Jerry Rice Retires....

Published on September 5, 2005 By mada_ecks In Football

The greatest wide reciever arguably the greatest football player to ever play the game, Jerry Rice, has called it a career. Opting not to be the fourth reciever for the Denver Broncos, which told him he probably would have seen little of any playing time, and retirement just seemed like the best option. To me, there are a lot of great players that are in, or have retired from, the NFL. Jerry Rice was the type of player that came to work. For he knew he wasn't the fastest and wasn't the biggest, his discipline is what set him apart from the rest of the pack.

His work ethic has been well documented. His off season training and conditioning is what kept him in this league for 20 years. One of the memories I have of him is when NFL films did a special on Rice's off season training, and what I remember is him being up at the crack of dawn, running hill sprints up a very steep hill, untl he couldn't go up the hill anymore. When he came down to rest, then he would do it all again. They also showed him running wind sprints, and yes most(if not all) NFL players run these, but Rice ran his year around; Pushing himself until he could not go anymore only to wake up the next day and do it again. There was no off season for him, he work out year around.

For this reason, I myself think of him as the football player ever. I know among guys like Dick Butkis, George Blanda, Johnny Unitus, Joe Montanna, Otto Graham, Dan Marino, to name a few( I now I left off a lot but these just came to my head) that it's very arguable to say that he his. But for this generation, I have to say that he is. (Sorry to the Dan Marino fans out there)

But anyway, one thing is for sure, he is a first ballot inductee and I wouldn't be surprised if they named an award after him.(since he holds all the records anyways.)

-pas pacis-

-mx-

Comments

Mr_Frog

on Sep 05, 2005

Yeah, I don't follow the players in the league much, but it's really hard to ignore the legacy that is Jerry Rice. You could definately see it in his games (even towards the end of his career). He also should have been a role model for a lot of the younger players in the league who need a lesson in class and behavior. I never recall ever seeing Rice in a pinch with the law or some such.

For some reason though, I think he'll be back. Not in a playing capacity, but expect him back as some sort of coach in the next several years. Someone with his amount of experience is too good to pass up.

-- B

mada_ecks

on Sep 06, 2005

He also should have been a role model for a lot of the younger players in the league who need a lesson in class and behavior.

Yes, to bad T.O. didn't learn anything from him when they were in San Fransico together.
No, I don't recall Rice being in trouble for anything. He was one of the "classy" players that let their play speak for everything. Players like Rice knew they were the best, so there really wasn't any point in him bragging about it. That's what made him so great.

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