Deep into historic career, Rice still eyes future

© St. Petersburg Times
published January 24, 2003

SAN DIEGO -- He's 40 now, and you'd think it would be time to rest. At the least, he is the most accomplished receiver in history. He might be more than that, touted Thursday by Keyshawn Johnson as the greatest player of all-time, and it's not the first time that has been said.

Jerry Rice doesn't want to hear any of it.

Rice sees it differently: that he's a man fortunate to be doing what he loves and happy for the chance to still be working for the Raiders after being discarded by the 49ers two years ago.

"I don't think of myself as being the best player," Rice said. "I think of myself as an individual that really has gotten an opportunity to do something special, and I think I have taken advantage of it."

You think?

Rice is the all-time leader in receptions (1,456), in receiving yardage (21,597), in touchdowns (203), in all-purpose yardage (22,242). He has 12 Pro Bowl invitations, two NFL Player of the Year Awards and a prime spot on the league's 75th anniversary team. He owns 10 Super Bowl records and three championship rings from his glorious career in San Francisco.

And with a chance for a fourth Sunday, he couldn't be more excited or nervous.

"Oh, man, yeah I got the butterflies, I got everything right now," Rice said. "This is the game. This is what you dream about. I've been there and done that, but if I didn't have butterflies, if I didn't pace around, if I didn't visualize this game coming up Sunday, I'm in the wrong profession."

The youthful enthusiasm is not a surprise.

Rice definitely is someone who doesn't act his age.

He is in remarkable condition, teammates joking that he looks more like 20 than 40. The extent of his extreme offseason workouts remains legendary. Friends and foes can't help but rave about his work habits, Jon Gruden still talking with admiration about how Rice is one of the first on the practice field.

"Age is just a number, and I'm not going to give in to being 40 and over the hill," Rice said. "I think it's all about the way you prepare yourself and the sacrifice you make. I think I have done that. ... There is a perception that I'm too old, but I think it's all about the time you put in. If you're willing to put your body through that type of torture, it's going to pay off for you in the long run."

There are those, including Johnson, the Bucs' multi-opinionated receiver, who say Rice is the game's all-time best player. Jim Brown, Johnny Unitas and Joe Montana did pretty well, too, and history will provide the answer.

But for a 24-year-old who grew up watching Rice, like Bucs cornerback Dwight Smith, the chance to line up against him at this level is historic.

"I mean, he's the greatest to ever play the position," Smith said. "I can say I played against Jerry Rice. You can show your kids you played against the greatest receiver ever. And hopefully there will be good things to show them."

As the accolades keep coming, Rice lets them slide by, leaving them in his trail like a beaten cornerback.

"Maybe when this is all over with I can let my guard down and say, "Look, I can't believe what I have accomplished over the years.' But right now I have the pedal to the metal and I'm staying focused," he said. "I don't feel like I'm the best to play the game. Every year I go into minicamp thinking I have to make the team. I have to prove to everybody that I can do the job."

He won't commit to how much longer he plans to play, saying only that he'll decide on a year-by-year basis.

Truly, he's just happy to be here.

"It's like a dream come true," Rice said. "I am going to squeeze everything that I can get out of it before I step away."