Is this Mike Alstott's last stop?

A neck injury ends the A-Train's season — and possibly his career.

By RICK STROUD, Times Staff Writer
Published August 10, 2007

Mike Alstott gets a first down on 3rd and 1 in the fourth quarter off a 2-yard run during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Seattle Seahawks at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa in 2006.
	[Brendan Fitterer | Times]

ADVERTISEMENT [Carrie Pratt | Times] Bucs fullback Mike Alstott cries as he carries his daughter, Hannah, as he leaves the field for what was last time after their game against the Seattle Seahawks at Raymond James Stadium in 2006.

TAMPA -- This is not the way you expected to see it all end for Mike Alstott.

Instead of powering his way into an end zone, he walked slowly to a podium. Rather than stubbornly moving his career forward, he was thrown for a loss before the season began.

On the eve of the Bucs' first preseason game, an emotional Alstott fought back tears Thursday to announce he has suffered another neck injury that will force him to go on injured reserve, ending his season.

But the six-time Pro Bowl fullback, nicknamed the A-Train, stopped short of saying that his 12-year career with the Bucs could be over as well.

"The facts are the facts. I can't put on a helmet or a jersey this year," Alstott said. "... It's just hard to grasp right now."

Alstott, 33, was advised not to continue playing by Pittsburgh neurosurgeon Dr. Joe Maroon, who performed Alstott's first neck surgery in 2003.

A battery of tests revealed stress to Alstott's neck above the previously injured area. Four years ago, Alstott had a compressed disc removed and replaced with the vertebrae from a cadaver and fused together with a titanium plate.

Though Alstott said the new injury will not require surgery, it could end his career.

In an emotional news conference at the team's headquarters that lasted about 25 minutes, Alstott steadfastly refused to discuss his future. He signed a one-year contract worth $1.5-million, meaning he will be a free agent after this season.

"I'm on injured reserve for the rest of the year," Alstott said. "As far as what the future holds ... I know there will be questions and stuff - career-ending, what it may be - but please, understand there will be a later date (for) an announcement in those regards."

Alstott said he suffered the usual soreness after 10 days of training camp. But he experienced pain in his neck that wouldn't subside. He missed the last three days of practice before Thursday's announcement.

He said he reached a decision to go on injured reserve Wednesday night after consulting with team trainers, doctors, general manager Bruce Allen, coach Jon Gruden, and his wife, Nicole.

Alstott, who turns 34 in December, indicated that he wanted to give his neck time to heal before deciding whether to resume his career. When asked if he planned to retire, he appeared defiant.

"I don't know," Alstott said. "Right now I'm just trying to swallow this one. We are reviewing the situation at hand. I promise you that you'll know, but just let me be right now while we figure this out."

Allen, who presided over the news conference, said Alstott's leadership role won't change.

"When you feel someone that has such a love and a passion for every aspect of football, from grass stains to scoring touchdowns, and you see him be denied the opportunity for medical reasons, it's tough," Allen said.

Gruden did not attend the news conference, remaining at the Celebration Hotel in Lake Buena Vista - the team's training camp headquarters - to prepare for tonight's preseason opener against the Patriots.

"Anytime you lose a player for the season, it's a difficult situation," Gruden said in a statement. "And when you are talking about the A-Train, his loss will be felt not only on the field, but in the locker room."

Players throughout the league reacted to news of Alstott's career-threatening injury. He said he received a phone call from Broncos safety (and onetime Bucs teammate) John Lynch, and spent time with current teammates, linebacker Derrick Brooks and cornerback Ronde Barber.

"What people love is his work ethic," said Falcons running back Warrick Dunn, who played with Alstott from 1997 to 2001. "A lot of people can relate to the way he played football. The years when we played smash-mouth football, he was what people enjoyed watching."

The 6-foot-1, 248-pound Alstott became known for his bruising style of running shortly after he was drafted in the second round by the Bucs in 1996. He helped transform the Bucs from the league's laughingstock to a perennial Super Bowl contender.

Arguably the most popular player in club history, Alstott was named to six straight Pro Bowls, a streak that ended after the 2002 season, his first under Gruden.

Alstott's role has been reduced almost every season since the Bucs won Super Bowl XXXVII in January 2003. He has never had more than 67 carries in a season since that championship.

If he retires, Alstott will finish his career as the Bucs' all-time leader in total touchdowns with 71 and in rushing touchdowns with 58. He is the team's second all-time leading rusher with 5,088 yards and third in scoring with 432 points, the first non-kicker to surpass 400 points.

"He worked as hard as he ever had this offseason," said former Bucs tight end Dave Moore, the color commentator for the team's radio network and Alstott's closest friend. Moore said Alstott complained of a stiff neck during lunch at training camp recently.

"Every time he got up or turned around, he said his neck felt stiff," Moore said. "He didn't say too much about retiring or being hurt."

According to Moore, Alstott's career was complete, but he didn't want to go out after a 4-12 season.

"Just as a player, he's done it all," Moore said. "He's gone to Pro Bowls, won a Super Bowl and got to start and finish his career in one city. For a guy to be a fullback and do what he's done, what else is there to prove?"

But despite his accomplishments, Alstott refused to admit he was down on Thursday.

"It's maybe something that's a block in my mind right now and I don't want to think about that," Alstott said. "I've just got to cope with the situation at hand and focus on what we as a team have to get done. I'm being truthful here.

"I've been here for 12 years now. I'm telling you I wanted to play football this year. I was capable enough to play football and I was going to do everything in my power to help this team. And I can't. But I'm going to be here."

Rick Stroud can be reached at stroud@sptimes.com.

[Last modified August 10, 2007, 00:31:13]