What they're saying

"I've sustained another injury to my neck ... It's a situation where I'm on injured reserve for the rest of the year, and as far as what holds in the future ... there will be a further date announcement.''

-- Bucs fullback Mike Alstott

"I was ready to play football this year. I was ready to play football, and my mind was set.''

-- Alstott

"'I can't' -- these aren't words in a professional athlete's vocabulary. When you have to make a decision and say words to that effect, it's emotional.''

-- Alstott

“I've always enjoyed the way he played. He played it hard and he played it right. I had him on my fantasy team a couple years ago. He was an old-fashioned fullback, the kind of guy the NFL used to be built around. I wish him well, and hopefully we'll see him at more Rays games now.’’

-- Devil Rays manager Joe Maddon

"Mike is one of the guys I looked up to when I was young. I used to watch him at Purdue. He's a great guy and his work ethic is just unrivaled. And I've never seen anyone who was so loved by a group of fans. At Florida, I mean, we had Danny Wuerffel and they loved him. But that was nothing like Mike and the fans.''

-- Bucs running back Earnest Graham
 
I remember when I came into this organization. I was just a little undrafted free agent and nobody knew if I would even make it. But he was the guy who took me under his wing and really looked out for me. A lot of (prominent) players wouldn’t do that. I’m just grateful to him for that. He’s special.

-- Graham

"Mike is the guy who showed me what to expect when I was a rookie and was nervous before games. We got real close when I first got here.''

-- Bucs wide receiver Michael Clayton

 
"When I think about Mike, I can just see him out there catching that ball and fighting for yards. I wasn't around when he had some of his greatest runs, but there are so many memories. The guy is just no holds barred all the time. He's not going to be denied, and the fans love to see that.''

-- Clayton

"We have to pick up the slack. He's a key player on our football team.

-- Bucs general manager Bruce Allen

(Times photo: James Borchuck. Click to enlarge.)

Comments

Petigout's dogs are out of control at the walk through today. If he'd stop blogging for five minutes, he could probably control them.

Can we get some blow up posters of warrick dunn too?

Ask Ronde if he thinks Petigout's dogs would be good fighters.

[SPCA Employee]

Yes, as stated earlier on the blog we have been contacted to investigate inappropriate dog owner behavior by a certain lineman who likes to watch practice from the sideline

[Rodney]

Gruden and Allen put him on IR/asked him to retire for the good of the team. We would've run him out of town if they cut him.

Not me Rodney. Carry them on my shoulders maybe.

[DR]

They actually quoted Joe Madden? Why? Is this a joke? Is Joe Madden Jon Gruden's dad?

[Joe Madden]

No, I am actually John's brother. I was down and out and he gave me the job as his bus driver. Unfortunately, I have to live on this thing all year and listen to him repeat himself

[inside source]

I know someone in the front office who set up an appointment for Alstott to comment on Dunn's new book and Alstott didn't have the dignity to show up for the appointment. He's a real charmer, :(

[Honored fan]

Well maybe if you would've set up the meeting with Alstott in the mall food court he would have shown. Geez, use some common sense.

[Darren]

I wish Mike and his family nothing but the best and I pray for a healthy recovery. It pains me to say this, but after Mike gets healthy once again - please don't play football anymore. Smash players with a clipboard as a coach, or give us bits of knowledge on TV, but don't risk your health. Every Buccaneer fan, and your family, loves you too much for that.

[Darren]

I wish Mike and his family nothing but the best and I pray for a healthy recovery. It pains me to say this, but after Mike gets healthy once again - please don't play football anymore. Smash players with a clipboard as a coach, or give us bits of knowledge on TV, but don't risk your health. Every Buccaneer fan, and your family, loves you too much for that.

Darren,

But you repeat yourself.

[chris simms]

my fifi

http://media.tbo.com/photos/trib/2007/aug/0808chu1.jpg

[Daniel]

Chris,

Sorry man. My bad. It's really my dog.

[unnamed offensive tackle with lots of time]

my dog Lazy

http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:jKoL7W9WuepS-M:http://www.puppiesanddogsforsale.com/breeders/..%255Cdadpic%255C91_Pic1.jpeg

[dogman]

This is my last post. I know you all will miss me. Stephen, Gary, Rick, Ronde, Petigout, Simms, Gruden, Mike, Daniel, Keith, and anyone else, I hope you took my posts in gest. Weren't meant to offend at all. Season starts tomorrow. Must focus energy on annoying fellow bar patrons with my abnoxious Buc support. Been a fan since 76. GO BUCS!

P.S. Come on the dog stuff is pretty funny.

[AL]

I am sure all Gruden haters are thinking this is a conspiracy to get rid of another good player. Blah, Blah, Blah. I was really looking forward to seeing MIke get more reps this year. Whatever his decision is, I wish him the best.

[Lisa]

Mike is a class act. We are lucky to have him in our community. I wish him and his family all the best. He will be missed on the football field, but thankfully, he is able to walk away.

[IS]

Inside source- Alstott got a degree in basket weaving...many people that know him say that a box of rocks have more intelligence than him. If you have heard some replays of his interviews, you would realize that it is quite obvious he is not a smart guy.