A six-time Pro Bowler and the team's all-time team leader in touchdowns, Alstott did not play during the 2007 season after injuring his neck during training camp at Disney's Wide World of Sports in August. It was Alstott's second serious neck injury in less than four years, having undergone surgery to repair a herniated disk in October 2003.

Though it was widely thought Alstott would retire in August, he was placed on injured reserve during the preseason, thus allowing him to draw his entire salary of about $1.5 million during the '07 season.

Although he was a fixture on the sideline and even at practice during the Bucs' 9-7 campaign on the way to a NFC South Division title this season, all signs pointed to him stepping down. Alstott acknowledged as much in a radio interview with WDAE 620-AM, the Bucs' network, after Tampa Bay's season ended with a 24-14 playoff loss to the New York Giants in the NFC wild-card round Jan. 6.

"You can read between the lines. I've had some injuries. I have a young family. I can't be selfish in that regard," Alstott said. "I can't go have more surgeries. It wouldn't be worth it. I was disappointed I couldn't be on the field this year, but I'm having fun now."

Alstott, a second-round pick in 1996, will leave with some hefty numbers: 5,088 yards rushing (second-most in club history), including a team-record 58 touchdowns on the ground. His 71 total TDs also are a team record and place him as the No. 3 scorer (432 points) in franchise history.