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Rice ends matchless career as a 49er
AP ^ | GREG BEACHAM

Posted on 08/24/2006 1:43:52 PM PDT by 300magnum

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Jerry Rice signed a one-day contract to retire with the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday, officially ending the receiver's matchless career back where it began.

Rice, who played the first 16 of his 20 NFL seasons with San Francisco, shed no tears during a short signing ceremony at the 49ers' training complex. The receiver wore his ring from the 49ers' 1989 Super Bowl championship team on a chain around his neck as he hugged his wife, Jackie, and shook hands with San Francisco owner John York.

"I would like to put the uniform on and run on that football field, but I think it's time to move on," Rice said, gesturing toward the practice fields behind him. "I feel welcome here. I feel like this is my home, and this is something I'll never forget."

Rice, who will turn 44 in October, hasn't played since leaving the Broncos' training camp before last season, holding his first retirement news conference last September in Denver. He spent three seasons in Oakland after leaving the 49ers, then played a final year with the Seattle Seahawks.

But San Francisco fans still remember Rice in his incredible prime, when he made most of his 197 touchdown receptions while playing for several powerhouse teams and three Super Bowl winners. Rice holds NFL records with 1,549 receptions for 22,895 yards, and also holds the top single-season marks of 1,848 yards and 22 touchdowns.

"This is where I got my start," Rice said. "This is where my legacy is at. This is where my heart got started, and this is where I'm going to end it."

The 49ers will honor Rice again during a game against the Seahawks on Nov. 19 at Candlestick Park, and his No. 80 is expected to be retired in the near future. Rice joked that he might have waited even longer for this ceremony, but Bill Walsh, his former coach, encouraged him to get going.

"He wants to introduce me into the Hall, and he said he's going to pass away," Rice said.


TOPICS: Sports
KEYWORDS: nfl
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To: Thebaddog
What are York's stats?

His football acumen stats are abysmal, right down there with the likes of Bill Bidwell and Mike Brown - except they've both managed to get new stadiums for their teams, so they're ahead. For the rest of his stats, you'd need to ask Denise, Eddie's sister and York's wife.
41 posted on 08/24/2006 2:24:28 PM PDT by AnotherUnixGeek
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To: discostu
Or if the Niners had handled the cap intelligently. Defered salary sure seemed like a good idea early in the cap era, but it came back and bit every team that used it, and is still biting the Niners because they used it again while they were climbing out of the cap hell they got in the first time.

The 49ers salary cap problems are years in the past - they've been well under the cap for several years now. Their problem now is bad drafts, no free-agent signings of note, and most importantly, incompetent ownership.
42 posted on 08/24/2006 2:26:03 PM PDT by AnotherUnixGeek
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To: Alberta's Child

Not necessarily, it really depends on how many big stars they have and how smart they are about their pay structure. Over pay one guy and there's going to be trouble. But the specific problem the Niners and Broncos and Cowboys and Titans ran into was defered salary, when the Niners let Rice go nearly 1/4 of their cap was taken up paying guys (sometimes no longer with the team) for previous seasons, when you find yourself down to 3/4 budget because you're still paying for the past some nasty cuts are going to have to be made. IMHO defered salary is almost always a mistake in sports (reference Blues-Shanahan), but it's a really big mistake under a hard cap.


43 posted on 08/24/2006 2:31:33 PM PDT by discostu (you must be joking son, where did you get those shoes)
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To: Lekker 1

Indeed. Though the golden age ended when Dan Marino retired.


44 posted on 08/24/2006 2:35:02 PM PDT by Terpfen
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To: AnotherUnixGeek

Cap hell puts you through a ringer for a while, I know they extended their cap hell situation with more defered salary for another run (that didn't work) in the late 90s. But the additional snowball comes in because of those bad drafts and no free-agent signings of note, that kind of stuff often gets forced because you can't afford better drafts and good free-agents, so then even once the cap debt is paid off you're stuck with a team that stinks and there's generally not enough rounds of the draft or quality free-agents floating around for you to go from a team that well and truly stinks to good.


45 posted on 08/24/2006 2:35:44 PM PDT by discostu (you must be joking son, where did you get those shoes)
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To: 300magnum

How I loved him and Montana together. I am so pleased he will retire as a 49er Those were the magic days, and they will both be missed!


46 posted on 08/24/2006 2:36:40 PM PDT by ladyinred (Leftists, the enemy within.)
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To: 300magnum

In one of the books written about him, it tells of his
incredible work ethic. The vets, when he showed up in his
first year, watched him work out, and their jaws dropped.
They knew they had something special.
It was especially cool, when as 40 year old, he was outrunning
and out faking 22 year old newbie defensive backs.
It is reported that he had 4% total body fat. Normal for most
men is considered about 12-20%...or somewhere therabouts.
The man was a great athlete, and should be emulated for
his work ethic.


47 posted on 08/24/2006 3:11:47 PM PDT by Getready (Truth and wisdom are more elusive, and valuable, than gold and diamonds)
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To: 300magnum

I am a season ticketholder, living in Reno, who will definitely be there for the November 19th ceremony.


48 posted on 08/24/2006 4:26:07 PM PDT by kilowhskey (Land of the free, because of the brave.)
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To: scory
I remember reading an interview with one of the Raiders after Rice signed with them. He said the first thing he thought was, "great, another prima donna." To his surprise, Rice was out on the field an hour before practice and an hour after practice running routes with the backup quarterbacks. He said he didn't get to work with them much during the regular team practices, and wanted them to be comfortable with him if they had to come into the game.

That was the thing that was so impressive about Rice. He might have been the best, but he always played like he was trying to make the team. Note, this comes from a Cowboys fan.

49 posted on 08/24/2006 4:35:01 PM PDT by Richard Kimball (The most important thing is sincerity. Once you can fake that, everything else is easy.)
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To: discostu

Don't forget they were caught cheating on the cap, which is not the main, but one of the reasons Eddie DeBartolo is no longer running the team.


50 posted on 08/24/2006 5:23:52 PM PDT by ABG(anybody but Gore) ("By the time I'm finished with you, you're gonna wish you felt this good again" - Jack Bauer)
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To: 300magnum

Enjoy it and savor his accomplishments.

You will never see a class act like this in professional sports again. Ever.

51 posted on 08/24/2006 6:33:43 PM PDT by Fintan (Ask me about Mary Kay Cosmetics.)
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To: fso301
Should have Joe Montana throw him one.

And let Doug Flutie intercept. lol

I'd rather see Troy Brown make the intercept...

52 posted on 08/24/2006 8:56:31 PM PDT by FDNYRHEROES (Always bring a liberal to a gunfight)
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To: ladyinred

The 49ers should have done the same with Joe.


53 posted on 08/24/2006 8:57:01 PM PDT by JRios1968 (This kid knows how to wallop a baseball!!!!!!)
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To: FDNYRHEROES

Seeing how Flutie is a QB, it's kinda hard for him to make an INT...he could throw an INT, but make one?


54 posted on 08/24/2006 8:58:16 PM PDT by JRios1968 (This kid knows how to wallop a baseball!!!!!!)
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To: karnage

I like Don Hutson.
<<<

Hutson himself said Rice was the greatest receiver of all time. For that matter, so did Lance Alworth.

You can argue about the greatest QB or even RB of all time, but as far as receiver is concerned, the discussion is over.


55 posted on 08/24/2006 11:50:49 PM PDT by Keltik
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To: Rummyfan
Never heard of any off-the-field problems either.

There was a massage parlor incident some years back, but I don't think it was found to be credible.

Not the most naturally talented reciever, but by far the most dedicated and hardest working. One can question "the best ever" at other positions, no question here.

56 posted on 08/25/2006 5:48:59 AM PDT by infidel29 ("The Democrat Party is like a mule. It has neither pride of ancestry nor hope of posterity.")
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To: JRios1968
Seeing how Flutie is a QB, it's kinda hard for him to make an INT...he could throw an INT, but make one?

You'll have to ask the freeper I was quoting concerning the Flutie Interception thingy...The whole thing would be impossible anyway, as Flutie is already retired...I think he was intimating that both Rice and Flutie are ancient dinosaurs in the league or something. Still, Troy Brown would be the one I'd like to see intercept one last pass thrown to Jerry Whats-his name...

57 posted on 08/25/2006 6:29:11 AM PDT by FDNYRHEROES (Always bring a liberal to a gunfight)
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To: infidel29

One of the best plays I saw Rice ever make was an 80+ yard td reception he made against the Cowboys in the '92 NFC championship game. It was very pretty. It was also called back due to a motion penalty against the Niners. Dallas went on to win the game and Super Bowl 27. I loved it. :) :) :)


58 posted on 08/25/2006 6:33:35 AM PDT by NCC-1701 (RADICAL ISLAM IS A CULT. IT MUST BE ELIMINATED FROM THE FACE OF THE EARTH.)
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To: NCC-1701

I didn't move to the Bay Area until 2000 so I missed the Rice era. Though I do recall being at the season final game at the old Mile High Stadium in 1999. It was the last game the Broncos played in the old stadium and the last game Rice played as a 49er. At the conclusion of the game, most of the Denver fans remained and began chanting Jerry! Jerry! After 5 minutes of this Rice ran out on the field, dropped to one knee and bowed his head as if overcome. It was one of those great spontaneous moments that stand out in my football memories.


59 posted on 08/25/2006 9:13:13 AM PDT by rockthecasbah (Don't wait for 6 strong men to take you to church.)
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To: NCC-1701

Make that the final game of the 2000 season! Senior moment!


60 posted on 08/25/2006 9:15:22 AM PDT by rockthecasbah (Don't wait for 6 strong men to take you to church.)
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