Falcons kicker Matt Bryant is pleased that the franchise wants to retain his services and is hopeful that a deal can be worked out before he becomes a free agent on March 14.
“They’ve started,” Bryant told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Thursday during a post-career business seminar. “They’ve been talking on and off for a couple of weeks now. So, I’ll just let the process take its way. Hopefully, we can get something done.”
Bryant, 42, is coming off a strong season and wants to keep playing.
“I’ve been asked that question a bunch, just from the people back in my hometown and just across the whole spectrum,” Bryant said about how long he wants to play. “For me, my initial feeling is as long as I can be significant.
“I guess somebody would say what’s the definition of being significant. I would say last year was a very good example.”
Bryant became the franchise’s all-time scoring leader when he scored in 806th point in 2016, surpassing Morten Andersen.
Bryant scored his 1,000th point with the franchise last season on a game-winning 52-yard field goal to beat the Saints in December. In 2017, Bryant was a perfect 38-for-38 on extra points and 39-for-44 on field goals, including going 10-for-11 on field goal attempts over 50 yards.
Bryant showed no signs of slowing down. He was the Falcons key offensive weapon last season, the reason they reached the playoffs with a regular-season win over the Panthers and won a playoff game on the road against the Rams. He made nine field goals in the two games.
“I was 10 of 11 from 50-plus,” Bryant said. “Another good example would be the Carolina game and the L.A. game, when I had to kick those 50-yarders. We were maybe up by like six and I made that field goal and we went up by two scores. If I miss it, now they are already at midfield. So, as long as I can keep doing that, I want to be asset. I don’t want to be just going through the motions.”
The Titans signed Ryan Succop, 31, to a five-year, $20 million deal on Tuesday. He received $7.5 million guaranteed.
The Colts announced a new deal Adam Vinatieri on Thursday, reportedly a one-year deal worth $3.625 million. Vinatieri, who will be 46, is No. 2 all-time in points (2,487) and field goals (559). He needs 58 points to surpass Hall of Famer Andersen (2,544) as the game’s all-time leading scorer.
About the Author
