Bucs officially franchise Bryant

The Bucs have moved much closer to ensuring that WR Antonio Bryant lines up for Tampa Bay in 2009.

The team, as expected, has officially designated Bryant its franchise player, the team confirmed. Team officials haven't been available for comment, but the decision likely means the sides weren't close to striking a deal on a contract extension for Bryant, who was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in eight days.

Having used the franchise tag, the Bucs ensure that Bryant -- once he signs the contract -- will play for the Bucs unless another team decides to sign him and give up the required two first-round picks as compensation. That outcome is remote, at best.

At the very least, this move buys the Bucs some time. They can continue talks toward a long-term contract with Bryant, but can do so without the risk of losing him for nothing in free agency.

Bryant will get a hefty payday if he signs the tender, with the tag coming along with a $9.884-million salary that becomes fully guaranteed after the deal is signed.

Comments

[ty guy]

I think this had to be done in order to have the kind of passing attack that Jagodzinski's offense requires. I mentioned this in a comment for the Donald Penn article that we should try to sign Bryant to a 5 year $35 mil contract. That would save us almost $3 mil in cap room this season if you average it out. $3 mil is a lot of dough to be used for depth purposes. Now if we can re-sign Buchanon and Phillips I think we would be well on our way to focusing on trying to make room for Albert Haynesworth.

[ty guy]

This is what our offense should look like:

WR-Bryant, Galloway/rookie
TE-Smith, Stevens/Gilmore
LT-Penn
LG-Sears
C-Faine
RG-Joseph
RT-Trueblood/rookie
QB-McCown
RB-Graham, Dunn/Williams/rookie/FA

I know, it doesn't look much different than last year's offense, but it should be improved with Jagodzinski calling the plays.

[Str8BucIn]

Ty Guy do you have a inside track with Dominik? I think its a sign of times to come and the reign means business. I know a long term deal will be worked out, but Dominik didn't think it would be done by tomorrow so he showed good faith with the franchise tag. Ty you should've put Boldin at that other receiver spot and where is your depth chart for the defense???

This is what our defense should look like:

DE-Carter/rookie
DT-Hovan/
DT-Haynesworth
DE-Gaines/White
LB-June/Black
LB-Ruud/Cash
LB-Brooks/Hayes
CB-Talib/Buchanon
CB-Asomugha
S-Phillips/Piscitelli
S-Jackson

With Bates coming in mixing in some exotic blitz packages with the Tampa 2 scheme we will continue our defensive ways(with the exception of the collapse).

[Valrico Rick]

It all comes down to Bryant now. If he has truly changed his attitude and continues to be a productive team player it will be money well spent when they eventually hammer out a long term deal. The bad side is the high risk of putting so much money into a player that talked himself out of football just over 2 years ago. I liked the way he walked away from Atlanta's HC Smith on the sidelines last year, and I think Smith was trying to get him to lose control. That showed that Bryant can deal with the inevitable situations where other teams will try to turn him into a 15 yard pentalty by giving him some lip. Now, if we can just get Trueblood to learn that lesson!

[D Block]

Well he's here 2 stay at least for this yr until they get a long term deal done. This is something the team needed, i wish they could've got a 3-4 yr deal done so they wouldn't have to tag him. But it is what it is Bryant is here, now they can look to feel other needs. One more WR draft or FA, DT, CB & LB.

[BucFandango]

Ok just shoot me, but, I would try to trade Bryant now for a mid/early 1'st round pick and a 3'rd too. I'd quietly shop him and see if there is a market. He has reached his peak value and I'd sell now before his stock drops...with whom at QB. I would also shop Cato June, Jeremy Trueblood, Hovan, & Gaines Adams. I'm all in.

[drspb]

Can you really envision McCown hoisting the Lombardi trophy over his head? I think reality needs to sink in, because without a bonafide blue chip QB the Bucs will be a also ran.

[Jeff]

drspb is exactly right. The Bucs will ony go as far as their QB takes them.

[DR]

No team will trade for Bryant and his franchise tag. the Bucs are officially stuck with him and only time will tell if this was a good gamble or not. Bryant isn't a top ten talent let alone a top five contract. I thought the Bucs would be wise to let him test the market for a better value and this franchise tag makes me believe that his loyalty to this team was in question. He may have taken a lower contract somewhere else with a better QB and better WRs. That may be the reason the contract negotiations weren't going anywhere and they are now stuck overpaying the guy for one year.

[Vincent]

As most always, I agree with DR and Valrico's take. Someone else made an interesting point, or I just misread what they said.. the point is, there's actually an upside to "Franchise Tagging" Bryant. If I am correct it's a one year offer? Therefore, overpaying a WR for one season, is more advantageous than overpaying on a long term contract. If Bryant continues his high level of production, they can feel more secure about locking him into a long term deal next season.

[Steven]

Another way to look at this situation is that Bryant, based on his production was severely undervalued last year (~700K); if he plays for the one year tender and plays well he's essentially averaging ~ 5M for two years. That I can justify because one year at >9M is too much. He's a good, not a great receiver. A top 5 receiver is a great receiver.

[OAR]

Ah, Dr the great?, didnt we just go back and forth about how I would love to see Bryant with a better qb than Garcia, which you gave props to for Byrants season and now you say this "He may have taken a lower contract somewhere else with a better QB and better WRs." Well which is it?
And DR, Val Rick, and I guess Vincent, what's with all the negativity towards Antonio Byrant? He had a good year with a no-arm, so have a little faith he can continue having success as a Buc.

[DR]

oar, you and your 3rd grade arguments aren't any fun anymore. T.O. had some of his best years with Garcia at QB. It's funny how your unwarranted hatred towards Garcia has made you blind towards the rest of the Bucs. Garcia isn't the reason why the Bucs failed last year. He was one of the few warriors the Bucs have had the last few years. The guy put his body on the line for the team. Yes, it was a good move for the Bucs to let him walk, but let's not pretend that McCown is a legitimate QB in the NFL. He has proven nothing. The Bucs need to look for another QB.

[Vincent]

OAR, We're just realist's or pessimists, or just prudent, shrewd tacticians, whichever you want to call us. Imagine tying up a WR to a $9 Million per year contract, and he is a complete "bust"? The ramifications would be severe! Cash is the "lifeblood" of any organization. It's all a gamble, make no mistake. However, a great team manages its risk, and expectations for that matter. No one is arguing against Bryant's tremendous season. He had a season that rivals any in terms of being a "comeback" player, in the entire NFL. I hope Bryant's story is just beginning, and that we marvel at his success every Sunday. But locking him into a long term top WR salary at this point is "reaching" as they say. Once again the Bucs "top brass" seem to agree with "our take" on the situation as a one year deal connotes.

[aj]

You have to think the front office thought they were stuck with this. He's being paid more for the fear of losing him than his actual value. AB has top receiver potential, but almost 10 mil is steep. He may very well have been a top 5 receiver the 2nd half of the season after he got his legs. Still with EG back churning yards, he and AB could be a great duo.

I like the McCown choice. The free agents are terrible and the draft has only one real prospect in Stafford. He may not be the greatest, but should be a decent bridge to next years draft or more hopefully Josh Johnson. I think we'll see a big difference with McCown in concern to the play caller. Jags will play to his strengths, while Gruden was always trying to jam a square peg in a round hole.

QB - McCown - Johnson - Griese
HB - EG/Dunn/Smith
FB - Askew
WR - Bryant - Galloway
WR - Ike - DJax - Lelie
TE - Smith/Stevens
T - Penn/Trueblood
G - Sears/Joseph
C- Faine
Draft - WR/TE/T - Hicks/NC if he falls to 2nd, Casey may be there in 3rd or 4th, there is a lot of Tackle depth in this draft

DE - Adams/White/Carter
DT - Haynesworth/Sims/Hovan
LB - Brooks/Hayes
LB - Ruud/Crowder
LB - June/Haywood
CB - Talib/Barber
CB - Bly/ Mack
FS - Jackson
SS - Flip/Sabby
Draft - High picks should go to D-Line. Jerry and Kruger both impressed me when I saw them. CB in a later round.

[OAR]

DR, how about the Bucs trading for Derek Anderson? Cause there is talk that is picking up steam with the Bucs.
And you are right Garcia was part of the team, so he did have part in thier failure. Garcia's rouge red zone antics(btw he has always struggled with that in his career), his ints in last to games didn't help either.
Well gotta go it's "naptime" after recess and I thought we weren't having any fun, glad to know differently.

[OAR]

Vincent, first you all are against the franchise tag and now the Bucs "top brass" is agreeing with you,. Which is it? Besides I don't think you all are smarter than Richard Mann.

[Vincent]

Oar, yes, I am against the "Franchise tag" for Bryant, and also against a long-term "top salary" contract, for the Wide-out who, as of yet relative to players like Boldin, Fitzgerald, Moss, Owens, his top peers, is still somewhat unproven. The Franchise tag should be used for players of their ilk. However, the one upside to the Franchise Tag is that the organization is not tying up a long term contract although "over paying" for his services in the current year. The Bucs management seem to echo this feeling based on the implications of their actions. Like many situations in life, there are plus' and minus'. It's not a simple "it's positive/ it's negative" question or solution.

[OAR]

Vincent, thanks for clearing that up.

[Donovan Kelley]

The franchise tag gives them part of the season to see where Brany will be afte rhis one breakout season. If he faails and hates the coach, well then bye bye Bryant. I think the QB situation is fine (for one year only) and if it is a bust at QB, then you give Johnson a try before taking one of the better QB's at the top of next years draft.
If I look at our key positions though, I am not very scared of our Offense. We need a big time receiver (that's a total of 2) on the roster to line up opposite Bryant. Maybe Dexter won't run 5 yards backwards like he did on kick returns which would be a step in the right direction. Lots of spots to upgrade, but until the coaching staff runs these guys ragged through the spring, we won;t know who (or if) we will get any top free agents. It's nottypical of the Glazers to spend for top FA, so don't expect too much to be spent this off season.

[DR]

AJ made a good point. He's franchised for the fear of losing him, not for his value. Bryant and his agent know that the Bucs need him and were not going to sign a long term deal before free agency. They know that Bryant wouldn't get $9M anywhere else and if they put the pressure on the Bucs, "we'll go to the free agent market and sign somewhere else", the Bucs would tag them. Not many players are happy to be tagged and Bryant is happy.

[Robert]

We had to do this if you want to ensure having a deep threat next year. I'm glad this is about done and now they can focus on oter personell issues. Top priority has to be Haynesworth. Alot of people think he is going to land here. Woody paige even said it today on Around The Horn. If we get that beast in the middle and draft well I will be excited for next year! This new regime seems to be calling alot of good shots!