Mike Alstott retires from the NFL

TAMPA, Fla., Jan. 24 (UPI) -- Longtime Tampa Bay Buccaneers fullback Mike Alstott retired Thursday after an injury-plagued, 12-year NFL career.

Alstott, 34, spent his entire career with the Buccaneers, gaining 5,088 rushing yards on 1,359 attempts and 2,284 receiving yards on 305 receptions. He scored a franchise-best 71 touchdowns.

The six-time Pro Bowl selection, a short-yardage specialist, missed the 2007 season after suffering a neck injury during training camp. He underwent career-threatening neck surgery in 2003, which caused him to sit out the season on injured reserve, and suffered a number of concussions.

"Though mentally, I feel like I could continue, physically, I cannot," an emotional Alstott said at a news conference. "I'm very sad to be walking away from this game that I love."

Alstott was Tampa Bay's second-round pick in the 1996 NFL draft out of Purdue and helped the franchise win its only Super Bowl title in the 2002-03 season.