Will Antonio Bryant Get a New Contract?

Antonio Bryant was one of the better stories in the NFL last year. Playing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Bryant was back in the league after a one year absence. Despite the layoff, Bryant had the best year of his career.

The 28-year-old out of Pittsburgh had 83 catches for 1,248 yards and seven touchdowns. All three of those stats were a career highs.

However, despite his great season, the Buccaneers aren’t likely to give him a new contract. Instead, Tampa Bay has given him the franchise tag. As a result, Bryant will receive a raise from around $600K to nearly $10 million.

Why won’t the Bucs give him a long-term contract? The most likely answer is the fact that Bryant has had his share of issues on and off the field. So instead of rolling the dice on his character over the long haul, the Buccaneers can limit their risk.

Another reason why Tampa Bay is fine with Bryant taking up so much money this year is because the team has a ton of salary cap space. Bryant taking up $10 million doesn’t affect their ability to sign a free agent who might become available.

Antonio Bryant - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Image: Zuma Press)