Randy Inman
Bruce Bostwick
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Robin PottratzMike Alstott Retired
June 23rd 2008 01:36
Mike Alstott has hung it up and retired from the NFL after 12 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It is a shame to see such a throwback player retire, knowing there may not ever be another like him.
Now days in the NFL even power backs are fast and Alstott was just fast enough to play in the backfield. He reminded me a little of John Riggins with less talent. Of course all big lumbering white fullbacks look alike.
Today if a team even has a real fullback he is a blocker first, then he blocks some more, then on a good day he catches a dump pass. Very seldom does a modern NFL fullback carry the ball.
Mike Alstott was a ball carrier first, a receiver 2nd and only a decent blocker most of the time. He never was a 1,000 yard rusher in a season but he still put up very great stats for a fullback. He rushed 1,359 times for 5,088 yards and 58 touchdowns in his career. He also added 305 pass receptions for 2,284 yards and 13 touchdowns. His forte was moving a pile and getting the yard or two needed for a first down or score. And he was a load to bring down at 6 ft 1 inch and 248 pounds.
Only some injury problems and a problem with fumbles kept him from getting more carries. He made a nice one two punch with Warrick Dunn earlier in their careers. He is one of those players I was very happy to see get a Super Bowl ring a few years ago. I suspect he will have a rough time in retirement due to all the punishment he absorbed with Tampa Bay. I do really wish he had played on a cold weather team, the man was born to be a Bear or a Brown.
I would really love to see Mike Alstott in the NFL Hall of Fame one day. I am not quite sure if his stats merit that consideration though. But if you look at him as the last of the ball carrying fullbacks, then maybe he does.
Now days in the NFL even power backs are fast and Alstott was just fast enough to play in the backfield. He reminded me a little of John Riggins with less talent. Of course all big lumbering white fullbacks look alike.
Today if a team even has a real fullback he is a blocker first, then he blocks some more, then on a good day he catches a dump pass. Very seldom does a modern NFL fullback carry the ball.
Mike Alstott was a ball carrier first, a receiver 2nd and only a decent blocker most of the time. He never was a 1,000 yard rusher in a season but he still put up very great stats for a fullback. He rushed 1,359 times for 5,088 yards and 58 touchdowns in his career. He also added 305 pass receptions for 2,284 yards and 13 touchdowns. His forte was moving a pile and getting the yard or two needed for a first down or score. And he was a load to bring down at 6 ft 1 inch and 248 pounds.
Only some injury problems and a problem with fumbles kept him from getting more carries. He made a nice one two punch with Warrick Dunn earlier in their careers. He is one of those players I was very happy to see get a Super Bowl ring a few years ago. I suspect he will have a rough time in retirement due to all the punishment he absorbed with Tampa Bay. I do really wish he had played on a cold weather team, the man was born to be a Bear or a Brown.
I would really love to see Mike Alstott in the NFL Hall of Fame one day. I am not quite sure if his stats merit that consideration though. But if you look at him as the last of the ball carrying fullbacks, then maybe he does.
Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Randy Redman
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