He was a throwback to the days when fullbacks actually ran the ball. From the Orlando Sentinel-
Fullback Mike Alstott, maybe the most beloved player in Tampa Bay Buccaneers history, announced his retirement after 12 record-breaking seasons during an emotional morning news conference at team headquarters.Alstott was a good player. Most fullbacks today have two jobs- block and occasionally go out for a pass. Run the ball? Maybe I've watched too much Miami Dolphin football over the last 10 years, but FBs taking handoffs seems to be something from a long ago era. It would shock me to see Miami use a FB like they did with Csonka in the 70's, or even Andra Franklin from the 80's, these days. Enjoy your retirement Mike."Mentally, I feel like I can continue; physically I can't," said Alstott, the franchise's all-time leader in touchdowns. "I'm very sad to be walking away from the game I love."
Alstott, 34, spent the entire 2007 season on injured reserve after suffering his second neck injury in less than four years during training camp at Disney's Wide World of Sports last August.
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Alstott had a laundry list of people to thank, starting with former coach Tony Dungy, who along with former General Manager Rich McKay made Alstott the team's second-round pick (35th overall) in the 1996 draft.
Alstott rewarded the Bucs with 5,088 career yards, a team-record 71 touchdowns (including 58 on the ground), 305 receptions, six Pro Bowl appearances and seven playoff berths during a career defined by a blue-collar style and the club's rise from laughingstock franchise to world champion.
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