A Measure of Toughness

Buccaneers kicker Matt Bryant made the tackle on the opening kickoff today. That he's on the field is a wonder. Bryant's 3-month-old son Tryson died Wednesday morning.

My personal take is: Play, don't play, whatever it takes to get you and your family through this day, this week, the future. There is no handbook to consult.

Whether he's playing out of a sense of obligation, duty, release or habit isn't relevant. He may not know exactly why he chose to play other than it felt the right thing to do (I hope to talk to him after the game).

All that said, it's a helluva thing.