Bryant was angry with Falcons, but now all is forgiven for kicker

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Matt Bryant can admit it now: He was angry when the Atlanta Falcons decided to cut him during the offseason. All is forgiven.

The 44-year-old is back with the team after missing the entire preseason, confident that he’s still one of the NFL’s best kickers.

“I would be lying to say I wasn’t upset,” Bryant conceded. “But that’s in the past. We’re here right now. I’m going to give it all I have to help this team win.”

He’s been with the Falcons for nearly a decade, surpassing Hall of Famer Morten Andersen as the franchise’s leading career scorer and establishing a level of confidence that makes his teammates rest easy anytime he trots onto the field.

Bryant has missed only three extra points (out of 375) and 32 field-goal attempts (out of 282) since coming to Atlanta during the 2009 season. Inside of 40 yards, he’s essentially automatic with a 94 percent success rate. Even from long range, the team can usually count on adding three points to its side of the scoreboard (he’s 36 of 46 on kicks of at least 50 yards).

Safety Ricardo Allen compared it to boarding a flight in the modern world.

“Back in the day, when you got on an airplane, most people prayed, and everybody was nervous about whether the plane was going to go down or not,” Allen said with a smile. “But nowadays, you don’t see people praying before they get on a plane. Everybody gets on there, and it’s like you just take the plane and get to where you go.

“It’s kind of like that with 3 (Bryant’s number) when he gets out on the field. Most kickers you’re praying with. With him, it’s just like, ‘OK, he’s got this. He’s done this long enough. He knows what he’s doing.’ Man, it’s just great to have him back around.”

Despite his success, the Falcons decided to cut ties after Bryant missed three games last season with a hamstring injury. Giorgio Tavecchio was 15 years younger, he was cheaper, and he did a good job filling in while Bryant was out.

But, with no competition, Tavecchio struggled mightily during the preseason, making just 4 of 9 field-goal tries. Before the final exhibition game, the team brought in Blair Walsh for a quick look, even though he didn’t kick at all in the NFL last season.

In the end, the Falcons had little choice except to return to the guy they had all along.

Fortunately, any hard feelings melted away quickly.

“It’s a good lesson in doing things the right way,” coach Dan Quinn said. “When Matt left, he didn’t leave the brotherhood of the Falcons.”

Bryant’s agent talked with several other teams, but nothing panned out. When the Falcons called, they quickly hammered out a one-year, $3 million deal.

“As a competitor, all you want is the opportunity to go out there and compete and do the best that you can. I still feel like I have it in me,” Bryant said. “Not because I say so, but because my numbers say so. I’m pretty good, and I want to keep on doing it as long as I can.”

Bryant