Gi-15
Mentor
Thanks for all the memories Mike, you were a great one!
Mike Alstott officially retires
- Thread starter Gi-15
- Start date
Message to Mike,
I enjoyed your career , but don't fake B$LLsh*t tears at your retirement ceremony. I am sick of this effeminate BS that men have embraced via the 60's revolution. Act like a man, it is just a game and you became rich for running a football.
I enjoyed your career , but don't fake B$LLsh*t tears at your retirement ceremony. I am sick of this effeminate BS that men have embraced via the 60's revolution. Act like a man, it is just a game and you became rich for running a football.
Alstott was my favorite player for a ten year period. Used to try to catch Purdue games whenever possible when he was there.
What a joke to have Gruden as part of the retirement ceremony, who even called Mike "brother." Spare me. Alstott's career was effectively over the day Gruden was hired to coach Tampa.
We all know Alstott's 5,000 career rushing yards should have been more than double that.
What a joke to have Gruden as part of the retirement ceremony, who even called Mike "brother." Spare me. Alstott's career was effectively over the day Gruden was hired to coach Tampa.
We all know Alstott's 5,000 career rushing yards should have been more than double that.
whiteathlete33
Hall of Famer
Alstott is one of the few white guys who actually got to run the ball. I remember one season he almost got 1000 yards but this was earlier in his career. Talk about strong this guy is an absolute beast in strength. He had a decent career. How much longer before we see the next Alsott? Maybe 10 more years the way things are going.
white is right
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Yes that was like having the boss who made you take a package at your retirement ceremony....Don Wassall said:
G
Guest
Guest
Hats off to Alstott, probably the last white player to be allowed to carry on a regular basis.
Colonel_Reb
Hall of Famer
I'm sad to see Mike go, but lets be optimistic, men! We have some more great RBs heading into the NFL. Who knows, they just might catch a break, or even weirder, be treated fairly. Miracles never cease. Hold your heads up!
Leonardfan
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Hopefully Leonard,Hillis, Hester and Schmidtt can help the cause. When is the last time there were 4 legit white RB's in the NFL?
here's a great article about Mike, writer remarks how Gruden most likely costed Alstott Hall of Fame spot. curiously, Gruden offered Mike RB coach position, he declined however. wouldn't it be something if Alstott went on to be a coach and got Hillis or Hester in Tampa?
·TAMPA - He ran with emotion. He walked away from the game the same way.
Choking up on three different occasions, Mike Alstott announced his retirement after 12 seasons Thursday during a tearful news conference.
In a team meeting room where the Bucs paid tribute to arguably the most popular player in franchise history, Alstott said goodbye to his teammates and to the fans that adored him.
"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."
Alstott, 34, spent this season on injured reserve after suffering a neck injury in training camp. The injury was unrelated to the one that threatened to end his career in 2003.
Although his retirement had been inevitable since August, Alstott said being on the sideline with his teammates helped him accept that he had made his last run as the A-Train.
"It's hard to stand in front of you today and say that dream is over," Alstott said.
Alstott wasn't alone. He was flanked on the dais by his wife, Nicole, Bucs vice president Bryan Glazer, general manager Bruce Allen and coach Jon Gruden.
Several teammates, including Ronde Barber, Michael Pittman, Chris Hovan, Jeff Garcia, Kevin Carter and Anthony Becht, attended the ceremony that concluded with a film of some of Alstott's greatest runs.
Before presenting Alstott's wife with 40 red roses (a tribute to her husband's No. 40), Glazer recounted some of his favorite runs made by the six-time Pro Bowl fullback - a 31-yard touchdown run against the Lions that helped give the Bucs their first playoff win in 18 years, and a 2-yard touchdown run against the Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII.
"If you needed a yard, Mike would get you two," Glazer said. "If you needed to grind out the game at the end, Mike was the man for you."
According to Glazer, 7,325 players have played since 1990. He said Alstott is the 18th during that span to play 11 or more seasons with one team and retire with that team.
A second-round pick from Purdue in 1996, Alstott helped transform the NFL's losingest franchise into a perennial playoff contender and eventual Super Bowl champion. Rather than dwelling on individual accomplishments, Alstott said he was most proud to be part of a core of players such as Derrick Brooks, Warren Sapp, John Lynch and Barber that reversed the team's fortunes.
"We came together to change the view of this organization and the way people perceived the Buccaneers as a football team," Alstott said. "We in that locker room established a chemistry that was like no other.
"Together, we put the Buccaneers on the map. The relationships with these guys is something that can never be taken away from me."
Known for his love of the game and punishing running style, Alstott retired as the Bucs' all-time leader in touchdowns (71) and rushing touchdowns (65, 58 regular season and seven postseason). But after making six straight Pro Bowls from 1997 to 2002, his role diminished under Gruden.
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 touchdowns.
"All I can do is celebrate a great career, an unbelievable career, as a player and a teammate," Gruden said.
Gruden actually did more than that. Before leaving for the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., on Monday, he offered Alstott a chance to become the Bucs' running backs coach. Alstott considered the opportunity for a week before declining, preferring to spend more time with his wife and three children. But he didn't rule out a role with the team in the future.
The meeting seemed to smooth over some rough spots for Alstott and Gruden, who never found much use for the Bucs captain in his offense and may have cost Alstott consideration for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Known for his punishing running style, Alstott always has been a fan favorite for his blue collar work ethic and the crowd erupted whenever they heard the horn calling for the A-Train.
"To the city of Tampa and all the Buccaneers fans, thank you," Alstott said. "My appreciation for you is truly can't be expressed. Your love and support over the past 12 years has been second to none. When we went on that field on Sundays, we weren't just playing for ourselves, we were playing for you.
"And although I will never experience the feeling of running out of the tunnel and hearing the roar of the crowd and the train horn, the memories you've given me will be forever. Thank you again for allowing me to call Tampa Bay my home."
Glazer said the Bucs will have a more extravagant celebration of Alstott's career at Raymond James Stadium during a regular- season game in 2008.
"It's been a great ride," Alstott said. ""An unbelievable ride."
By the numbers:
6 Pro Bowls, 1997-2002
12 Seasons with Bucs
35 Overall pick in 1996 draft (second round)
71 Career touchdowns, club record
5,088 Rushing yards, second in team history·
Edited by: backrow
·TAMPA - He ran with emotion. He walked away from the game the same way.
Choking up on three different occasions, Mike Alstott announced his retirement after 12 seasons Thursday during a tearful news conference.
In a team meeting room where the Bucs paid tribute to arguably the most popular player in franchise history, Alstott said goodbye to his teammates and to the fans that adored him.
"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."
Alstott, 34, spent this season on injured reserve after suffering a neck injury in training camp. The injury was unrelated to the one that threatened to end his career in 2003.
Although his retirement had been inevitable since August, Alstott said being on the sideline with his teammates helped him accept that he had made his last run as the A-Train.
"It's hard to stand in front of you today and say that dream is over," Alstott said.
Alstott wasn't alone. He was flanked on the dais by his wife, Nicole, Bucs vice president Bryan Glazer, general manager Bruce Allen and coach Jon Gruden.
Several teammates, including Ronde Barber, Michael Pittman, Chris Hovan, Jeff Garcia, Kevin Carter and Anthony Becht, attended the ceremony that concluded with a film of some of Alstott's greatest runs.
Before presenting Alstott's wife with 40 red roses (a tribute to her husband's No. 40), Glazer recounted some of his favorite runs made by the six-time Pro Bowl fullback - a 31-yard touchdown run against the Lions that helped give the Bucs their first playoff win in 18 years, and a 2-yard touchdown run against the Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII.
"If you needed a yard, Mike would get you two," Glazer said. "If you needed to grind out the game at the end, Mike was the man for you."
According to Glazer, 7,325 players have played since 1990. He said Alstott is the 18th during that span to play 11 or more seasons with one team and retire with that team.
A second-round pick from Purdue in 1996, Alstott helped transform the NFL's losingest franchise into a perennial playoff contender and eventual Super Bowl champion. Rather than dwelling on individual accomplishments, Alstott said he was most proud to be part of a core of players such as Derrick Brooks, Warren Sapp, John Lynch and Barber that reversed the team's fortunes.
"We came together to change the view of this organization and the way people perceived the Buccaneers as a football team," Alstott said. "We in that locker room established a chemistry that was like no other.
"Together, we put the Buccaneers on the map. The relationships with these guys is something that can never be taken away from me."
Known for his love of the game and punishing running style, Alstott retired as the Bucs' all-time leader in touchdowns (71) and rushing touchdowns (65, 58 regular season and seven postseason). But after making six straight Pro Bowls from 1997 to 2002, his role diminished under Gruden.
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 touchdowns.
"All I can do is celebrate a great career, an unbelievable career, as a player and a teammate," Gruden said.
Gruden actually did more than that. Before leaving for the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., on Monday, he offered Alstott a chance to become the Bucs' running backs coach. Alstott considered the opportunity for a week before declining, preferring to spend more time with his wife and three children. But he didn't rule out a role with the team in the future.
The meeting seemed to smooth over some rough spots for Alstott and Gruden, who never found much use for the Bucs captain in his offense and may have cost Alstott consideration for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Known for his punishing running style, Alstott always has been a fan favorite for his blue collar work ethic and the crowd erupted whenever they heard the horn calling for the A-Train.
"To the city of Tampa and all the Buccaneers fans, thank you," Alstott said. "My appreciation for you is truly can't be expressed. Your love and support over the past 12 years has been second to none. When we went on that field on Sundays, we weren't just playing for ourselves, we were playing for you.
"And although I will never experience the feeling of running out of the tunnel and hearing the roar of the crowd and the train horn, the memories you've given me will be forever. Thank you again for allowing me to call Tampa Bay my home."
Glazer said the Bucs will have a more extravagant celebration of Alstott's career at Raymond James Stadium during a regular- season game in 2008.
"It's been a great ride," Alstott said. ""An unbelievable ride."
By the numbers:
6 Pro Bowls, 1997-2002
12 Seasons with Bucs
35 Overall pick in 1996 draft (second round)
71 Career touchdowns, club record
5,088 Rushing yards, second in team history·
Edited by: backrow
white is right
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This was probably around 76 to maybe 79'. It depends what you define as legit of course. In this time period you had Riggins, Csonka winding down, Jim Otis, Van Eeghan and even Blier. There might be another contributing back I forgot. Edited by: white is rightLeonardfan said:
sport historian
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I have posted this before, but I recall glancing at one of the late Joel Buschbaum's draft preview booklets when Alstott was at Purdue. Buschbaum wrote that Alstott would "bring back the days of Larry Csonka and John Riggins." By this he meant that Alstott would be a big white runner who was a team's featured back with well over a thousands yards a season.
Will Alstott be the last white man to rush for over 5,000 career yards? I sure hope not but things aren't looking too good. Hester is going to be Brian Leonard II and Kyle Bell will need to win the Heisman to get a legit shot at RB in the pros.
Leonardfan
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It seems Hillis might have the best chance of becoming more of a RB than FB. I think he has opened some eyes at the senior bowl.
Alpha Male
Mentor
voice said:Message to Mike,
I enjoyed your career , but don't fake B$LLsh*t tears at your retirement ceremony. I am sick of this effeminate BS that men have embraced via the 60's revolution. Act like a man, it is just a game and you became rich for running a football.
Ya know, white society is repressed enough as it is, which is not helping us speak our mind against the politically correct mantra. I say go with your gut instinct, even if it is blood, sweat, and yes tears.
Now, I'm not advocating effeminate behavior, but encouraging more emotion from white players can't be a bad thing. It's only a matter of time before those tears turn to rage, and a white player rips a GM a new one.
Psychologist Carl Jung speaks of this: "Suppressed and wounded instinct are the dangers threatening civilized man; uninhibited drives are the dangers threatening primitive man."
Here'show the smirking white chimps feel about Alstott:
http://deadspin.com/348882/saying-goodbye-to-mike-alstott
http://deadspin.com/348882/saying-goodbye-to-mike-alstott
Alpha Male
Mentor
The white self-loathing comments made undernearth illustrate how far our culture has declined, and what we're up against. Thank god for this site!Edited by: Alpha Male
just a small tribute video, think about what this guy could do if he got to be a featured RB like Peyton is...
Video highlights
Video highlights
backrow said:
Nice to see, and remember. What's easilyforgotten is how many long runs Alstott had, especially late in games. Like Peyton Hillis he wasn't just strong as a bull, he knew how to run and was the complete package and would have been a steady 1,200 to 1,600 yard rusher asa featured back.
sport historian
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Don Wassall said:
When Alstott was a senior in college, I was browsing through the late Joel Buschbaum's Draft Preview and describing Alstott, wrote something like:
"Mike Alstott will bring back the days of Larry Csonka and John Riggins."
I've posted this before, but it is relevant this year.
seeing this highlight again, i can't help but feel that Mike was f**ked over big time later in his career. he's also lost a step due to a fact that he had to block a lot, and that took a heavy toll. Bucs line was quite pathetic at times over his playing career, but this guy should have been a consistent 1200 rusher for 6 to 8 seasons. he did score a 60 total TDs, which is great for any back but his yardage should have been that much higher.
i wonder if Mike will ever get to HoF?
i wonder if Mike will ever get to HoF?
Here's a highlight video of Alstott that was posted on YouTube just last year. It's high quality, you can expand it and it still looks pretty good unlike most footage that's over a decade or so old, and no rap music either. You have to watch it on YouTube.
Great vid. Looks like a 300 pounder pounding through on some of those runs.