Former Cowboys Kicker Matt Bryant Loses An Infant Son

[Hostile]

Buccaneers kicker Bryant's infant son passes away

By Pat Yasinskas
ESPN.com

Updated: September 24, 2008, 4:38 PM ET

TAMPA, Fla.

-- The infant son of Tampa Bay Buccaneers (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=tam) kicker Matt Bryant (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=4333) died Wednesday morning, coach Jon Gruden said.

Matthew Tryson Bryant apparently died in his sleep, Gruden said. The coach said he did not know any further details. The child was born June 16.

"We're shocked and very saddened by this," Gruden said.

Gruden said he was unsure if Bryant will play in Sunday's game against Green Bay, and that the situation would be addressed later in the week.

"The entire Buccaneer family is deeply saddened by this tragedy. 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," Buccaneers general manager Bruce Allen said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Matt and Melissa during this difficult time.''

Pat Yasinskas covers the NFC South for ESPN.com.

[Idgit]

Yuck. I feel sick just thinking about it.

[jumanji]

sucks...my life would be over without my son in it.

either sids or the kid rolled over and sufficated. we had baby bumbers to prevent the kid from rolling over.

[Hostile]

14 years and 2 days after I lost mine.

No one should out live their child. It hurts.

[Nors]

thats terrible

Gruden needs to give him a week off - JMO
Family more important than Sunday

[tyke1doe]

14 years and 2 days after I lost mine.

No one should out live their child. It hurts.

As one father to another, I feel your pain. Maybe not empathetically, but sympathetically.

When you're a dad and you love your children, you might not be able to feel exactly as another dad who lost his child feels, but you experience a certain amount of sympathy that's real because you can imagine how it would feel if the same happened to you.

[djtavo]

if i ever have a kid and he dies, i will go with him.

[zrinkill]

Horrible.

[CrazyCowboy]

Terrible......I pray for his family

[braw]

14 years and 2 days after I lost mine.

No one should out live their child. It hurts.

I feel your pain..My wife and I had a 9 month still birth 11 yrs ago.

Feel for Matt's wife and Him, My prayers go out to them.

[SultanOfSix]

It could have been SIDS. It's a shame. It really must be tough.

[Cbz40]

My prayer go out to Matt and his family.

[BigDFan5]

That is horrible, as a father I dont know what I would do if something like this happened, its just terrible to think about

Prayers to the Bryant family

[ThreeSportStar80]

Man, that's TRULY heartbreaking... God bless the Bryant and Bucs family! :pray:

[parchy]

Former Baylor kicker, too. Just terrible.

[DragonCowboy]

Wow. I can only imagine how that'd feel.

Prayers with Bryant and the baby.

[Eskimo]

sucks...my life would be over without my son in it.

either sids or the kid rolled over and sufficated. we had baby bumbers to prevent the kid from rolling over.

The new recommendations are nothing in the crib (including baby bumpers) and child flat on his/her back. No smoking in the household. Be careful not to overbundle them when they are sick.

Other than that, it is just bad luck.

[LeonDixson]

I can't think of anything worse than losing a child. God Bless Matt and his wife.

[HoleInTheRoof]

God bless the Bryant family, as well as anyone who ever has, and unfortunately will, suffer the loss of one of the Lords little angels.

[Tenkamenin]

Very sad, my heart goes out to his family

[Dallas]

sucks...my life would be over without my son in it.

either sids or the kid rolled over and sufficated. we had baby bumbers to prevent the kid from rolling over.

I couldn't agree more. I wouldn't want to live w/o my son.

So sad to hear this. Such a tragedy.

[Boyzmamacita]

Prayers and condolences to the Bryant family.

[big dog cowboy]

Wow. What a sad story. I really feel for them. I can't imagine what they must be going thru. God bless Matt Bryant and his family.

[28bringinthewood]

Prayers are with Matt and his family! How horrible.

Prayers are with you and your family too Hostile. This must be a painful time of year for you.

[Kilyin]

I used to worry about that happening when my daughter was that age (she's 20 months now) because of all the horrible tragedies you hear/read about like this.

I can't imagine the pain and grief their family must be enduring. Just depressing to even think about, really.

[Yeagermeister]

My condolences to the Bryant family

[Aikmaniac]

It's been a really tough day at One Buc. Gruden didn't tell the players until after practice. They were, to say the least, taken aback.

[newlander]

i'm so sorry hostile......god bless.................

[cowboys4life]

Oh man my heart breaks for he and his wife!!
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Bryants! Ive gone through that somewhat having lost a child before birth at 6 and half months into the pregnancy!!
I cant imagine!! :(

[newlander]

I remember when he beat the Eagirls a couple years ago at the gun with about a 60 yarder: he's a great kicker, seems like a very solid individual in interviews too. I'm praying for him tonight..............

[GimmeTheBall!]

Life can really suck sometimes.

In our hearts, Matthew and family.

[Da Hammer]

heard about it earlier on ESPN and its a shame i cant even imagine how horrible Matt Bryant and his wife feel... my thoughts and prayers are already with them and i really hope they recover n live on to their best of their ability in memory of their son!

[DallasDomination]

:( :( :( :( OMG that is horrible:( :( :(

If I lost my baby boy I would go insane. Seriously I dont even want to think about it. My heart goes out to the family.

Now I'm going to check on my baby Julian..

[monkey]

Man that is a horrible thing to go through. As soon as I read about it, I had to go check on my young son. Just a tragedy. My heart goes out to them.

[ladiewolve]

:( How devastating:( I have been through it myself , and every time I hear of it happening to someone else, it brings it all back for me as well. You never fully get over it. My heart and prayers are with them.

[DaBoys4Life]

I think its a shame when someone so young passes away. I love kids and I don't think I could take it if it happened to one of my answer and we had a really close call one night. I hope him the best and his family this is indeed a tragedy.

[playmakers]

Im sorry to hear this. Best wishes to the Bryant family to somehow pull through this. Im sorry again.

[JeffInDC]

That is just the worst thing for any parent to go through. I remember watching my aunt have to bury my cousin (although he wasn't an infant, he was still just a kid in his early 20's) and how "numb" she seemed to be a couple of years after the fact. I just can't imagine waht they are going through right now.

God Bless their family.

[Coakleys Dad]

god bless

[Boom]

I had to close this thread and go hug my kids again.

[Faerluna]

Losing a child has to be one of the worst things a person can ever experience. God be with anyone that's had to go through that.

[jobberone]

Thank God I've never lost a child. I did lose a brother when I was five. I've asked my mother how she went on. She said you have no choice. She had the rest of her family to care for. She still cries when it comes up. I can't imagine the grief. For those here my heart goes out to you. God Bless the Bryant family in their time of need and grief.

[djmajestik]

if i ever have a kid and he dies, i will go with him.

Exactly. I have raised my son since he was 7 months on my own (he is now 6) and I couldn't live even a second without him.

[Fletch]

Thank God I've never lost a child. I did lose a brother when I was five. I've asked my mother how she went on. She said you have no choice. She had the rest of her family to care for. She still cries when it comes up. I can't imagine the grief. For those here my heart goes out to you. God Bless the Bryant family in their time of need and grief.

My heart definitely goes out to the Bryant family. I have never lost a sibling. But have lost a father. My wife though, back in 07', miscarried. It was sad, but too soon to really know exactly how it truly feels to lose a baby that you've actually held in your arms.

[Fletch]

I had to close this thread and go hug my kids again.

God bless ya!

[WoodysGirl]

MATT BRYANT ISSUES STATEMENT ON HIS SON’S DEATH (http://www.profootballtalk.com/2008/09/25/matt-bryant-issues-statement-on-his-sons-death/)

Posted by Mike Florio on September 25, 2008, 10:00 a.m.
We were jarred on Wednesday to learn that the greatest fears of a parent had come to fruition for Bucs kicker Matt Bryant and his wife, Melissa.

Their infant son, Matthew Tryson, died in his sleep on Wednesday.

The Bryants issued the following statement on Wednesday evening:

“Melissa and I are overcome with the amount of support (http://www.pewterreport.com/articles/view/4682) 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 Bryants have five other young children, who surely are struggling to comprehend the sudden passing of their baby brother.

The Bryants have requested in lieu of flowers donations to the March of Dimes. We have a feeling that some of the six-figure members of PFT Planet might peel off a Ben Franklin or two for the cause.

Here’s the address: March of Dimes, 405 North Reo Street Suite 105, Tampa, FL 33609.

UPDATE: For those of you who no longer own pens or pencils, you can use this link (https://www.marchofdimes.com/howtohelp/donation_in_memory.asp).

[Joe Rod]

Ugh, this just tears me up thinking about it. Nothing has come even remotely close to the love that I have for my kids, so I can't even imagine what this family is going through. God bless them.

[visionary]

No one should out live their child.


truer words have not been spoken.