Tampa Bay quarterback Jeff Garcia will replace Green Bay's Brett Favre in next month's Pro Bowl, the Ledger has reported. Favre pulled out of the game due to unspecified reasons.

Tampa Bay fullback Mike Alstott officially announced his retirement from the NFL on Thursday, the Associated Press reported. The six-time Pro Bowler played in the league for twelve seasons and retires as the Buccaneers' all-time touchdown leader.

The Associated Press is reporting that Mike Alstott's long run as the fullback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers might be over. There is speculation that the 34-year-old will announce his retirement when he holds a press conference at the team's training facility on Thursday. The conference is being held to allow Alstott to discuss his plans regarding his future with the team.

According to an Associated Press report, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have rewarded coach Jon Gruden and GM Bruce Allen contract extensions. Gruden, who led Tampa Bay's worst-to-first turnaround in the NFC South, received about $4.3M in 2007. GM Allen also was given a extension, keeping him under contract for another four years.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday reached agreement with legendary Defensive Coordinator Monte Kiffin on a multiyear contract extension, ESPN.com has learned. Under Kiffin, the Bucs' defense has ranked among the league's top 10 statistically 10 times in his 12 seasons with the club. Details of the contract were not immediately available, but it is believed the new deal will pay Kiffin in the area of $2 million per year. His previous contract, which had expired, paid $1.7 million annually. The extension came after a few weeks of negotiations.

Bucs' fullback Mike Alstott is known for his straight-ahead running style, and he didn't dance around a question about his future Wednesday. A more formal announcement may come later, but Alstott gave every indication his 12-year career is likely over. Promoting a charity event on radio station 620-AM, Alstott said he has no plans to have a second neck operation in order to play next season. "I guess you can read between the lines," Alstott said. "Couple neck injuries. I have a young family and a life to live, so I can't be selfish in that regard and say, 'Hey, let me go to get some type of surgery or something like that and try to fix the thing and go on.' I'm having fun doing what I'm doing right now with some other activities I'm involved with - hanging out with family, being part of my kids' lives in an everyday aspect." Alstott, 33, said no surgery is required if he chooses not to play football, adding "it wouldn't be worth it."

Sensing the offense could use another receiver in the postseason, the Bucs recently inquired whether Keyshawn Johnson might be willing to give up his seat in ESPN's studio for a uniform and place in Tampa Bay's locker room. According to Johnson, the Bucs front office contacted his agent, Jerome Stanley, after backup receiver Maurice Stovall broke his arm Dec.23 against the 49ers. "They talked to my agent several times," Johnson said during a phone interview Sunday.

As long as they are playing on the road, the New York Giants can't complain. The Giants moved to 8-1 away from home with a dominating 24-14 NFC-wild-card playoff victory over the Buccaneers on Sunday. New York has won every away game since falling in its season opener against the Dallas Cowboys, and it gets a chance to diminish that blemish in a much bigger matchup next Sunday, with the winner going to the conference title game. "We love playing there, we love going down to Dallas," Eli Manning said. "There are no secrets. "It's a tough challenge against Dallas, we know that. We played them two times; maybe the third will be the charm."

Bucs' Coach Jon Gruden doesn't regret resting many of his regulars the past two weeks. In fact, he regrets not resting more regulars, Cato June in particular. The starting strongside linebacker probably won't play against the Giants on Sunday after missing practice all week with a foot injury he apparently suffered during the regular-season finale. "I probably should have rested him," Gruden said with a tinge of sarcasm. "It's unfortunate." Fortunately for the Bucs, they have a reserve in Ryan Nece who has plenty of experience working the strongside position. With June listed as doubtful for Sunday's game, Nece is expected to start.

The three Giants' starting players injured in the season finale last weekend against the New England Patriots did not practice on Wednesday as New York worked out for its NFC wild-card game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Coach Tom Coughlin said that center Shaun O'Hara, linebacker Kawika Mitchell, and cornerback Sam Madison are making progress, but he would not guess whether they will play on Sunday. O'Hara and Mitchell sprained knees; Madison aggravated an abdominal strain. Mitchell and O'Hara have been fitted with knee braces. "The medical people are not going to make a decision which puts the player in jeopardy," Coughlin said. "So if the player is capable of doing the things that he has to do by his position in order to perform well, he passes the test with the medical people, and then they will make it on that. If he is not ready, then obviously they won't allow him to play."