TAMPA - Mike Alstott is certain he wants to return for an 11th NFL season.
Whether it's in a Bucs uniform is up to them.
Two days before the free-agent signing period is expected to begin, Alstott indicated Monday he might consider playing for another team if a deal can't be struck soon to finish his career in Tampa Bay.
That would seem to be a bit of a departure from his position shortly after the season ended in a wild-card playoff loss to the Redskins, when Alstott said he likely would retire rather than wear another uniform.
But with the Bucs having greatly improved their salary cap position over the past few days, Alstott wants to learn his fate before he becomes an unrestricted free agent at 12:01 a.m. Thursday.
"It's got to be (soon) because free agency starts," Alstott said.
The running back, 32, is believed to be seeking a contract that would pay him about $1.5-million, the salary he earned in 2004. The Bucs have said they want Alstott back but have not closed the gap in negotiations.
Monday, Alstott sounded more agreeable to the possibility of playing for another team.
"I don't know. I haven't decided yet," Alstott said. "I'm going to take one thing at a time. I still want to be here, but you know how this business is, how the game is played. You roll the dice and see what gets out there."
Is there any question Alstott expects to play in the NFL next season?
"No question," Alstott said.
General manager Bruce Allen said Sunday night he was looking forward to meeting with Alstott, but nothing has been scheduled, according to the six-time Pro Bowl player.
"As far as the salary cap, my number doesn't matter compared to what their situation is," Alstott said. "That's the situation.
"I know they had to free up a lot of money and stuff like that, so I've just been waiting in line and have talked a little bit here and there. But there's nothing yet."
The Bucs cleared enough room under the cap to sign free-agent defensive tackle Chris Hovan to a five-year, $17.5-million contract early Monday.
Hovan, 27, said he was awoken at 12:30 a.m. to sign the deal. His contract includes $8.5-million to $10-million of guaranteed money. The deal cannot be officially signed until after the start of the new league year at 12:01 a.m. Thursday.
Hovan signed a one-year contract for the league minimum last season and anchored the league's No.1 defense.
"To be part of the No.1 defense and to come back and be part of that again, that was the big selling point," Hovan said.
"This is the place I wanted to be. I wanted to be part of the No.1 defense and part of an organization that's on the cusp of winning a Super Bowl."
Hovan led Bucs defensive linemen with 64 tackles while starting all 17 games, including the playoffs.
"You have trust in each other and what each other can do, and hopefully it shows," Hovan said.
Allen said the Bucs are in compliance with the league's $94.5-million cap after restructuring the contracts of running back Michael Pittman, center John Wade, defensive tackle Anthony McFarland, tight end Anthony Becht and linebacker Derrick Brooks.
By far, Brooks provided the biggest relief, saving at least $5-million of cap space for the 2006 season. Brooks, 32 and coming off his ninth Pro Bowl, would have counted about $11.6-million against the cap had he not restructured on the eve of his 12th season.
Brooks said rumors that he might be released as a cap-saving move did not play a major factor in his willingness to restructure, though the release of popular safety John Lynch two years ago was on his mind.
"Going into it, my goals were not about the money," said Brooks, who declined to say whether he took a pay reduction. "It was about keeping players here, rewarding guys here and allowing us to be competitive in the free-agent market.
"I'm not a real big guy for signing 10 free agents, because not everybody is a Buccaneer. We've got a way of doing things and the guys who are here understand that, so let's keep those guys here."
Including Alstott.
"I really hope that gets accomplished," Brooks said. "Let's get after it again."
--Times staff writers Stephen F. Holder and Joanne Korth contributed to this report.
http://www.sptimes.com/2006/03/07/Bucs/Her...Alstott_p.shtml
Whether it's in a Bucs uniform is up to them.
Two days before the free-agent signing period is expected to begin, Alstott indicated Monday he might consider playing for another team if a deal can't be struck soon to finish his career in Tampa Bay.
That would seem to be a bit of a departure from his position shortly after the season ended in a wild-card playoff loss to the Redskins, when Alstott said he likely would retire rather than wear another uniform.
But with the Bucs having greatly improved their salary cap position over the past few days, Alstott wants to learn his fate before he becomes an unrestricted free agent at 12:01 a.m. Thursday.
"It's got to be (soon) because free agency starts," Alstott said.
The running back, 32, is believed to be seeking a contract that would pay him about $1.5-million, the salary he earned in 2004. The Bucs have said they want Alstott back but have not closed the gap in negotiations.
Monday, Alstott sounded more agreeable to the possibility of playing for another team.
"I don't know. I haven't decided yet," Alstott said. "I'm going to take one thing at a time. I still want to be here, but you know how this business is, how the game is played. You roll the dice and see what gets out there."
Is there any question Alstott expects to play in the NFL next season?
"No question," Alstott said.
General manager Bruce Allen said Sunday night he was looking forward to meeting with Alstott, but nothing has been scheduled, according to the six-time Pro Bowl player.
"As far as the salary cap, my number doesn't matter compared to what their situation is," Alstott said. "That's the situation.
"I know they had to free up a lot of money and stuff like that, so I've just been waiting in line and have talked a little bit here and there. But there's nothing yet."
The Bucs cleared enough room under the cap to sign free-agent defensive tackle Chris Hovan to a five-year, $17.5-million contract early Monday.
Hovan, 27, said he was awoken at 12:30 a.m. to sign the deal. His contract includes $8.5-million to $10-million of guaranteed money. The deal cannot be officially signed until after the start of the new league year at 12:01 a.m. Thursday.
Hovan signed a one-year contract for the league minimum last season and anchored the league's No.1 defense.
"To be part of the No.1 defense and to come back and be part of that again, that was the big selling point," Hovan said.
"This is the place I wanted to be. I wanted to be part of the No.1 defense and part of an organization that's on the cusp of winning a Super Bowl."
Hovan led Bucs defensive linemen with 64 tackles while starting all 17 games, including the playoffs.
"You have trust in each other and what each other can do, and hopefully it shows," Hovan said.
Allen said the Bucs are in compliance with the league's $94.5-million cap after restructuring the contracts of running back Michael Pittman, center John Wade, defensive tackle Anthony McFarland, tight end Anthony Becht and linebacker Derrick Brooks.
By far, Brooks provided the biggest relief, saving at least $5-million of cap space for the 2006 season. Brooks, 32 and coming off his ninth Pro Bowl, would have counted about $11.6-million against the cap had he not restructured on the eve of his 12th season.
Brooks said rumors that he might be released as a cap-saving move did not play a major factor in his willingness to restructure, though the release of popular safety John Lynch two years ago was on his mind.
"Going into it, my goals were not about the money," said Brooks, who declined to say whether he took a pay reduction. "It was about keeping players here, rewarding guys here and allowing us to be competitive in the free-agent market.
"I'm not a real big guy for signing 10 free agents, because not everybody is a Buccaneer. We've got a way of doing things and the guys who are here understand that, so let's keep those guys here."
Including Alstott.
"I really hope that gets accomplished," Brooks said. "Let's get after it again."
--Times staff writers Stephen F. Holder and Joanne Korth contributed to this report.
http://www.sptimes.com/2006/03/07/Bucs/Her...Alstott_p.shtml
btw, read yesterday that with the new cap, the Bucs can pretty much sign any player they want in FA. 
Some of us played the game once, you know. As for who they will or should sign, I just imagine that Kenyatta isn't going to be high on their bring-back list. He's been inconsistent at best, prone to huge mental mistakes and seems disinterested half the time. Whether they bring in another vet like Hopkins or target somebody younger, I dunno.
