Morris: WR Antonio Bryant "looked as good as I've seen him"

It appears a little rest for Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Antonio Bryant has done him some good.

Bryant, who has missed the last two games with a lingering left knee injury that's bothered him since preseason arthroscopic surgery, returned to practice Wednesday. Though Bryant was limited, he impressed coach Raheem Morris.

"He came out there, ran around and looked as good as I've seen him," Morris said.

Bryant hadn't been practicing as both he and the Bucs decided it was best to rest his left knee and see if it would help it heal. It remains to be seen whether Bryant will play Sunday against the Saints.

In other injury news, Stylez White was back at practice, but Cadillac Williams (knee), Kellen Winslow (knee), Aqib Talib (hamstring), Byron Leftwich (right elbow) limited.

- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com

Comments

[heyitsadam]

Excuse me, BLAHeem. Excuse me if I don't take your evaluation of talent at a high level of regard. You're analysis of player ability is pretty much the definition of God-awful.

[Stephen Blackehart]

It looks like Gruden was right about Clayton after all, but most of us knew that already. The bad decision here was in waiting to have Bryant's surgery until the preseason. That should've happened immediately after last season, to give hime the offseason to recover.

[Valrico Rick]

Escuse me Adam Fart! You think Freeman isn't any good? How about Stroughter? What is God-awful is some butthead like yourself having to put somebody else down to build yourself up! Morris has done better in one draft then Gruden did in 7 years! Adam just s*** in my socks!

[Tom]

Having Bryant back is great for Freeman's development. Bryant is the best route runner of the group so that will help Freeman get his option reads.

Sammie Stroughter looks more and more like he is the real deal. He has the potential to be as good as DeSean Jackson. Great pick in the seventh round.

Call me crazy, but I have a strange feeling that the Saints may get a little upset this weekend. Just have a feeling.

[whodat70816]

Crazy Tom...9 teams fans had that very same strange feeling before you.

I do wish you and the Bucs good luck, because that is exactly what you guys will need.

GEAUX SAINTS!

[willem]

Looking in my coffee empty mug I feel an upset comming this sunday.

Tampa is confident at the moment and
For the last weeks the saints have been struggling, plus the pass heavy offence gives our ball hawkers in the back field a chance to make some splash plays. But we need to be able to establish the run, freaking bench ward the 1st half and give all his carries to earnest graham.

GO BUCS

Maybe I should cut down on my caffiene in-take

[Itch]

It is that time of year when the Saints regularly turn into the Stanks. Literally, on the eighth or ninth game they just carp their pants. Now this year could be different because they are so loaded with talent and quite solid all the way around.

But history has proven that the Saints become the Stanks around November 21.

[Daisy]

Wonder how many over 40yd TDs the Saints will get on Sunday? E.Graham must not be part of the "PLAN"! If anyone knows what the "PLAN" is, would you post it for all to see. Good Luck
Bucs, you will need all of the luck you can get on Sunday. I positively agree, the Bucs plan is to be 1 and 9 after Sunday. Now that's a positive post!

[JH]

It's Bucs QB Redux: Bruce Gradkowski, yes, that's G-R-A-D-K-O-W-S-K-I, is going to start for the Raiders. And then, Chris Simms might start for the Broncos in place of Kyle Orton. Could we see Luke McCown soon?

[willem]

Daisy I hope you understand your own Post because you got me lost at "plan"

[BucFandango]

I'm with you Tom. I have that same upset feeling, but I won't make any predictions yet. I think the Offense is getting better behind Freeman and if Bates could just get a little creative with the D line, blitzes and pass rush we may have something for them. I hate the Saints over and over again.

Daisy dear, the "PLAN" is to beat the Saints.

[John P]

I believe the Bucs are going to win on Sunday.

There Tom and BucFandango, I said it.

30-28 Bucs on Sunday. Brees get 400 yards, but the Saints get sloppy and the Bucs take advantage.

[Dick Weed]

I don't know if there are more moronic homers on this blog or the Lightning one. Either way, it doesn't say much for the knowledge of Bay area sports fans.

[blackmagic00]

I'm so sick of the A-HOLES that have to trash the little hope true Buc fans have. Does it make you feel big and smart, or do you just have such a putrid measly life that it makes you feel better bashing the people who take interest in something besides going in to chat rooms and criticizing people you do not even know? Get a life IDIOTS! For everyone else, I hope we help the SAINTS remember they are just the saints. Should we win, I feel Barth will be the game changer. GOOOOO BUCS!!!

[nolainmia]

it will be a tough NFC South game like it always is. The Saints will prevail due to a better offense and a better defense.

[Tom]

Call me a homer all you want. But I sat in that driving rain last year when this team kicked the crap out of the Aints!

The Aints defense is still giving up a ton of yards and points. Their secondary is hurting with injuries to Jabari Greer, Darren Sharper and Tracy Porter. Where the Aints have been good is in the turnover battle. They make big splash plays on defense. If we protect the ball, we have a chance to move the chains on this defense and win this game.

I hate the Aints! Nothing will feel better than to beat them.

[D Block]

The Bucs have a Punchers chance & the Aint's are banged up and aren't playing that well right now. With all that said the Bucs will have to Run the ball effectively and force them into 3rd and long on defense. Heck i can't wait to hear the CANNONS!!!

GO BUCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Dylan]

2008: talib, zuttah, hayes
2007: Piscitelli, T. Jackson, Q. Black
2006: Joseph, Trueblood,
2005: Caddy, Rudd,

Gruden would draft about two good players in each draft. This is what you are saying Morris has done with stroughter and freeman.. Two players isn't very impressive considering Gruden did that in the past and gave the fans some wins although the miami game was bullsht..

[D Block]

P.S. I think AB should be sat for the next 2-3 Games and not allowed to practice at all. That knee isn't healthy and he will 2nd guess it and possibly quit on routes and possibly, more then likely cost the team in the long run. Stroughter has gotten better, Stovall is catching the ball and should be rewarded with more opportunities to make plays.

AB has proved time and time again for what ever reason that he can't be depended on. AB has hurt himself and this team in my eyes with the foolish thoughts that he is healthy and can help the team. He has cost Stroughter, Stovall & Clark reps that they will need in there development and the development of Freeman. You can't honestly think that AB is looking forward to signing back with the Bucs. This has been a dismal year and he shouldn't be rewarded with a lucrative contract in my opinion.

It's not that i'm trying to crap on the guy but he knew that the knee was hurt and he chose to ignore it and it has cost the team as a whole. If he was SMART he would take the time needed to allow the knee to heal so he can continue his career in the NFL.

[Dylan]

My last comment is not trying to say anything bad about Freeman or Stroughter. Freeman looks promising and stroughter is the man. I will have to say Oregon State is a factory for pro football players.

[TVT]

It would be nice to have Bryant healthy again because he is such a playmaker. AB was our ONLY playmaker last year. He is really good after the catch.

[Daisy]

D Block.....The HC and GM signed Clayton, what makes you think that they won't sign A. Bryant even if he is not healthy?

[jjbjeff]

DBlock, didn't the coaching staff know that AB wasn't healthy?

You can't blame a player for wanting to go out there and help their team. It is up to the coaching staff to evaluate the players and start the best 22.

This falls directly on the shoulders of Raheem. He started AB when he knew he hadn't practiced, and wasn't healthy. No doctor other than a "team doctor" would have EVER cleared him to play three weeks after that surgery. It's 4-6 weeks to heal.

C'mon, man you can't rush back from knee surgery. Everyone knows that.

This is something that really bothers me. My last memory of the immortal Derrick Brooks was him limping down the field with no chance of making a play. He was hurt, and embarrassed that day. He should have been on the bench.

The problem is that coaches routinely pressure hurt players into playing when they aren't ready, instead of genuinely evaluating the player.

I've been in locker rooms when the coach stands up and talks about the player who is hurt and rehabbing and his "teammates are counting on him".
There can be tremendous pressure on the players to play, and blaming the player is inconscionable.

[Brandon]

Tom,

I appreciate your enthusiasm for Stroughter but seriously, "Sammie Stroughter looks more and more like he is the real deal. He has the potential to be as good as DeSean Jackson. Great pick in the seventh round."

DeSean Jackson? No way, their games aren't even remotely similiar. DeSean is a 167 lb burner (4.35 speed) that doesn't catch inside, Stroughter is a much bulkier 190 lb possession guy (4.53 40) that will struggle getting deep.

Stroughter is smart, runs good routes, has strong sure hands and can help in a variety of ways, he can be a very good #3 or even possibly a good #2 WR someday, but he will NEVER be like Jackson.

[D Block]

Ummm Daisy the Bucs haven't signed anyone over 30. Even if the Bucs chose to attempt to resign him he would want more then he is worth at this point. Clayton was resigned because lets face it, who did the Bucs have as a WR? Stovall had never did anything, AB had to be franchised to stay, Clark came from everyones practice team, Urrutia? practice team, Stroughter? 7th rounder that had off the field baggage. TJ made it clear he wasn't coming here and a few other WR's as well so the team didn't have much of a choice. They obviously had their mind made up about Freeman so they wheren't drafting a WR early and so far so good on Freeman.

I for one will admit i was against picking Freeman, but i also hoped that he would prove me wrong. I recognized the Big arm, atheleticism & size but potential has gotten people fired before.

[Tom]

Brandon,
I get what you're saying because Jackson has made one big play after another and that's his M.O. However, I disagree with you that Stroughter is only a possession type receiver. We saw his speed during the kickoff return for a TD. He has also made some nice YAC gains and is one tackle away from taking it to the house on a couple of occasions. With the ball in his hands, he can make things happen.

Hey, I know I'm being ambitious by comparing his potential to Jackson's production. But, where we may disagree is that I think Stroughter can be pretty explosive also. Time will tell and we both hope that I'm right.

[D Block]

JJ! Me & Tom have questioned this teams medical staff over and over and have barely agreed with anything they have done. AB does have control over himself he doesn't have an incentive based deal his money is guranteed. All the trainers can do is ask how it feels he is the one saying that it's fine it's ok i think i can go.

Raheem is at fault however as well, a WR needs to be on the same page as his QB and that takes reps and understanding of the others tendencies. AB should be held out of practice and games until he proves he can go all out at practice. Stroughter, Stovall & K2 are starting to look like an offense that you can count on to make a play or catch the ball. I'm still not sold on Clayton because he has done this before (flashed).

I would love for Freeman to let the coaching staff know that he would rather play with the guys he actually practices with because they have timing and are building on something.

AB isn't a Plaxico type player that doesn't have to practice with the QB and play on game day. Plaxico was a 6'5 WR that could make plays in the Red Zone because of his size not his speed like AB. AB makes atheletic plays and you can't do that at 70-80%.

P.S. JJ that 4-6 weeks is only for the healing and that's an argument. For an athelete like AB playing WR, DB or RB make that 8 weeks at least because they have to cut, stop, jump and accelerate at a moments notice.

[OAR]

Dblock, I agree "I recognized the Big arm, atheleticism & size but potential has gotten people fired before" with one name Jamarcus Russell(not fired, yet)!

[Tom]

D Block,
I've seen enough meniscal tears to know that Bryant was going to struggle this season. It may take 3 weeks for sptimes blogger to get back to the computer after meniscal surgery. But for an explosive YAC WR like Bryant where cutting, pushing, planting is required, this was going to be a challenge.

[jjbjeff]

The big question is why didn't AB address this in the offseason. Not having surgery in the off season was a selfish move.

I hope he enjoys the "franchise" money because it may be his last year in the game.