Bryant silent but deadly

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 15/06/2009 (5952 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s a good thing Romby Bryant doesn’t get paid by the word. If that were the case he’d surely go broke. But the standout receiver with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers is paid for catches, yards and touchdown catches, and by those standard he’s doing just fine.

Romby Bryant doesn’t talk to the media but come game time he’s shown the more important ability to speak with his play.

Bryant, who the Bombers signed to a contract extension this past winter, started in all 18 games with the club last season making 65 catches for a team leading 1,206 yards and a team high nine receiving touchdowns. With speed galore, Bryant is always a threat to rip off a long pass and catch and was third in the CFL last season with a flashy 18.6 yards-per-catch average.

Hey, from where we’re standing that’s something to talk about.

But Bryant’s silence doesn’t prevent his peers from discussing his virtues.

"He’s a guy of less words but he’s a guy that loves to compete. He comes out and practises hard. He’s one of our hardest workers," said fellow Bombers receiver Derick Armstrong.

"He doesn’t say much but when he wants to get his point across, he will let you know. He can raise his voice. He’s a guy that won’t say much and mostly let’s his play do the talking. He shows love around the locker-room but you media, he just doesn’t like to talk to. But that’s just him."

Armstrong says Bryant’s speed is his biggest attribute on the football field.

"He can go get it," extolled Armstrong. "His trait is speed. His turnover is so amazing that he’s downfield in a hurry. That’s his biggest thing. He can catch the ball too. That just goes with it. You have to catch it if you want to go deep."

Slotback Terrence Edwards says Bryant’s competitive will is what makes him a top receiver and not just a track star.

"He’s a competitor. He competes at everything. And he’s loyal to his teammates," explained Edwards.

"You could see that last year when (Eskimos linebacker Augie Barrenechea) hit Kevin Glenn late. Romby was clear across the field and came back and got in his shot. You’re not going to hit his quarterback like that."

"Coach (Doug) Berry said, ‘Romby, I have to fine you for what you did but I appreciate you taking up for your teammate because you’re not going to let anybody do your teammate like that.’ So that’s just how he is.

"He’s going to be loyal and fight to the death for you. If he gets one yard or 1,000 yards, he’s going to be the same."

Edwards says folks should expect Bryant to do as much and more this season as he settles into his second year with the Bombers.

"He had a monster season last year. He came on the scene and nobody knew much about him, but they did by the end of the season," said Edwards.

"You’re going to have to do something to stop him. Double him or bring a safety over the top because you can’t cover him with one guy. He’s going to catch the deep ball and make big plays. He had nine touchdowns last year and six of them were for 75 yards or more. He’ll hurt you."

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca