The Tuna, Dolphins executive Bill Parcells, is sending messages to Bucs receiver Antonio Bryant through intermediaries. Since Bryant is an unrestricted free agent after the season, Joe considers this tampering.

Not sure if JoeBucsFan.com visitors have read the fantastic piece on Antonio Bryant yet, about how the embattled wide receiver found his way to Tampa Bay. But please do yourself a favor. It’s a fascinating read.

After a second look at the story, an element jumped out at Joe that disturbed him concerning Bryant’s relationship with current Dolphins executive Bill Parcells, the Tuna, who Bryant refers to as “The Godfather:”

Yet Bryant says he and Parcells cleared the air, with the coach informing the receiver of his clashes with former Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor. Bryant says he has spoken to Parcells “on several occasions” and that the current Dolphins executive vice president “sends messages to me through other coaches.”

Among the messages: “Keep it up,” Bryant says.

(Parcells declined interview requests for this story, a Dolphins spokesman said last week.)

Of course, Tuna won’t comment. He’s dangerously close to tampering. And if Tuna thinks so much of Bryant, why go through secondary sources? Oh, that’s right. That would be tampering, no?

Joe suggests Bucs fans keep an eye on this. If some how Bryant winds up on the Dolphins roster next year, Bruce Almighty should press tampering charges.