The 3-month-old son of Bucs placekicker Matt Bryant died Wednesday morning. Coach Jon Gruden, fighting back tears, opened his post-practice conference with the news. "We had a terrible tragedy this morning ... we lost a key member of our family," Gruden said. Tryson Bryant was born June 16. Gruden did not have many specifics about the situation. It's my understanding the young man just didn't wake up this morning," Gruden said. "It's shocking."
Tampa Bay General Manager Bruce Allen issued a statement after Gruden spoke to the press.
"The entire Buccaneer family is deeply saddened by this tragedy," Allen said. "The Bryants have been an inspiration to our entire community through their commitment to their family and their exhaustive efforts working with children and those in need in the Bay area."
Bryant was a finalist for the 2007 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Aware for his work on and off the field, with both Bryant and wife Melissa named the March of Dimes Florida Bay Division's "Ambassador Family" of 2007 for their charitable work.
Gruden asked Bucs fans to pray for the Bryants, while asking for respect for the family's privacy.
As for how the loss will affect the team, Gruden said only that the tragedy put "things in real perspective."
"We'll deal with it from a football standpoint," he said. "Right now, we're worried about Matt and Melissa from a personal standpoint. They're great friends."
Bryant, 33, is in his fourth season with Tampa Bay and thus far is perfect on all six field goals attempts and eight extra points. Bryant has made 71-of-85 attempts since joining the Bucs in 2005, for a accuracy percentage of .840 that ranks first in team history. He also holds the record for the longest field goal in franchise history, a 62-yard made at the gun to defeat Philadelphia in 2006.
Source : Orlandosentinel
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