Letters to the Editors

A-Train a prototype for future fullbacks

For three years we've listened to coaches and analysts whine about Mike Alstott making it to the Pro Bowl. "He shouldn't be there because he isn't really a fullback" is usually how it goes. Even our new coach has played a variation of that tune. How about changing our point of view on this?

Every other position in football has evolved over the years. Maybe Alstott is just dragging the fullback position into the 21st century. Instead of calling him a dinosaur, maybe he's the prototype for the next generation of fullbacks. I think that is the case, and I bet there are a number of coaches in the league who would like to have one just like him.
-- Dave Britner, St. Petersburg

Warren Sapp surely will make the Hall of Fame for his ability. But he surely will never be mistaken for a humble gentleman. It is too bad that they don't have two divisions in the Hall of Fame: one for those who you would be proud to have your children emulate, and one for those who insult even children with their childish behavior.

And shame on CBS for allowing the screen to be dominated by his childlike, immature behavior. I always have been a Cleveland Browns fan, but if I were Warren Sapp, I would find nothing to warrant his kind of antics for dominating a team as inept as the Browns.
-- Mike Valvo, Seminole

Brad Johnson cannot take this team to the Super Bowl, or even deep in the playoffs. His inability to scramble or throw on the run will cost the Bucs once they start playing playoff teams. Same with Michael Pittman. He is a fair runner but cannot break tackles and is not the answer for a Super Bowl-bound team.

Jon Gruden has the people to do this at hand, namely Mike Alstott and Rob Johnson, who at least can scramble and throw on the run. No wonder Brad Johnson has a high passing rating, when all he throws are dinky-dunk passes and is forced to throw out of bounds because of his scrambling inability.
-- Jimmie Carra, Port Richey

We're 5-1, but we have a six-game stretch coming up that will go a long way toward showing what this team is really made of. Defensively, I have no complaints. Can we continue this streak of not giving up an offensive touchdown? If we do it against McNabb and Co., the rest of the league better sit up and take notice.

Offensively, we need to get it going if we expect to beat the likes of Philadelphia, Green Bay, New Orleans, etc. Good win against Cleveland, but the score should've been a little more lopsided.
-- Frank Chatraw Jr., Largo

This will be a great test of how much Jon Gruden has advanced the Bucs offense. ... Michael Pittman has made a few big plays from the halfback position, but Gruden is still sorting out whether they run better with Pittman or Mike Alstott.

Last weekend, Alstott resolved his frustrations by having a 100-yard day against the Browns.
-- John Clayton, espn.com