Jerry Rice, considered by many to be the greatest receiver in NFL history, became a Denver Bronco today.
Rice, 42, with 20 NFL seasons and 13 Pro Bowls to his name, agreed to a one-year deal for the veteran minimum of $765,000 and a $25,000 signing bonus, an NFL source confirmed.
The former San Francisco 49ers great is the NFL’s all-time leader in career receptions (1,549), total yards (22,895) and receiving touchdowns (197).
He brings three Super Bowl rings to Denver and legendary work ethic that has kept him in the game for more than two decades.
But he also arrives with some serious question marks:
- Can he earn a spot of the Broncos’ roster? Coach Mike Shanahan made it clear last week that Rice is not being awarded a roster spot based on his glorious past.
- Can Rice accept the role of being a No. 4, or even a No. 5, receiver?
- Most of all, can Rice still play at an NFL level?
Despite Rice’s greatness, the latter is a nagging question.The Broncos are his third team in two seasons. Last season, Rice had just five catches with the Oakland Raiders before they traded him to Seattle.
He finished the 2004 season with 30 receptions for 429 yards and three touchdowns. In the final three games, including the Seahawks’ playoff loss to St. Louis, Rice was shut out.
When the Seahawks cut Rice in February, he was considering retiring. Now he has signed up for his 21st season.
Shanahan and Rice forged a strong relationship during Shanahan’s three years as the 49ers offensive coordinator (1992-94).
In the 1994 season, Rice set a 49ers single-season record with 112 receptions and set an NFL record with his ninth consecutive 1,000-yard season. He also caught three touchdown passes in the 49ers’ victory over the Chargers in Super Bowl XXIX.
Shanahan has called Rice “arguably the best player to ever play the game.”
Yet the magic Rice and Shanahan created in the City by the Bay doesn’t guarantee Rice a place on Denver’s roster.
“There’s no promises of him being the third receiver, the fourth receiver, the fifth receiver,” Shanahan said. “I told Jerry that I don’t know if he’s lost a step or two steps, but you’re going to come here for one reason and that’s to compete with the other guys. And if you’re one of our top five guys at the end of camp, then you’re going to be on our football team. If you’re not, I said I’d have one of the toughest jobs in the world.”
Lack of playing time has been an issue for Rice in the past. One of the reasons he lobbied to be traded out of Oakland last season was that he said he wasn’t being used enough.
Seattle, desperate for a veteran receiver because of a rash of injuries, agreed to the trade. However, Rice’s playing time diminished as the season wound down.
Several Broncos players have said they would welcome Rice to the team, if only for the veteran leadership he could provide.
“My thought is that there could be absolutely nothing negative about bringing a guy like that in,” Broncos Pro Bowl safety John Lynch said. “I would love the opportunity just to be in his presence and just get to see a little bit of his work habits. Just to see some of the greatness that he has achieved, because you hear all of the legends about the way he works.”
Shanahan, however, said Rice would have to be able to play at a high level and beat out young receivers such as Triandos Luke, Nate Jackson and Charlie Adams.
“We’re not just bringing him in here because he’s a leader and he knows the game,” Shanahan said. “I’m bringing him in here because I think there’s a legitimate chance for him to help our football team to win. He knows that there’s no promises and that he expects it no other way.”
