Jerry Rice retires

[Phlegm]

Jerry Rice hangs it up after 20 years.

From Associated Press:

DENVER -- Unwilling to be a bit player with the Broncos, Jerry Rice retired Monday, closing a 20-year career for the most productive receiver in NFL history.

2004 SEASON STATISTICS
Rec Yds TD Avg Long
30 429 3 14.3 56

Rice, 42, made his decision over the weekend at home in San Francisco, then returned to Broncos headquarters and met with coach Mike Shanahan. He played 20 NFL seasons.

"This is a happy day," he said. "I think the tears that you see basically is that I have really enjoyed this ride."

Shanahan confirmed what Rice already knew -- that he would be a fourth or fifth receiver, at best this season -- and Rice confirmed what many figured -- that he would rather call it quits than be a bit player with the Broncos.

Rice signed with Denver over the summer, reuniting with Shanahan, who was his offensive coordinator in the 1990s in San Francisco. For Rice, the idea was to play for a coach who was familiar with him and for a team that could help him go out a winner.

Shanahan made it clear he would not promise Rice anything, not even a roster spot. Behind the scenes, though, Shanahan said he knew it would never come down to him having to cut the league's best all-time receiver: He figured if Rice knew it was time to go, he would step aside himself.

Early in training camp, Rice moved into Denver's third receiver spot and things looked promising. In retrospect, the promotion was more a reflection on Darius Watts, who struggled catching the ball, but improved as the preseason went on.

By the time preseason ended, Rice had only four catches for 24 yards and had been pushed back down the depth chart. As expected, he wasn't released when the Broncos announced their final round of cuts Saturday, but he was already in the Bay Area deciding his future.

His agent, Jim Steiner, has said if Rice retired this time, he would not try to come back with another team. If that's so, Rice will close his career with 38 NFL records, including those for career receptions (1,549), yards receiving (22,895) and touchdowns receiving (197).

[Tadpole]

about fucking time

[Malluas]

sigh i wish he could have got that last 3 TDs Rec'ing.. a nice round number of 200 heh

[Lyion]

Isn't it nice to see a guy who loves the game so much, he has to essentially be taken from it kicking and screaming. He isn't the player he used to be, but you can't argue about the love of the game. Unlike some of the other ding dongs who dominate the news.

[Arlos]

And he never lost his work ethic. He always trained and worked harder at his job than anyone else out there, bar none.

-Arlos

[Xaiveir]

Great Reciever, my favorite player of all time. Sad day to know that on sunday i cant tune in and see Rice tearing up a secondary.

[Malluas]

too bad there can't be an exemption for voting someone into the hall of fame before 5 years.

cause this is one player that should go straight in the day the 9ers officially have the retirement thingy at Candlestick (no its not 3com or whatever.. its candlestick for like 20 yaers of my life so F the retarded name)

[Arlos]

He's going to be voted in about 2.3 seconds after his name gets put on the ballot, and only cause it'll take that long for everyone to check off the "Yes" box by his name. If by some bizzaro-world reality warp it's not unanimous, I vote we find those who voted against him and remove them from the gene pool, cause they're obviously too stupid to be allowed to live and reproduce.

-Arlos