CINCINNATI — Antonio Bryant is the latest complementary receiver to Chad Ochocinco in Cincinnati.
Bryant signed a four-year deal with the Bengals on Friday. He ostensibly replaced Laveranues Coles, who spent the 2009 season with the team, but then was released.
"It was definitely a plus to me that this team really seemed to want me," Bryant said in a conference call. "The interest of the coaches and everyone in the organization made me feel comfortable. It's always easy to go out and perform when you're wanted as opposed to just being there to be there."
Bryant comes off a season in which he complained about a diminished role in Tampa Bay's offense. After recovering from surgery for torn cartilage in his left knee last year, Bryant had 39 catches for 600 yards and four touchdowns.
The previous year, Bryant revived his career after being out of football in 2007, finishing with 83 catches for 1,248 yards and seven touchdowns. Tampa Bay placed the franchise tag on Bryant, which assured him a salary of $9.88 million last season.
Then he became a free agent, and the Bengals, who also have contacted Terrell Owens, signed him one week into free agency for about $28 million over four years.
"You've got a dominant team that played well enough to be in the playoffs, and hopefully I can be an addition, as well as some guys to further that success," Bryant said.
Cincinnati is adamant about improving a passing game that ranked 26th last season.
"The players will notice the difference," offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said on the team's Web site. "It's not as big as the changes we made in the running game last year, but the passing game is getting the same kind of attention we gave the running game in the offseason last year."
On Friday, the Bengals also signed receiver and kick returner Chris Davis, a third-year pro from Florida State. The former Tennessee Titan sat out last season after an injury settlement.