Antonio Bryant reached out to a wide receiver this offseason

In Sarasota, the locals were again pulling for neighborhood star and former University of South Florida wide receiver Amarri Jackson to earn a spot on the Bucs roster.

For the second year in a row, their hopes were quashed, as Jackson was released Friday.

Sarasota Herald-Tribune reporter Tom Balog followed Jackson closely with the Bucs this offseason and offered a glimpse inside his struggle to make the team.

It seems Antonio Bryant and Sgt. Kellen Winslow were stepping up to lead the young man at One Buc Palace.

Bryant and [Winslow] both called out Jackson on occasion during the team’s organized team activities and mini-camp.

“If they see me slacking at anything, that’s what the two of them do,” Jackson said. “Because they both know me well.”

Jackson was one of nine receivers at this week’s mandatory mini-camp, a position the team is determined to upgrade.

“He has the talent, he’s just got to apply himself,” Bryant said on Tuesday. “He’s got the talent, everybody sees that. He can run the routes, especially for his stature.

“But it’s just about applying himself and understanding, you know?

“We’re trying to keep everybody accountable to us out here. We demand from him. You drop balls, get your (self) back in line.”

Bryant asserting himself in a leadership role fires Joe up. Joe likes Bryant. He’s likely the best interview on the Bucs. And he struggles to get by on his franchise player salary; the guy is always battling.

The hope hear is that Bryant emerges as a vocal and inspirational presence for the Bucs but doesn’t resort to communicating via Twitter. Surely, Bill Parcells would be one of Bryant’s followers, which could only lead to no good.