A serious Buccaneers fan’s web site (www.givemiketheball.com) went up a few days ago with a single purpose: To put fan pressure on the Bucs and encourage them to feature Mike Alstott prominently in the final game of the season against Seattle. Actually, the site has two purposes: To get Alstott the ball and to spread site owner Dwayne Scranton‘s anti-Jon Gruden bias the same way Marcus Vick spreads holiday cheer to underage girls in Virginia. But we’ll let that second one slide for a minute. The main feature of the site is a petition that fans can electronically sign and will be delivered to the Glazers the day before the game. As of this writing, the peitition has 1,509 signatures. Most of them even look legit, barring the occasional “Anita Bonghit” (what, no “Jock Strap”?) and “Mike Tice” (who, as we all know, can’t read or write.) Many signers have even gone so far as to identify themselves as long-time season ticket holders and list their seat section numbers as proof. That’s a lot of people for a movement that’s not even a week old. And I say, why not.
I support it because it’s the last game of a meaningless season and the move will have absolutely no negative reprecussions to the team. I support it because Alstott has earned it through all his years of loyal service to the Bucs. But mostly, I support it because the fans want it. And in a season where Bucs fans have been denied victories, or even competent play, they should be given something entertaining for their ticket money. And I can think of fewer things more entertaining than number 40 running over Grant Winstrom and dragging Julian Peterson down the left sideline for ten yards and a score while outrushing the insufferably smug Shaun Alexander on the day.
Even though Mr. Scranton is delivering this to the Glazers, they won’t do anything about it themselves. They have virtually no interest in the game of football as it is played and are not known for catering to fan requests (just ask the fans of the Manchester United.) More likely, Gruden will find out about this groundswell of Alstott love secondhand and do the right thing on his own. In fact, I can’t imagine Gruden not giving Alstott a significant boost in touches that day. If Alstott spends his time on the bench or as a full-time blocker, the fan outcry will be deafening and the Buc-faithful who were on the fence about their support for Gruden to remain with the team will quickly lend their voices to this site’s cries for Gruden’s unemployment. He even encourages shouting “Fire Jon Gruden” in the second half if Alstott hasn’t gotten the requisite number of touches.
Keep in mind that all of this assumes that Alstott announces his retirement sometime before kickoff on December 31. The site states, “Mike Alstott has expressed his desire to retire after this football season,” but that’s not true. He hasn’t made any formal announcement about his future, even though most people tend to think that this will be his final season. But regardless of how well he performs against Seattle, it should be his last game. Don’t mistake a last hurrah in a meaningless game for a career rejuvination. Cadillac Williams is the future at running back for the Buccaneers. Embrace it. Alstott still has some skills and should leave the game in a dignified way. Great players tend to think they’re more effective than they are late in their careers and spend their last couple seasons as afterthoughts and punchlines to senility jokes. There’s a reason why we lament Barry Sanders‘s retirement but are really hoping Marshall Faulk stays in the studio.
So, Mr. Scranton, I salute you and your dedication to Mike Alstott and the Buccaneers. The whole anti-Gruden bitterness is kind of a turn-off (come on… give the guy one more season to turn it around!), but hey, it’s your site. I hope Gruden gets wind of this and the fans can be treated to one more game of loud train whistles and hard-nosed running by number 40.
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Posted by Shawn Golan, Los Angeles, CA on 12/18 at 03:51 PM
C’mon guys. Get over it. Alstott has been a horse for this team for years. He was a major part of the offense for the golden era, 1999-2003. He hasn’t been the same since the neck injury following the championship. I’d love to see Mike get 5 to 8 touches a game, but I’m not sure his body can handle that anymore. Chucky makes a lot of mistakes, but this isn’t one. Last year Mike got the ball a lot b/c hes the kind of guy you want to close out the game not in a come-back. Give mike the ball a little bit vs. Seattle and let him ride into the sunset.
Posted by Mitch Rose, NY on 12/18 at 12:12 PM
This is crazy, give Alstott the ball because the fans want it? Since when do fans have any say over personnel decision? Since when does fan sentiment hold any water? Just like the comment above says, Alstott should get the carries because he deserves the carries, not cause the fans want him to get the carries. Sure it’ll be a meaningless game, but I’d still rather win that game, and I do believe that Cadillac gives us a better chance than A-Train.
Posted by Roland C Woltman, Plant City on 12/17 at 02:46 PM
YES, Mike should get ALL THE CARRIES. He would fare much better then Cadillac Williams. BUT, it’s not because he’s even in Caddy’s class as a runner. It’s because if 40 is toating the rock 40 is not the lead blocker. That Atlanta game was the worst display of effort and effect I’ve have ever witnessed from a lead blocker. While blocking, not once in the entire game could 40 get 2 yards past the line of scrimage. And, 4 of the first six runs the man Alstott was supposed to be blocking made the tackle or assisted, So of coarse our running game would be better with 40 at HB, but it is simply because an actual NFL borderline starter (#33) would be at fullback.
Posted by Charles Brandon, Chicago, IL on 12/17 at 01:39 AM
Gruden shouldn’t just give Alstott the ball b/c he may retire at the end of this season. He should give him the ball b/c he is productive. He had 2 carries for 17 yards last week against ATL. Gruden never went back to him. Since Gruden has arrived Alstott has been a afterthought. Why? Because Gruden is who he is and he likes to feature one back. Think Charlie Garner or Tyrone Wheatley. Remember Dunn and Alstott as the unstoppable tandem? Caddilac and Alstott(or Pittman and Alstott) could have been great, but now it’s probably too late.
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