After much thought, Rice is far from the retiring type - The Orange Mane

SoCalBronco · 07-31-2005, 12:50 AM

thomas george
After much thought, Rice is far from the retiring type
By Thomas George
Denver Post Staff Columnist

Eighty-five players reported at 4:30 p.m. Thursday for the Broncos' first day of training camp. One was missing.

Jerry Rice.

Rice, at his home near San Francisco, called Broncos coach Mike Shanahan at 8 a.m. Thursday and told Shanahan, "I've got some things I'm weighing here."

Rice was contemplating retiring.

One of the swankiest stories and marquee additions in Broncos history was about to vanish before the first day of camp.

Between the Broncos' minicamps he attended a few weeks ago and the start of training camp, Rice was in a mental storm.

Was it peers among the Broncos' receiving group or beyond who had revealed jealousy of him? Was it a realization that at age 42 that becomes 43 on Oct. 13 that a 21st NFL season was too much to cut, that there was not enough left? Was the idea that he would tarnish his legacy beginning to take root in his mind? Did he believe he would be cut in training camp? That if he made the team he would be too low on the receiving tree? Too overworked in camp?

SoCalBronco · 07-31-2005, 12:50 AM

It was none of that, Rice said Saturday at Broncos camp.

"It was my family," Rice said. "I asked my kids what they wanted me to do. I got a 'Stay,' a 'I don't know' and a 'Go.' My oldest daughter is off to Georgetown for college soon. I felt I should be there for that. And then my son's birthday was Wednesday and he turned 14, a freshman in high school. He is playing football now, receiver, defensive back and quarterback. Being around some of those practices, watching them, I started thinking, 'This is going to be good; I shouldn't miss this.' I was torn."

So, he called Shanahan and Shanahan told Rice that if he wanted to retire, he had his support. Shanahan shared a Steve Young story with Rice, how Young in later years had told Shanahan he always wondered what would have happened if he had come back to football for one more year as a Bronco.

Shanahan told Rice he wanted him. He told him not to believe any reports that said he definitely would be cut or that he had no future as a Bronco. He told him he could help the Broncos win.

He told Rice to call him back with an answer.

A couple of hours later, Rice called and said: "I'm on a 2:30 p.m. flight."

Rice arrived in Denver at 5 p.m. Thursday. He arrived at the Broncos complex at 7 p.m., just in time for the next major team meeting.

He practiced once Friday and once again Saturday, in the afternoon session, and said he is here for the long haul.

Who can be sure?

There is not a player in the Broncos' midst, in the entire NFL, who does not face unique challenge and doubt. The mind can say yes and the body can say no. The body can say yes and the mind can say no. The heart often gets the last word. Jerry Rice, football's most fanciful receiver, says his heart is still in it.

"There was a very good possibility that I was not going to get on that plane," Rice said. "There was weight on my shoulders. But then I started thinking that the hunger is still there and the flashes are still there. I started thinking about how much I enjoy football. I started thinking about my new teammates. I remembered that Mike Shana-

han had stuck his neck out for me. And that I had signed a contract.

SoCalBronco · 07-31-2005, 12:50 AM

"I am going to honor that contract. There are a lot of people in this city who are excited that I am here. They want me here. I won't let them or myself down. I'm back in my environment."

Running routes and catching balls and studying the Broncos' playbook and assured by Shanahan that he will be kept fresh. That like other Broncos veterans, he will practice only once a day during these two-a-day sessions.

That he has a place. A home.

"Regardless of the family stuff," Shanahan said, "if I was the best player ever and I heard some of the stuff I understand is going around from some of the 'experts' about how he will have no role here, I might have thought about retiring, too. But the key thing is that none of that came from me. Our coaches and players were impressed with Jerry in the minicamps. He knows me well enough to understand that I would not put him on the team just to be on the team. ... That if I thought he couldn't help us I would have told him after the minicamps. He can help us win."

In the end, though, what might be best for Rice - an exit - might not be best for the team. Shanahan understands that. If there is another change of heart, it would come before the season's first game, Shanahan said. Once the real games begin, Rice will not walk, Shanahan believes. Now that Rice is in the fold, Shanahan said he trusts that Rice will remain.

Who knows what will happen during the course of this camp?

The good news for the Broncos is Rice did not walk before the first ball was tossed in training camp. They still have the chance to gain from his magnificent presence and, they hope, solid production. What a shame it would have been had Rice quit before giving it his best shot, Shanahan said. Now, he said, with Rice at least giving it a go, the Broncos can live with him or, if forced, move on without him.

When Rice signed with the Broncos in early June, he said he could play more than one year and asked, why place a timetable on anything? He said he would see how the season went but believed he could play at least another year after this one, maybe even two.

"I will say the altitude here has been messing with me," Rice said. "I'm making that adjustment. I've had some tightness in my hamstring, but it is getting better. I never wanted my son to play football. Football is a very violent sport. I was always willing to take that risk for my family."

And now he is willing to take more risks for the Broncos, in pro football, for one more year.

"Yes, one more year," Rice said. "This year is it. When it's over, I'm done."

Macnut · 07-31-2005, 01:08 AM

Sounds like he's going to make the team. The big question is how many catches will he take away from another WR and who?

Bronco LB 59 · 07-31-2005, 03:05 AM

Mortensen was reporting a few days ago on ESPN that Rice was thinking about retiring and its good to see the Denver Post clarify the story to get to the bottom of Rice's intentions.

Shanahan told Rice a story about Steve Young regretted not playing for Denver for one more season. I know its a dead issue, but how do you think things would have turned out in 2000 with Steve Young under center? Do the Broncos win the division and avoid the road game in Baltimore?

Sir Mawn · 07-31-2005, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bronco LB 52

Mortensen was reporting a few days ago on ESPN that Rice was thinking about retiring and its good to see the Denver Post clarify the story to get to the bottom of Rice's intentions.

Shanahan told Rice a story about Steve Young regretted not playing for Denver for one more season. I know its a dead issue, but how do you think things would have turned out in 2000 with Steve Young under center? Do the Broncos win the division and avoid the road game in Baltimore?

Of course. There would've been a learning curve for the rest of the players because the offense that was run by Shanahan in SF was different than what we ran here. Yet, Young would've gotten us the division and a lot lot more.

We might've been 3 time champs. Smart, brave, accurate, competitive: I have all the respect in the world for Steve Young.

Odysseus · 07-31-2005, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Macnut

Sounds like he's going to make the team. The big question is how many catches will he take away from another WR and who?

As long as he is only stealing catches. I just assume let some of the other players handle the dropped balls.

DBroncos4life · 07-31-2005, 09:17 AM

I don't see how him "stealing" catches from someone is a big deal. I would have thought him helping the team would be a good thing.

Ballhawk · 07-31-2005, 10:51 AM

I maintain that Rice will not have an impact on this team of any note. He could get a key third down catch here or a TD there, but Watts is having a great camp so far and with Nate showing well as a strong receiving TE, I just do not see our #4 WR having more than 20 receptions at the most.

07-31-2005, 12:50 AM	#1
SoCalBronco Nixonite Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Arcadia, CA Posts: 33,502 Adopt-a-Bronco: D.J. Williams	After much thought, Rice is far from the retiring type thomas george After much thought, Rice is far from the retiring type By Thomas George Denver Post Staff Columnist Eighty-five players reported at 4:30 p.m. Thursday for the Broncos' first day of training camp. One was missing. Jerry Rice. Rice, at his home near San Francisco, called Broncos coach Mike Shanahan at 8 a.m. Thursday and told Shanahan, "I've got some things I'm weighing here." Rice was contemplating retiring. One of the swankiest stories and marquee additions in Broncos history was about to vanish before the first day of camp. Between the Broncos' minicamps he attended a few weeks ago and the start of training camp, Rice was in a mental storm. Was it peers among the Broncos' receiving group or beyond who had revealed jealousy of him? Was it a realization that at age 42 that becomes 43 on Oct. 13 that a 21st NFL season was too much to cut, that there was not enough left? Was the idea that he would tarnish his legacy beginning to take root in his mind? Did he believe he would be cut in training camp? That if he made the team he would be too low on the receiving tree? Too overworked in camp? __________________ ITS A PLAYOFF HOCKEY NIGHT IN PITTSBURGH!

07-31-2005, 12:50 AM	#2
SoCalBronco Nixonite Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Arcadia, CA Posts: 33,502 Adopt-a-Bronco: D.J. Williams	It was none of that, Rice said Saturday at Broncos camp. "It was my family," Rice said. "I asked my kids what they wanted me to do. I got a 'Stay,' a 'I don't know' and a 'Go.' My oldest daughter is off to Georgetown for college soon. I felt I should be there for that. And then my son's birthday was Wednesday and he turned 14, a freshman in high school. He is playing football now, receiver, defensive back and quarterback. Being around some of those practices, watching them, I started thinking, 'This is going to be good; I shouldn't miss this.' I was torn." So, he called Shanahan and Shanahan told Rice that if he wanted to retire, he had his support. Shanahan shared a Steve Young story with Rice, how Young in later years had told Shanahan he always wondered what would have happened if he had come back to football for one more year as a Bronco. Shanahan told Rice he wanted him. He told him not to believe any reports that said he definitely would be cut or that he had no future as a Bronco. He told him he could help the Broncos win. He told Rice to call him back with an answer. A couple of hours later, Rice called and said: "I'm on a 2:30 p.m. flight." Rice arrived in Denver at 5 p.m. Thursday. He arrived at the Broncos complex at 7 p.m., just in time for the next major team meeting. He practiced once Friday and once again Saturday, in the afternoon session, and said he is here for the long haul. Who can be sure? There is not a player in the Broncos' midst, in the entire NFL, who does not face unique challenge and doubt. The mind can say yes and the body can say no. The body can say yes and the mind can say no. The heart often gets the last word. Jerry Rice, football's most fanciful receiver, says his heart is still in it. "There was a very good possibility that I was not going to get on that plane," Rice said. "There was weight on my shoulders. But then I started thinking that the hunger is still there and the flashes are still there. I started thinking about how much I enjoy football. I started thinking about my new teammates. I remembered that Mike Shana- han had stuck his neck out for me. And that I had signed a contract. __________________ ITS A PLAYOFF HOCKEY NIGHT IN PITTSBURGH!

07-31-2005, 12:50 AM	#3
SoCalBronco Nixonite Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Arcadia, CA Posts: 33,502 Adopt-a-Bronco: D.J. Williams	"I am going to honor that contract. There are a lot of people in this city who are excited that I am here. They want me here. I won't let them or myself down. I'm back in my environment." Running routes and catching balls and studying the Broncos' playbook and assured by Shanahan that he will be kept fresh. That like other Broncos veterans, he will practice only once a day during these two-a-day sessions. That he has a place. A home. "Regardless of the family stuff," Shanahan said, "if I was the best player ever and I heard some of the stuff I understand is going around from some of the 'experts' about how he will have no role here, I might have thought about retiring, too. But the key thing is that none of that came from me. Our coaches and players were impressed with Jerry in the minicamps. He knows me well enough to understand that I would not put him on the team just to be on the team. ... That if I thought he couldn't help us I would have told him after the minicamps. He can help us win." In the end, though, what might be best for Rice - an exit - might not be best for the team. Shanahan understands that. If there is another change of heart, it would come before the season's first game, Shanahan said. Once the real games begin, Rice will not walk, Shanahan believes. Now that Rice is in the fold, Shanahan said he trusts that Rice will remain. Who knows what will happen during the course of this camp? The good news for the Broncos is Rice did not walk before the first ball was tossed in training camp. They still have the chance to gain from his magnificent presence and, they hope, solid production. What a shame it would have been had Rice quit before giving it his best shot, Shanahan said. Now, he said, with Rice at least giving it a go, the Broncos can live with him or, if forced, move on without him. When Rice signed with the Broncos in early June, he said he could play more than one year and asked, why place a timetable on anything? He said he would see how the season went but believed he could play at least another year after this one, maybe even two. "I will say the altitude here has been messing with me," Rice said. "I'm making that adjustment. I've had some tightness in my hamstring, but it is getting better. I never wanted my son to play football. Football is a very violent sport. I was always willing to take that risk for my family." And now he is willing to take more risks for the Broncos, in pro football, for one more year. "Yes, one more year," Rice said. "This year is it. When it's over, I'm done." __________________ ITS A PLAYOFF HOCKEY NIGHT IN PITTSBURGH!

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07-31-2005, 01:08 AM	#4
Macnut Pro Bowler Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 511	Sounds like he's going to make the team. The big question is how many catches will he take away from another WR and who?

07-31-2005, 03:05 AM	#5
Bronco LB 59 Ring of Famer Keep your head up dog Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Leucadia CA Posts: 6,068	Mortensen was reporting a few days ago on ESPN that Rice was thinking about retiring and its good to see the Denver Post clarify the story to get to the bottom of Rice's intentions. Shanahan told Rice a story about Steve Young regretted not playing for Denver for one more season. I know its a dead issue, but how do you think things would have turned out in 2000 with Steve Young under center? Do the Broncos win the division and avoid the road game in Baltimore?

07-31-2005, 09:17 AM	#8
DBroncos4life Hey pic Mod!?!?! FU Why yes, that is Bacon Bacon. Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: The wrong side of right. Posts: 26,920 Adopt-a-Bronco: Julius "Fluff"	I don't see how him "stealing" catches from someone is a big deal. I would have thought him helping the team would be a good thing.

07-31-2005, 10:51 AM	#9
Ballhawk Ring of Famer Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 4,132	I maintain that Rice will not have an impact on this team of any note. He could get a key third down catch here or a TD there, but Watts is having a great camp so far and with Nate showing well as a strong receiving TE, I just do not see our #4 WR having more than 20 receptions at the most.