Matt Bryant Day in Tampa: 10/23/06 (1 Viewer)

[NorvilleBarnes]

Mayor’s Proclamation LINK

Below is the complete text of Monday’s proclamation by Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio:

WHEREAS, as home to the NFL’s 27th franchise, Tampa is proud of its championship Tampa Bay Buccaneers and today is especially proud of its kicker, Matt Bryant;

and WHEREAS, as a city known for its can-do attitude, the roar heard throughout the city during the last few seconds of the game on Sunday, October 22 against the Philadelphia Eagles was equal to that heard during our win of SUPERBOWL XXXVII; and

WHEREAS, holding the lead through most of the game thanks in large part to

Ronde Barber’s return of two interceptions, the Bucs were down 21-20 following a last minute touchdown by the Eagles; and

WHEREAS, with a kick-off return to the 36 yard line by the Bucs’ Michael

Pittman and two more plays, our team was at the 44 yard line when Matt Bryant was given the almost impossible task of kicking a game-winning 62 yard field goal – 1 yard short of the NFL record - with 4 seconds left on the clock; and

WHEREAS, once again, in spite of all adversity, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers came through – Matt Bryant performed a miracle with the second longest kick in NFL history, giving the Bucs a stunning 23-21 victory and keeping hope alive for the 2006 season; and

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Pam Iorio, by virtue of the authority vested in me as

Mayor of the City of Tampa, Florida, do hereby proclaim Monday, October 23, 2006 as

“MATT BRYANT DAY”

in the City of Tampa, Florida, and urge all citizens to join me in congratulating him on his unforgettable winning kick that has inspired us all and will surely lead the Bucs on to a victorious 2006 season.

Dated in Tampa, Florida, this 23rd day of October, 2006.

 

[Sigmund Bloom]

Somewhere, Mike Herman is smiling.

 

[joffer]

i've never heard a roar in a sports bar like the one that erupted when that kick cleared the bar. i really wasn't rooting for any particular team, but that was cool

 

[Phase of the Game]

Good for him. They'll forget about that kick as soon as misses one to lose a game.

 

[flranger]

Big Buc fan here, watching the game and had the dilemma of my very own FFL stud tearing the heart out of me with 33 second left (Westbrook). Then the most improbable of improbables. The kick goes through and I just start yelling:

Holy Chiot, Holy Chiot, Holy Chiot, Holy Chiot

 

[BustedKnuckles]

Is`nt this the same guy who missed a tying 29 yard field goal against the bears recently

 

[bostonfred]

Is`nt this the same guy who missed a tying 29 yard field goal against the bears recently

So he's back to even, karma-wise, thanks to an extremely unlikely kick. Good for him. If you want, I'll ask the mayor of Tampa to declare a BustedKnuckles day. Help me out, though: what have you done to earn it?

 

[Mike Herman]

Bryant said he initially did not grasp the significance of booting the third-longest field goal in league history to beat the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, but that it was beginning to sink in. Instead of celebrating with a night out on the town following the 23-21 victory, Bryant had dinner with friends before going home to spend time with his three-week-old son, Tre, who was born prematurely and had been hospitalized until last Tuesday. "Don't get me wrong. I guess I didn't really realize how much of a big deal the kick was. ... To me, it's 'We won the game,"' Bryant said.

Bryant's kick was the longest of his career by 12 yards, and the second-longest game-winner behind Dempsey's record-setter for New Orleans on Nov. 8, 1970 - five years before the Tampa Bay kicker was born. Once in college at Baylor, Bryant said he was goofing around on a "really, really windy" day and kicked a 74-yarder. But until Sunday, he hadn't been much of a long-range threat in the NFL, attempting just two field goals of 50 or more yards. "It's just one of those deals where everything went right at the right time," he said. "I don't know how much better it can get than that other than doing it in the Super Bowl or something like that. Everything was perfect at that point in time."

Part of coach Jon Gruden's decision to go for the field goal, instead of throwing a desperation pass, was based on Bryant making two 54-yarders in practice and booming his last kickoff against the Eagles into the end zone. Before the winning kick, Bryant was 1-for-4 beyond 40 yards this season, the only successful try a 44-yarder earlier Sunday. "I just had a feeling if he got the ball up, if we could protect where he could really get the ball up, he could make it," Gruden said.

linkP.S. I hope everyone has a happy Matt Bryant Day.

 

[Joe Bryant]

You have GOT to like that.

J

 

[Capella]

Is`nt this the same guy who missed a tying 29 yard field goal against the bears recently

recently = a year ago?

 

[NorvilleBarnes]

I posted this in the game thread but in the press conference Gruden talked about the factors leading to his decision to try the FG instead of going for it on 4th down. One of factors was he watched back-to-back 60 yard FG's going that direction in pregame warmups. The kicker: David Akers.

 

[Rynomite]

The crazy thing is this was done at sea-level, with 90+% humidity, open air stadium. I've criticized him as much as any but THAT was impressive! Plus, he had another 2-3 yards on it!

Weren't the 63 yarders in a dome and in Mile-high?

 

[MLBrandow]

I posted this in the game thread but in the press conference Gruden talked about the factors leading to his decision to try the FG instead of going for it on 4th down. One of factors was he watched back-to-back 60 yard FG's going that direction in pregame warmups. The kicker: David Akers.

Missed the post-game conference, but that is interesting to note!

 

[Capella]

The crazy thing is this was done at sea-level, with 90+% humidity, open air stadium. I've criticized him as much as any but THAT was impressive! Plus, he had another 2-3 yards on it!Weren't the 63 yarders in a dome and in Mile-high?

I think Dempsey's was at Tulane Stadium, not in a dome.

 

[NorvilleBarnes]

The crazy thing is this was done at sea-level, with 90+% humidity, open air stadium. I've criticized him as much as any but THAT was impressive! Plus, he had another 2-3 yards on it!Weren't the 63 yarders in a dome and in Mile-high?

I think Dempsey's was at Tulane Stadium, not in a dome.

Could be right, I'm stumped.

 

[cracKer]

Watching the game on NFL Replay, it's funny how many knocks they get in on Bryant earlier in the game. They talked about Philly having a good kicker, something that Tampa does not, and they were questioning whether or not they were in range during the 3rd quarter (app 50 yarder)

 

[SSOG]

Tampa dropped the ball on this one, big time. That should have been Ronde Barber day long before it was Matt Bryant day. Not only did Ronde outscore Bryant 12-11, but he also came perilously close to outgaining the entire Buccaneers offense.

 

[QUEZILLA]

The crazy thing is this was done at sea-level, with 90+% humidity, open air stadium. I've criticized him as much as any but THAT was impressive! Plus, he had another 2-3 yards on it!Weren't the 63 yarders in a dome and in Mile-high?

He would have been able to kick a 70 yard FG if it were in Mile High.

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

The crazy thing is this was done at sea-level, with 90+% humidity, open air stadium. I've criticized him as much as any but THAT was impressive! Plus, he had another 2-3 yards on it!Weren't the 63 yarders in a dome and in Mile-high?

I think Dempsey's was at Tulane Stadium, not in a dome.

Could be right, I'm stumped.