Chris_Field's Blog

Mike Alstott has been unable to hide his emotions ever since he injured his neck and had to deal publicly and privately with the fact that his NFL playing career would end sooner rather than later with the Bucs.

At the official retirement announcement, Thursday morning at team headquarters,  Bryan Glazer recalled his favorite A-train plays.  The Bucs executive vice president singled out the Super Bowl touchdown run.  He says he's happy Alstott scored during this team's greatest time.

I'm particularly fond of the 2-point conversion in November of 2005.  Fans had been shouting for Mike for weeks... His role diminished, Jon Gruden under fire, the surgery to fuse vertebrae in the rearview mirror, Mike Alstott steps up to win the game over the Redskins 36-35.

He choked up that evening after the game when I asked him how much that moment meant.  Mike Alstott never took anything for granted.  He was the epitomy of a  team guy.  When the spotlight shined on him, he was all the more humble and grateful for the opportunity to make money playing football.  He leaves us with many fantastic memories and an important, yet simple lesson about how hard work pays off.