Who says kickers aren't tough?
 

Why are athletes given so much credit for doing their job in the midst of tragedies? Or better yet, why should more credit be given to someone who leaves their family to go play or work, rather than the someone who forgoes those things to be with his family?

Whether he kicked or not has nothing to do with the tragedy of a kid dying. The media plays up faux sympathy for its own purposes. This guy retires, and the next year his kid dies, they won't care a lick.

It actually has brought to light an even larger problem that the NFL doesn't have any kind of bereavement policy. If Bryant had not played, he wouldn't have been paid and Tampa would've had to cut someone to add a kicker for the week.

Tough situation for him though...