What is next for Jerry Rice? After being released from the Seattle Seahawks earlier this week, that has become a question to which no one, Rice included, knows the answer. Although Rice has said that he is “at peace” with the idea of retirement, he hasn’t decided upon it just yet. After Michael Jordan, I’m no longer willing to accept the retirement of any legendary athlete unless they have explicitly stated that they are more than 99.9 percent certain. When Rice was released by San Francisco, there was some speculation as to whether or not he would retire. I didn’t believe it then, and I don’t believe it now. Despite the fact that Rice is pushing 43, there is going to be a 21st season, making his career almost half as long as the Friends series was.
You see, I know why he still wants to play. I know what he wants. He’s tasted it before, in 1988, 1989 and 1994. It was especially sweet for him in 1989. And for the past decade, he’s never stopped wanting it. Jerry Rice wants another ring on his finger. He went to a few playoffs with the Raiders, making it to the Big One in 2003 only to have his hopes crushed by a surprisingly good performance from Tampa Bay. Oakland never recovered from that loss, and they’ve been in a downward spiral ever since.
But Rice had a chance again. He was brought onto a team that, albeit mostly thanks to the appallingly talentless nature of the NFC West, made it into the playoffs. Naturally, things didn’t work out perfectly last season. Rice spent most of it on the injured list and the Seahawks lost to St. Louis in the first round of the playoffs. Mike Holmgren is a great coach, but I think Rice realized, when he requested his release, that the Seahawks weren’t exactly what he was looking for. So now he’s trying his luck elsewhere.
To hell with what those other pundits and critics say; history is on my side. Great ones have always been reluctant to stand aside: The Babe, Montana, Lemieux, Jordan. Granted, some of these legends had better endings than others. But the fact remains that there is precedent for Rice’s sticking around, even if it does end up being painful to watch.
And don’t think there aren’t any teams out there that wouldn’t want to get their hands on the greatest receiver in the history of the game. Even if Rice were a paraplegic, one must consider the “bling” factor: you put Rice’s name on your team’s jersey, and they’re gonna sell like hotcakes. People will flock to your games just to see him. Look what Jordan did for Wizard ticket sales while he was playing. Rice is a sound investment, regardless of his level of play. And is it so hard to believe that Jon Gruden might be interested? I wouldn’t be too surprised if Rice were back in red again next season.
If there is a team out there that will have him, then the only obstacle to another season would be Rice’s own drive to go on. Of that, however, there should be no question. The words, “I still feel like I have football left in me, a lot of football in me,” are not those of a man ready to hang up his shoulder pads.
