Weighing the pros and cons of signing a once-great but diminished athlete is the Broncos’ order of business as they ponder whether to add Jerry Rice to their roster.
According to several veteran Broncos players, while Rice is not the player he once was, he still could provide valuable leadership. Two pro personnel directors contacted Thursday gave mixed reviews on the value of signing the game’s all-time leading receiver.
“No matter how you slice it, Jerry Rice certainly is the ‘GOAT,’ as they say, the greatest of all time,” said Will Lewis, the Seattle Seahawks’ director of pro personnel. “And Jerry can still catch the ball. But there is no getting around that he is getting older and he’s running around on 43-year-old legs.”
Rice, with 20 NFL seasons under his belt, actually turns 43 on Oct. 13. But he still wants to play and is interested in doing so in Denver for coach Mike Shanahan. Rice had preliminary talks with Shanahan on Wednesday, but there was no movement Thursday toward signing Rice.
“I did not talk to the Broncos today, and we have not arranged an official visit for Jerry,” said Rice’s agent, Jim Steiner. “All I can say is that Mike and Jerry did talk.”
Shanahan declined comment.
“My thought is that there could be absolutely nothing negative about bringing a guy like that in,” said veteran safety John Lynch, who played for Tampa Bay against Rice in Super Bowl XXXVII. “I would love the opportunity just to be in his presence and just get to see a little bit of his work habits.”
Rice has caught more passes (1,549) for more yards (22,895) and touchdowns (197) than any player in NFL history. He also has three Super Bowl rings.
When Rice wore the scarlet and gold of the San Francisco 49ers from 1985-2000, he was a super man, catching touchdown passes in a single bound. He had 176 of his 197 touchdown receptions with the 49ers.
In his second year after crossing the Bay and donning silver and black for the Oakland Raiders, he was still good enough in 2002 to catch 92 passes for 1,211 yards and seven touchdowns, helping lead the Raiders to the Super Bowl.
But in the first six games with the Raiders last season, he caught just five passes for 67 yards and no touchdowns. Traded to Seattle, he started nine of 11 games, catching 25 passes for 362 yards and three touchdowns. But in his last three games, including the Seahawks’ playoff loss to St. Louis, Rice did not have a catch. Seattle released Rice in February, and even Rice admitted his career might be at an end.
However, there is no question that Rice still can catch the football.
“Jerry still has excellent hand-eye coordination,” Lewis said.
Another pro personnel director, who has closely studied Rice for years, agreed with that. But he said Rice has a lot of limitations.
“He doesn’t run like he used to and he can’t break press coverage,” said the pro personnel director, who asked that his name not be used.
Beating press coverage – that is, getting free against tight man-to-man defense – used to be something Rice took for granted.
Rice’s offseason workout routine and ability to stay in shape are legendary, but at some point his body will betray him.
“At his age, when you hit the wall, you hit it for good,” said the personnel director. “It’s not like you can go to bed and recharge your batteries. It doesn’t work that way anymore.”
Rice’s best game of 2004 came on a Monday night in Seattle when he caught eight passes for 145 yards and one touchdown against Dallas.
“I watched him in that Monday night game last year when he had a big game,” Lynch said. “He still has that greatness to him, and I think he could provide a lot for this team. I would love to see it.”
Broncos Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey – who in 1999 as a rookie cornerback for Washington played against Rice – said Rice might have lost a step.
“You don’t expect him to be the Jerry Rice of 28 years old, but he’s still good. And we know he can still catch,” Bailey said. “I saw him catch a one-handed touchdown last year. So the guy can still play. He’s smart. He can definitely help some of these young guys.”
Linebacker Al Wilson said Rice’s leadership is his strongest asset at this point in his career.
“He’s definitely on the downside of his career. There’s no question about that,” Wilson said.
“Just the intangibles that he brings to the game, the little ins and outs, that the younger guys may not know about the NFL, he can teach them.”
But is that enough reason to keep an aging player on the roster at the expense of developing other talent? The 49ers didn’t think so when they released Rice after the 2000 season with Terrell Owens emerging as the 49ers’ go-to receiver.
The Raiders didn’t think so last year when they traded Rice to Seattle in the middle of the season as WR Jerry Porter began to emerge.
“I think what happens to a lot of veteran guys is that they don’t know how to deal with a new role,” the pro personnel director said. “I think that’s what has happened with Jerry.”
In Seattle, Rice’s role diminished as the season went along. According to Lewis, that was because receivers Bobby Engram and Koren Robinson recaptured their starting jobs.
Engram was bothered by a sprained ankle early in the season, and Robinson was suspended for six games.
“The other players returned and reclaimed their roles,” Lewis said. “We brought Jerry in because we needed some help at wide receiver at that time. So I think Jerry can still contribute, but it’s got to be in the right situation.”
Weighing in on Rice
NFL writer Patrick Saunders analyzes the pros and cons of the Broncos’ possible signing of Jerry Rice, the NFL’s all-time leading receiver, who will turn 43 on Oct. 13:
Pro: Rice has a reputation as a workout warrior and the ultimate practice player. His work ethic could rub off.
Con: The Broncos would be taking a roster spot from a young receiver who might contribute in the future.
Pro: Rice would easily pick up coach Mike Shanahan’s offensive system. Shanahan was Rice’s offensive coordinator in San Francisco from 1992-94. In 1994, Rice had 112 receptions for 1,499 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Con: Rice likely would have to make the adjustment to being a third or fourth receiver and that’s not a role he’s used to.
Pro: Rice has caught 197 touchdown passes and still has terrific hands. The Broncos need help in the red zone.
Con: Rice doesn’t get open as easily as he used to and caught only three touchdown passes in 2004.
Pro: Shanahan has long admired and respected Rice, holding him up as an example of one of the game’s consummate professionals.
Con: If the Broncos sign Rice and it doesn’t work out, would Shanahan be able to cut him?
Staff writer Patrick Saunders can be reached at 303-820-5459 or psaunders@denverpost.com.
