CrazyCowboy
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 32,280
- Reaction score
- 396
Role of bit player is not Rice's style
[size=-1]By CHAREAN WILLIAMS[/size]
[size=-1]Star-Telegram Staff Writer[/size]
Jerry Rice's career finally found the end zone.
After 20 seasons and 38 NFL records, Rice retired Monday, unable to accept being a bit player with the Denver Broncos.
"Wow, I never thought I would see this day," Rice said. "But it's here now, and I feel pretty good about it. I'm happy with my decision. ...
"To me, it was never about what I accomplished on the football field. It was about the way I played the game. I played the game with a lot of determination, a lot of poise, a lot of pride."
Rice, 42, has seen his statistics steadily decline in recent seasons.
In 2004, while playing six games with Oakland and 11 games with Seattle, Rice had 30 catches, the fewest for a full season since his rookie year of 1993. He signed with the Broncos in the off-season, but, on the eve of training camp, Rice nearly had a change of heart.
He made only four catches for 24 yards during the preseason, and, when the Broncos made their final cuts Saturday, Rice was in California contemplating his future. He was behind Rod Smith, Ashley Lelie and Darius Watts on the depth chart.
In Mike Shanahan's 10 seasons in Denver, the Broncos' No. 4 receivers have averaged only 6.6 catches a season. Shanahan couldn't even promise Rice he would dress for every game.
"I told him that I'd still love to have him on this football team, but he'd have to think about that role -- if he'd like to play that role," Shanahan said. "... If he's out there, he wants to play the game, which doesn't surprise me. This guy doesn't want to just be on the team. He wants to contribute to the team and be out there doing the things he's been doing throughout his career."
Rice, who played in 13 Pro Bowls and owns three Super Bowl rings, holds NFL records for career receptions (1,549), receiving yards (22,895), receiving touchdowns (197) and total touchdowns (208).
"I can't tell you I would put him No. 1 [as the best player ever], but wherever he is, there's just very, very, very few that compare," Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said. "If you put him at the top, that's fine with me. I'm sure there are a few others that go in there somehow with him.
"From a production standpoint, there's nobody close. From an ability standpoint, you'd have to say there are a couple that match up. I think he's a great player; he's been a credit to the game, and, hey, he's certainly won my respect. I've seen enough of him to drive me nuts."
IN THE KNOW
Jerry Rice's career NFL statistics
G Rec Yds Avg TD 1985 San Fran. 16 49 927 18.9 3 1986 San Fran. 16 86 1570 18.3 15 1987 San Fran. 12 65 1078 16.6 22 1988 San Fran. 16 64 1306 20.4 9 1989 San Fran. 16 82 1483 18.1 17 1990 San Fran. 16 100 1502 15.0 13 1991 San Fran. 16 80 1206 15.1 14 1992 San Fran. 16 84 1201 14.3 10 1993 San Fran. 16 98 1503 15.3 15 1994 San Fran. 16 112 1499 13.4 13 1995 San Fran. 16 122 1848 15.1 15 1996 San Fran. 16 108 1254 11.6 8 1997 San Fran. 2 7 78 11.1 1 1998 San Fran. 16 82 1157 14.1 9 1999 San Fran. 16 67 830 12.4 5 2000 San Fran. 16 75 805 10.7 7 2001 Oakland 16 83 1139 13.7 9 2002 Oakland 16 92 1211 13.2 7 2003 Oakland 16 63 869 13.8 2 2004 Oakland 6 5 67 13.4 0 2004 Seattle 11 25 362 14.5 3 Total 303 1549 22895 14.8 197
[size=-1]By CHAREAN WILLIAMS[/size]
[size=-1]Star-Telegram Staff Writer[/size]
Jerry Rice's career finally found the end zone.
After 20 seasons and 38 NFL records, Rice retired Monday, unable to accept being a bit player with the Denver Broncos.
"Wow, I never thought I would see this day," Rice said. "But it's here now, and I feel pretty good about it. I'm happy with my decision. ...
"To me, it was never about what I accomplished on the football field. It was about the way I played the game. I played the game with a lot of determination, a lot of poise, a lot of pride."
Rice, 42, has seen his statistics steadily decline in recent seasons.
In 2004, while playing six games with Oakland and 11 games with Seattle, Rice had 30 catches, the fewest for a full season since his rookie year of 1993. He signed with the Broncos in the off-season, but, on the eve of training camp, Rice nearly had a change of heart.
He made only four catches for 24 yards during the preseason, and, when the Broncos made their final cuts Saturday, Rice was in California contemplating his future. He was behind Rod Smith, Ashley Lelie and Darius Watts on the depth chart.
In Mike Shanahan's 10 seasons in Denver, the Broncos' No. 4 receivers have averaged only 6.6 catches a season. Shanahan couldn't even promise Rice he would dress for every game.
"I told him that I'd still love to have him on this football team, but he'd have to think about that role -- if he'd like to play that role," Shanahan said. "... If he's out there, he wants to play the game, which doesn't surprise me. This guy doesn't want to just be on the team. He wants to contribute to the team and be out there doing the things he's been doing throughout his career."
Rice, who played in 13 Pro Bowls and owns three Super Bowl rings, holds NFL records for career receptions (1,549), receiving yards (22,895), receiving touchdowns (197) and total touchdowns (208).
"I can't tell you I would put him No. 1 [as the best player ever], but wherever he is, there's just very, very, very few that compare," Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said. "If you put him at the top, that's fine with me. I'm sure there are a few others that go in there somehow with him.
"From a production standpoint, there's nobody close. From an ability standpoint, you'd have to say there are a couple that match up. I think he's a great player; he's been a credit to the game, and, hey, he's certainly won my respect. I've seen enough of him to drive me nuts."
IN THE KNOW
Jerry Rice's career NFL statistics
G Rec Yds Avg TD 1985 San Fran. 16 49 927 18.9 3 1986 San Fran. 16 86 1570 18.3 15 1987 San Fran. 12 65 1078 16.6 22 1988 San Fran. 16 64 1306 20.4 9 1989 San Fran. 16 82 1483 18.1 17 1990 San Fran. 16 100 1502 15.0 13 1991 San Fran. 16 80 1206 15.1 14 1992 San Fran. 16 84 1201 14.3 10 1993 San Fran. 16 98 1503 15.3 15 1994 San Fran. 16 112 1499 13.4 13 1995 San Fran. 16 122 1848 15.1 15 1996 San Fran. 16 108 1254 11.6 8 1997 San Fran. 2 7 78 11.1 1 1998 San Fran. 16 82 1157 14.1 9 1999 San Fran. 16 67 830 12.4 5 2000 San Fran. 16 75 805 10.7 7 2001 Oakland 16 83 1139 13.7 9 2002 Oakland 16 92 1211 13.2 7 2003 Oakland 16 63 869 13.8 2 2004 Oakland 6 5 67 13.4 0 2004 Seattle 11 25 362 14.5 3 Total 303 1549 22895 14.8 197
