Matt Bryant’s Infant Son Dies: Tampa Bay Buc’s Bryant Dedicates Game To Infant Son
Posted on September 24, 2008
Matthew Tryson Bryant, the 3-month-old son of Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Matt Bryant and wife, Melissa Bryant, died Wednesday. That is just heartbreaking news! Matt Bryant dedicated his football game to his infant son, even blowing kisses to his son after field goals. Read more after the bump.
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Update:
From USA Today:
A grieving father who buried his infant son the day before in Texas proved the pillar the Tampa Bay Buccaneers leaned on and rallied around.
Kicker Matt Bryant honored his, “Baby boy,” 3-month-old son Matthew Tryson, who never awoke Wednesday morning, the best way he knew.
Appearing drained and numb, Bryant stood at a postgame podium after his three field goals, including a 24-yarder for the go-ahead points with 2:26 left, plus three extra points keyed an emotional, 30-21 victory against the Green Bay Packers.
Bryant blew a soft kiss with his left hand after each field goal to his son, who didn’t awaken when wife Melissa rounded up their six children. The cause of dead is still unknown.
Throughout the game, Bryant said he talked to, “My baby boy.”
“I wanted to honor Tryson’s name,” Bryant said. “I didn’t think it was very fair for his life to end so short. This is the best way that I believe I could get out and honor him.
“I miss him and I wish he was here. You know what? He was here with me.
“He helped out.”
Bryant spoke of a happy baby, who didn’t like the cannons that are fired off from the pirate ship at Raymond James Stadium every time the Bucs scored.
“Today was his day,” Bryant said. “It was all about him for me. And I talked with him personally in my head. I just wanted him to remind him, he’s my baby boy. And he’s with me all the time.”
Head coach Jon Gruden awarded the 33-year-old kicker the game ball.
“This was very important for him to play, I think he needed football today,” Gruden said. “Boy, did he deliver for us.”
It was an emotional locker room when Gruden handed Bryant the football, one week after he had delivered the winning field goal in a 27-24 overtime win against Chicago.
“Everybody tried their best to hold their tears back,” cornerback Ronde Barber said. “There were no outward tears. There was definitely a feeling of togetherness.
“We’re a team. We’re close as a family outside of his normal family. We continue to shower him with love and support and help him get through this as best as we can. Your heart is as heavy as it can be. It’s an unimaginable situation. All you can do is put your love toward he and Melissa.”
Previous:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Matt Bryant is expected to play against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday despite the death of his young son earlier this week.
Bryant is officially listed as questionable, but the St Petersburg Times reported on its website on Saturday that the 33-year-old veteran is expected to play.
Bryant’s wife, Melissa, found their three-month-old son, Matthew Tryson Bryant, unresponsive on Wednesday morning.
“Melissa and I are overcome with the amount of support we have received from the community during this difficult time,” Matt Bryant noted in a statement earlier this week.
“Tryson enriched our lives for the short time that he was with us and we will never forget his smile. We know Tryson’s death has deeply touched the community and we appreciate the love and prayers from our Buccaneers fans.”
It is unclear who will kick for the Buccaneers if Bryant opts not to play, as he is the only place kicker on the current roster.
This is one of those stories that is hard to report, our sincerest condolences go out to Matt Bryant’s family.
Reportedly, Tampa Bay Buckaneer’s kicker, Matt Bryant’s 3 month-old son has died. There are not many details available, but our hearts go out to his family.
Matt and Melissa Bryant’s infant son, Matthew Tryson, passed away this morning, Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden announced.
Gruden said that the child “just didn’t wake up this morning”.
“I don’t have a lot of details,” coach Jon Gruden said after practice. “It’s just a horrible tragedy, and I can’t explain it.”
Bryant, a seventh-year pro in his fourth season with Tampa Bay, kicked a winning field goal in overtime against Chicago last Sunday. Two years ago, he made the third-longest field goal in NFL history, a 62-yarder to beat Philadelphia.
“The entire Buccaneer family is deeply saddened by this tragedy,” general manager Bruce Allen said in a team statement.
“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. Our thoughts and prayers are with Matt and Melissa during this difficult time.”
Matt Bryant gives of his time to visit sick children in the hospital, and it is just so sad to learn of this news about his baby boy.
The younger Bryant was born on June 16, 2008, and joined siblings Daniel, Jacob, Joshua, Madison and Tre’.
In response to the community’s concern, the Bryant family would like to release the following statement:
“Melissa and I are overcome with the amount of support we have received from the community during this difficult time. We would like to thank our Buccaneers family and the Glazers for their support and outpouring of love.
“Tryson enriched our lives for the short time that he was with us and we will never forget his smile. We know Tryson’s death has deeply touched the community and we appreciate the love and prayers from our Buccaneers fans.”
The family would also like to thank Hillsborough County Fire Rescue and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Tryson’s name to March of Dimes, 405 North Reo Street, Suite 105, Tampa, FL 33609. For more information, please call (813) 287-2600.
Condolences to the Matt Bryant family!
Images: PR
Source: news
One comment
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