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Ex-Buc Lynch To Announce Retirement In Tampa

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By ROY CUMMINGS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 14, 2008

Updated: 11/14/2008 03:04 pm

TAMPA - John Lynch is coming back to Tampa -- to retire.

The nine-time Pro Bowl safety and member of the Bucs 2002 Super Bowl championship squad will make the announcement Monday at One Buc Place, where the Bucs are planning a sendoff similar to fullback Mike Alstott's last spring.

Lynch, 37, spent his first 11 seasons with the Bucs, establishing himself as one of the game's best safeties and hardest hitters.

"He's the best strong safety I ever played with and the second best safety ever behind only Ronnie Lott – period," said former Bucs teammate Warren Sapp, who also retired recently.

Lynch played his final four seasons with the Broncos, who signed him after his controversial release from the Bucs in March 2004. The Bucs said at that time Lynch could not pass their physical because of problems related to a neck injury, but Lynch vowed to play on and started 59 of the 60 games he played for the Broncos and earned four more trips to the Pro Bowl.

As a result of the success he had in Denver, the Broncos are expected to be a part of Monday's ceremony, too.

Lynch left the Broncos during training camp this year when it became clear he wasn't going to play regularly. He tried to catch on elsewhere, but was cut by the Patriots after the preseason.

Lynch was drafted in the third round by the Bucs in 1993 and became the first pillar in the re-building project that resulted in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers becoming one of the NFL's premier franchises. He ranks fifth on the Bucs' all-time list with 164 games played. He finished his NFL career with 1,051 tackles, 13 sacks and 26 interceptions.

Reporter Roy Cummings can be reached at (813) 259-7979.

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