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Bucs' Alstott retires after 12 years By FRED GOODALL, AP Sports Writer
Thu Jan 24, 1:14 PM ET

TAMPA, Fla. - Six-time Pro Bowl fullback Mike Alstott announced his retirement after 12 seasons Thursday, saying goodbye to the NFL during a tearful news conference in a meeting room where the Buccaneers played a highlight film of some of his most memorable plays.

The Bucs all-time touchdown leader spent the 2007 season on injured reserve with a neck problem that was not related to a career-threatening injury that required surgery in 2003. He held little hope for a return, but still had difficulty saying his career was over.

"Though mentally I feel like I can continue, physically I can't," he said. "The second injury to my neck will prevent me from playing football forever."

Flanked on a podium by his wife, coach Jon Gruden, general manager Bruce Allen and executive vice president Bryan Glazer, Alstott choked up on three different occasions while talking about how difficult it will be to not be around his teammates on a daily basis.

"If you needed a yard, Mike would get you two," said Glazer, one of the sons of Bucs owner Malcolm Glazer. "If you needed to grind out the game at the end, Mike was the man for you."

Arguably the most popular player in franchise history, Alstott was better known for bouncing off defenders and breaking tackles than as a traditional fullback whose job was to block for a featured runner.

He was selected to play in the Pro Bowl six consecutive seasons from 1997-2002, however his role in the offense diminished dramatically after Gruden arrived in Tampa Bay six seasons ago.

In 12 seasons, he rushed for 5,088 yards, second on the Bucs' career list. He also caught 305 passes for 2,284 yards and 13 TDs.

Glazer said 7,325 players have played since 1990. Alstott is the 18th during that span to play 11 or more seasons with one team and retire with that team.

Together with Derrick Brooks, Warren Sapp, John Lynch, Ronde Barber and former Bucs coach Tony Dungy, Alstott helped transform one of the NFL's worst franchises into a championship contender.

He entered the league as a second-round draft pick in 1996, and Glazer noted one of his two favorite Alstott moments came the following season when the fullback rumbled 31 yards for a TD that help the Bucs beat Detroit for their first playoff win in 18 years.

"It signified the beginning of a rebirth for this franchise," the team executive said, adding that his other favorite was Alstott's 2-yard TD run during Tampa Bay's victory over Oakland in the Super Bowl in January 2003.

"I lived in Chicago before we bought the Buccaneers, and I know how that town agonized over the fact that the great Walter Payton did not score a touchdown in its Super Bowl (victory)," Glazer said, turning toward Alstott. "I'm so happy that you had an opportunity to score a touchdown in this team's greatest time."

Alstott played down his personal accomplishments, instead stressing how gratifying it was to play with other outstanding players as part of a team that changed the perception of the franchise.

"We turned this into an elite organization," he said. "It's been a great ride, an unbelievable ride."


Sorry to see this hunk leaving the league. He was fun to watch.

Alstott was great in his day, but the NFL is a young mans game, and they don't last forever.

Good luck to him.

Just for you iam...

Alstott was the man back in his day, I remember him running people over in the Big Ten at Purdue also.

Good luck to you Mike, you were a joy to watch.

so this means Brian Leonard is the only white RB left, right?

Until Jacob Hester is drafted, at least.

I don't think you got her meaning.

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WTH??

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Is it that hard to follow? I know Alstott was a fullback technically but they utilized him as a RB. And its definitely not a common thing to have a white guy at running back.

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Is Brad Hoover still around? He started a couple games for the Panthers a few years back...

Yeah, in fact he's soon to be a free agent. Though I don't think he's gotten many touches for Carolina with DeShaun Foster. They've got him as the primary fullback, but only a backup goal line back. He had 39 yards on 12 attempts, and 58 yards on 10 receptions this past year.

Congrats to Alstott on a great career.

Anybody heard of the fullback Schmitt from West Virginia?

When I saw Schmitt from West Virginia rumble for a TD against Oklahoma this year the first thing I said to myself was that he is the next Alstott.

Owen Schmidt. I think he's got good potential. He's shown he can run, catch, and be a pretty solid lead blocker. He'd be a good pickup for a team wanting to utilize a versatile fullback in their offensive gameplan. Bills maybe?

Damn, I liked Alstott.

Maybe the paper headlines should read "Last White RB to retire from the NFL"

I was thinking that exact same thing.

Always one of my favorate players...tuff as nails,

I remember when he was at Purdue and the stories of him pulling cars around the parking lot to build up his leg muscles,

Alstott was one of my favorite players back in the day. I used to try to mimic him when I played FB. But, better to quit now than be paralyzed.

A rare breed, start to finish with the same team. We need more of these guys.

Pit, you certainly have a logic all your own.