Garcia, Bryant keep Buccaneers' air attack going

Updated: October 23, 2008, 4:42 PM ET
Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. -- With Jeff Garcia throwing and Antonio Bryant catching, a banged-up Tampa Bay Buccaneers passing attack has made a stirring comeback.

Just like Garcia and Bryant.

Garcia, who fell out of favor earlier this season before replacing injured starter Brian Griese two games ago, has completed 78.5 percent of his passes and thrown for a touchdown in his last two starts. Bryant, who missed all of last season because of various disciplinary issues, caught six passes for 115 yards and his first TD in a win over Seattle last week.

On Sunday, the Bucs face a strife-torn Dallas Cowboy team that's missing three of its secondary starters. Bucs receivers Ike Hilliard and Joe Galloway may not play, so the Bucs will be counting heavily on the Garcia-Bryant connection.

"Antonio is settling in now at the split end position and obviously Jeff getting all the reps on the practice field the last couple of weeks has helped us," Bucs coach Jon Gruden said. "So hopefully (the Seattle win) is the start of something big."

Garcia, 38, still exhibits the mobility he did in earlier stops. Though his resume is impressive -- he's the first quarterback in the Super Bowl era to start a playoff game for three different division champions -- he's played for five teams in the last six seasons. Injuries cost him much of the 2004 and '05 seasons, and combined with age, his marketability was limited before signing with the Bucs last season.

"For me, it's finding a way to be competitive, finding a way to have that competitive edge on a yearly basis," Garcia said. "I know that there are always young guys coming in and trying to knock you out of the way, or at this point in my career, out the door."

Griese joined the team as a free agent and won the starting job this season but was bothered by shoulder and elbow injuries, opening the door for Garcia. Against Seattle, Garcia threw for 310 yards and frequently scrambled out of trouble.

"He drove the ball in some tight holes a couple times," Gruden said. "He was alive. He was fresh. He looked great to me. He was 27 out of 36, two of the incompletions he clocked it, and I think two or three of the balls were dropped."

Bryant is coming back from a different set of problems. The former Pitt standout has tantalized with promise. Drafted by the Cowboys in 2002, he started opposite Michael Irvin and had 44 catches, second-most by a rookie.

His production fell off slightly in 2003 and he was traded to Cleveland after five games in '04. He blossomed with the Browns, setting career highs in catches (69) and yards (1,009). After signing with San Francisco in '06, he had a productive season before he was arrested for driving under the influence and resisting arrest. He was suspended for four games by the NFL and released in March 2007 -- and no team showed any interest until the Bucs picked him up in March.

"I think Antonio recognizes the future's now, you've got to take advantage of the opportunity," Gruden said. "And that he is. He's leading our team, really, from an offensive standpoint. He's at the top of the board in terms of effort. He's been a team guy and I'm really happy for his success."

"We call him a pit bull," wide receiver Michael Clayton said. "But I tell you what, his attitude's been great."

Bryant scored on a 47-yard pass against Seattle, his first TD catch since December 2006.

"I think it is a matter of being patient," Bryant said. "Sometimes you want to be more involved. But when you're on a successful team like I am, I'm more happy with winning than anything. I know my opportunities will come."

Game notes
Hilliard, sandwiched between two defenders against Seattle, said he blacked out for about 15 seconds. He said he's uncertain if he'll play against Dallas. ... RBs Warrick Dunn and Cadillac Williams are expected back from injuries.


Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

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