Alstott's return to Bucs is uncertain

After two tough years, he enjoyed this season, but was it his last? He has a few weeks to decide.

By JOANNE KORTH
Published January 8, 2006

TAMPA - From the rubble in the postgame locker room, Mike Alstott took his helmet for a souvenir.

In an empty Raymond James Stadium, he stole a moment to chase 6-year-old son Griffin the length of the field.

And in the parking lot, he stopped to sign autographs for fans who chanted his name.

Yes, when the Bucs season ended Saturday with a 17-10 playoff loss to the Redskins, Alstott did all the same things he does at the end of every season. What no one knows - perhaps not even Alstott - is whether he did them for the final time.

Alstott must decide whether 10 seasons is enough.

"I don't know," said Alstott, trying hard to maintain his composure. "It's hard to even talk about the loss, let alone talk about my future. I don't know. I can look on it and reflect that I had a great career."

He has three years left on the contract he restructured in March, with a base salary of $2-million each season. The 32-year-old endeared himself to Tampa Bay football fans with his refuse-to-be-tackled running style. In helping turn the franchise from laughingstock into Super Bowl champion, Alstott became the team's all-time touchdown leader with 68 and its second-leading rusher with 4,932 yards.

"He's the face of our organization," cornerback Ronde Barber said. "Everybody associates Tampa Bay Bucs football with Mike Alstott. Who knows what will happen? I love the guy. I hope to play with him again."

If this was Alstott's last season, it was a fitting finish. A neck injury that required surgery in 2003 led to tough times the past two years, but he was confident to start 2005.

"I had the best time this year after going through two frustrating seasons," he said. "In 2003 (it was hard) with the neck and last year trying to regroup and get back to my normal self. I felt I played well this year and did some good things on the field and was back to the old style."

Alstott also was happy to play a role in helping the team return to winning form after consecutive losing seasons. His on-field role increased as the season progressed.

He scored six touchdowns and the two-point conversion run that gave Tampa Bay a 36-35 victory against the Redskins on Nov.13.

"I was here in the dark days, too, in the orange," Alstott said, referring to the Bucs' old uniforms. "I was part of turning something that wasn't into something that could be the elite organization we are. The core guys that have been here for a long time, it means a lot to be part of that core.

"After the Super Bowl year we lost that feeling again. We felt we needed to establish something. We have a lot of young guys, a lot of rookies, some new veterans. But we still have that core of Buc football guys. Everybody bought into it and everybody believed in each other, good times and bad. We didn't give up on each other.

"It's probably one of the tightest teams I've ever been a part of of. That's a proud moment, to turn something from 5-11 in '04 to 11-5 and having a home playoff game. This team and this organization has a lot to build on for next year."

With or without Alstott?

That's the tough question.

"Ten years," he said. "It's my life."

[Last modified January 8, 2006, 00:45:14]