Bryant, Bucs Handle Load Against Pack Joe Henderson, The Tampa Tribune, published 29 September 2008 All anyone can say is, we can't imagine it. Not really. So there will be no attempt to wrap up Matt Bryant's performance Sunday against the Packers into some pretty box of hype, just because he kicked three field goals – including one with 2:26 to play that put the Bucs ahead for good in a 30-21 victory against Green Bay. He deserves cheers. He deserves hugs. We know what he went through last week with the death of his infant son and we know how crushingly heavy his heart must have been when he showed up for the game. He is a professional and he did his job. The cheers he received were nice, of course, but what he really needs is time and support. For as much attention as it received, this was still just a football game. There is no way to measure the respect people should have for him, just as they should any parent that goes through something like this. We need say no more. BLUE PLATE SPECIAL I guess the old men still have it, eh? There was Derrick Brooks out there Sunday, romping around like a colt – intercepting a pass that the Bucs turned into a touchdown, making tackles for losses, almost intercepting another pass, and then causing a fumble that Jermaine Phillips picked up and ran to the end zone. And there was Warrick Dunn, slithering through holes like it was 2000 all over again or turning short passes into 17-yard gain with a juke move on Packers' linebacker Nick Barnett. The Bucs turned that into an easy field goal. PERHAPS GLUE WOULD HELP Something has to give with wide receiver Michael Clayton. He had two more passes doink off his hands, including one that turned into an interception for Brian Griese at the Packers 5. This, as dedicated Bucs watchers know, has been a real problem for Clayton since his 80-catch season as a rookie in 2004. Since then, in 44 games over three-plus seasons, he has 96 catches. Seems like he has at least that many drops, too. Clayton also got flagged for offensive pass interference when the Bucs were trying to rally in the fourth quarter. Griese certainly didn't need much help in looking bad in this one. He had three picks, including one particularly awful pass that was returned 62 yards for a touchdown by Green Bay's Charles Woodson. Give him props, though, for a third-down scramble that kept the Bucs' final drive alive. CAN'T SAY THEY DIDN'T TRY We give Jon Gruden a lot of grief for not running the ball more but there was much better balance in this game, especially compared to the bombs-away effort at Chicago. The Packers didn't dedicate their defense to stopping the run, like the Bears did, so there were some opportunities there for Dunn and Earnest Graham. Although, I suggest, it doesn't always matter if they do try to stop it. Green Bay surely knew the Bucs weren't going to put the ball in the air at the end of the game but it didn't stop Graham from ripping off a 47-yard run to the Packers 1 that basically clinched the game. JACKSON COMING ALONG We're starting to see a lot more out of second-round draft pick Dexter Jackson, who had a 45-yard kickoff return and a 19-yard punt return. It's not hard to imagine him breaking a couple of those for touchdowns before this season is out. He is becoming more comfortable each week, it seems, and he clearly has that extra gear needed by players at his position.