Bryant feeling left out of offense The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are on their second offensive coordinator and their third quarterback. Feeling lost in the shuffle of all that change is franchise wide receiver Antonio Bryant. Almost a year after turning in a breakout 83-catch, seven-touchdown season, Bryant says he's been reduced to an afterthought in the Bucs' offense. "I'm just trying to help the team win, that's all. And there's a better chance of winning when you get people that make plays the ball,'' Bryant said today. "A perfect example, look at Atlanta. Their last drive – it was (Mike Jenkins), Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez. That's all you saw. That's what you get paid for. That's the responsibility that's laid upon your shoulders, to go out there and make plays. But it hasn't been like that.'' The Falcons scored on a 5-yard pass to White with 23 seconds left to beat the Bucs 20-17 in Atlanta on Sunday. Bryant has been targeted 47 times as a receiver this year, and only twice has he been the leading target in a game. He is the team's third-leading receiver with 22 catches for 360 yards and three touchdowns. Bryant has missed three games because of a knee injury. He had surgery in August to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. "There are plays that are there, but especially with me being hurt, I don't have my own section on the play sheet any more," Bryant said. "I know that for a fact." Bryant has hesitated to go to either offensive coordinator Greg Olson or rookie quarterback Josh Freeman and ask to be more involved, he said, because he has learned that's not the best approach. Bryant, who accepted a one-year contract worth $9.8 million after the Bucs placed their franchise tag on him in the offseason, has missed games and practice time because of the sore knee. But he does not think chemistry between he and the quarterbacks is an issue. Veteran Byron Leftwich started the first three games of the season, second-year pro Josh Johnson the next four and Freeman the past four. "I can't say it's chemistry,'' said Bryant, 28. "Me and Leftwich hadn't played and we came out in the Dallas game and had two big plays back to back. So you can't say it's a chemistry thing. At the end of the day, it's just that we have different things we're trying to do here. We're heading in a different direction.'' The team's focus is largely on developing Freeman, the No. 17 overall draft pick. Though it could be a year or two before the Bucs return to playoff contention, Bryant seems willing to wait. Bryant, scheduled to become a free agent at the end of the season, would like to return to Tampa Bay. "With a guy like Josh Freeman, yeah; all day,'' Bryant said. " I like some of the things Coach Raheem (Morris) is doing, even though a lot of that doesn't involve me. It's not like I'm running around here asking for a bunch of money. I'm not even talking about money. I'm just trying to produce on the field. That's just what's in me." Roy Cummings, The Tampa Tribune 3 December 2009