use some English lessons, also.

[BucFandango]

Cheerio Winston. I have also confused Helmut with Helmet. I guess if I could catch and run like Bryant I could go and perform for the Queen. I actually failed English on numerous occasions in high school. I was a good basketball player, but not to the point of being granted a "Free Ride" like so many of the more "Gifted" athletes. I guess after taking it so many times, this lazy bum, me, learned how the English Language sounds. Like music. It's a hearing thing. Maybe Bryant has some hearing loss. Grammatical errors and misuse of words like homophones is a real detriment to our society. Thank goodness there is always some pompous pontificator to point that out. So what does any of this nonsense, including the Bryant interview have to do with football? I just don't feel that colleges should produce illiterate athletes. Can you say Double Standard? Jus go aks someone dat. Del tel ya da trufe.

[Dylan]

Antonio Bryant needs to be an english teacher..
I mean i practically worshiped that catch he had and watched it at least 100 times, but dude with all that money you cannot even get a tutor for english.. Yao ming knows better english than that. The bucs are embaressed enough by monday night and then he talks like this to reporters!