FOOTBALL: Bryant tweets he’s released by Falcons
Published 1:05 pm Wednesday, February 6, 2019
- Matt Bryant
Veteran kicker Matt Bryant, a standout at Bridge City High School, tweeted Wednesday morning that he is being released by the Atlanta Falcons.
Bryant, who turns 44 in May, had two years and $7 million left on his contract. He was due to make $3.5 million next season. Releasing him saves $2,833,332 against the 2019 salary cap.
#theshowmustgoon pic.twitter.com/J63iycYTSY
— matt bryant (@Matt_Bryant3) February 6, 2019
“I take great pride in my body of work on and off the field,” Bryant said in the tweet.
Bryant, who has dealt with some nagging leg and back injuries, also said he’s looking forward to bringing success and consistency to his next team, with no plans to retire.
Over this past year I’ve been asked numerous times about retirement and how I feel. Well, I’m not retiring and I feel fine and plan on feeling even better with some changes to my offseason program!
— matt bryant (@Matt_Bryant3) February 6, 2019
During his stint with the Falcons, Bryant made 250 of 282 field goals (88.7 percent), including 36 of 46 from 50-plus yards. He also made 372 of 375 extra points during his 10 seasons with the Falcons. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 2016.
The Falcons likely will turn to Giorgio Tavecchio as their kicker. Tavecchio, who is signed through 2019 and will make $645,000 during the 2019 season, made all five of his field goals and all eight extra points in place of Bryant last season.
I.C. Murrell was promoted to editor of The News, effective Oct. 14, 2019. He previously served as sports editor since August 2015 and has won or shared eight first-place awards from state newspaper associations and corporations. He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, grew up mostly in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and graduated from the University of Arkansas at Monticello.
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