Rice retires from football a legend

SPORTS COLUMN

Patrick Hodgson

For 20 years Jerry Rice has been at the top of his game, envied by his peers and labeled as the G.O.A.T (greatest of all time). Future hall of fame wide receiver Michael Irvin labeled him as “Jesus with Cleats.”

Rice’s announcement to retire came last week and the NFL is preparing for life without Jerry. Rice was expected to compete this season with the Denver Broncos, but failed to capture the third wide receiver spot on the depth chart.

Rice lost the battle for the spot to up and coming Darius Watts in the Broncos preseason finale. This realization for Rice conveyed that his stay in the NFL had reached its climax.

The 42-year-old receiver was a first-round draft pick from Mississippi Valley State in 1985 and he leaves the field with 38 NFL records, including the most career receptions (1,549), yards receiving (22,895) and touchdowns receiving (197).

The only two guys who have a shot at catching or surpassing these records are Colts receiver Marvin Harrison and Raiders receiver Randy Moss.

Harrison relies on his speed and it would be recalcitrant to see him running high 4.3 40s when he gets into his late 30s and possibly early 40s. Moss on the other hand probably would have the best chance to break the records, but most likely would have a problem with permanence because of his off the field antics.

The impressiveness of Rice’s numbers are legendary, but it was the way he did things the right way that made the biggest impression.

He was a drudge to details, a master of route-running precision, a good guy off the field and a workout junkie. The overall character and talent Rice had helped lead the San Francisco 49ers to three Super Bowl championships.

After 16 years with the Niners, Rice went to Oakland, where he had three fairly productive seasons including getting to the Super Bowl in his second year. But it became clear the end might be near last season when the Raiders phased him out, prompting a midseason trade to Seattle. Rice was still a serviceable receiver in Seattle with the Seahawks and even had a 14.3 yards per catch average last year.

At the end of the day I feel Rice was unquestionably the best receiver to play the game and feel that hall of famer Jim Brown was the only player better than him.

Jerry you will certainly missed and but no sports fan will ever forget your contribution to the game. Happy retirement and we’ll see you in Canton in five.

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