Joe Montana believes Jerry Rice can help the Broncos, especially in the red zone, where the Broncos can use some assistance.
“He can make a difference, especially with the rules the way they are now,” the Hall of Fame quarterback said Thursday. “They won’t let defenders get their hands on guys, and Jerry is the kind of guy who can find a hole in the end zone. You only need to get in the right position, and he can get in the right position.”
Montana and Rice played together in San Francisco from 1985 to 1992, winning two Super Bowls together. The 42-year-old Rice became a Bronco on Wednesday, agreeing to a one-year deal of $765,000 that included a $25,000 signing bonus.
Although Montana acknowledged Rice no longer has the speed to be a consistent deep threat, he said Rice could help the Broncos improve their scoring punch inside the 20-yard line. Last season, the Broncos finished the regular season ranked 28th in red-zone production, scoring a touchdown only 45.3 percent of the time.
“I don’t think Jerry has the speed to get behind guys all of the time, but as you get in the red zone, his skills become more and more important,” Montana said.
Montana also said he supports Rice’s decision to come back for his 21st season.
“He’ll be able to contribute, as long as he’s healthy,” Montana said. “The big thing is, I just don’t want to see him get hurt. There is nothing worse than seeing somebody end up with an injury that could hamper them for the rest of their lives.”
Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said he doesn’t know exactly what role Rice will play for Denver in 2005, but is confident Rice can be productive.
“I’m sure willing to take a chance on a guy I think is the best player ever to play the game at any position,” Shanahan said.
Rice is scheduled to arrive in Denver on Tuesday, then participate in Denver’s team camp – six days of full-team practices, beginning Wednesday. Rice will return to his home in the San Francisco area for his offseason workouts.
Number search
Rice wore No. 80 for the first 20 years of his illustrious career but now must pick a new one. Wide receiver Rod Smith, the leading receiver in Broncos history, already wears No. 80 in blue and orange.
Last year in Seattle, Rice wore No. 80, even though it was the retired number of Seahawks Hall of Fame receiver Steve Largent. It was Largent who offered to let Rice borrow the number for a season.
“The only reason I did it in Seattle is because of Steve Largent, a guy I have a lot of respect for,” Rice said. “And I have a lot of respect for Rod Smith also, so it’s going to be all right. I’m not going to go in there and try to fight for that jersey. Rod is the guy there, and I think he deserves to keep that number.”
Four-wheel accident
Shanahan said Thursday that offensive lineman P.J. Alexander tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee while riding a four-wheel recreation vehicle over the weekend, not during last Friday’s practice, as had been previously reported.
Alexander, who was expected to battle Cooper Carlisle for the starting job at right guard, is out for the season.
“My understanding is that he was on a four-wheeler, and he got hurt,” Shanahan said. “I don’t know if he was going to tip over or something, but he put his foot down and tore his ACL. It had nothing to do with football. He was kind of doing something over the weekend. I’m sure he wishes he did not do that at that time. I’ve done some crazy things myself, so I can’t start throwing any stones.”
Earlier this month, Cleveland tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. was lost for the season when he wrecked his motorcycle, tore his ACL and also suffered internal injuries. The Browns’ 2004 first-round draft choice violated the terms of his contract by riding the motorcycle.
Shanahan said he talked to his team after Winslow’s accident.
“We did talk about the Winslow situation – starting with myself, because I do ride motorcycles,” he said. “But it doesn’t matter if I get hurt. I can still coach.”
Golden oldies
Here are 10 athletes who were still going strong after turning 40:
1. Gordie Howe
Played professional hockey until he was 52. In his last season, he played in all 80 of the Hartford Whalers’ games. The most points he scored was in 1968-69, when he racked up 103 for the Detroit Red Wings – at age 41.
2. George Blanda
Blanda played pro football from 1949-75, longer than any other player. In 1970, at 43, he led the Raiders to four wins and a tie with his last-second heroics. He played his final NFL game at 48.
3. Jerry Rice
The NFL’s all-time leading receiver and newest Bronco turns 43 on Oct. 13. In 2002, at 40, Rice had a 92-catch, 1,211-yard season and helped lead the Raiders to Super Bowl XXXVII.
4. George Foreman
On Nov. 5, 1994, at age 45, more than two decades after losing the “Rumble in the Jungle” to Muhammad Ali, Foreman knocked out Michael Moorer, 26, to win the heavyweight boxing title. Foreman retired in 1997 with a pro record of 76-5 with 68 knockouts.
5. Nolan Ryan
The all-time major-league strikeout king played from 1966-93 and recorded his 5,000th strikeout in 1989 at age 42. On July 11, 1990, he became the oldest pitcher to throw a no-hitter, against the Oakland A’s. He threw another one the next season. Ryan won the ERA title at 40 and led the league in strikeouts at 41.
6. Warren Spahn
Just five days after turning 40, Spahn, pitching for the Milwaukee Braves, threw a no-hitter against the Giants. That season, he went 21-13 and led the National League with a 3.02 ERA. Spahn went 23-7 with a 2.60 ERA at age 42.
7. Martina Navratilova
Arguably the greatest female tennis player in history – she won 18 career major singles titles – she kept on rockin’ well into her 40s. At age 46, she won mixed doubles titles in 2003 at the Australian Open and Wimbledon. Last year, at 47, she returned to singles, and in her first singles match at Wimbledon in 10 years, she pummeled Catalina Castano 6-0, 6-1 in 47 minutes.
8. Jack Nicklaus
In 1980, at 40, Nicklaus won the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship. At 42, he finished second in the U.S. Open. At 43, he finished second in the PGA. But the highlight of the Golden Bear’s golden 40s came in 1986, when, at 46, he came from behind on the final day to win his sixth green jacket at the Masters.
9. Babe Didrikson Zaharias
One of the greatest all-around athletes in history, Zaharias began her career on the amateur golf tour in 1934. She was one of the founding members of the LPGA in 1950. Didrikson was still at the top of her game in 1953 when she was diagnosed with rectal cancer and underwent surgery. The next year she was back on the LPGA tour and won the 1954 U.S. Open by a record 12 strokes at age 43. By 1955 the cancer reappeared in her spine and she retired from sports permanently. She died Sept. 27, 1956, at 45.
10. Carlton Fisk
Playing catcher in the major leagues is a brutal profession. But in 1991, at 43, Fisk caught 106 games, hit 18 home runs and drove in 74 runs for the Chicago White Sox. From the ages of 40 to 43, he caught an average of almost 100 games a season. Fisk also hit 72 home runs after he turned 40.
Patrick Saunders can be reached at 303-820-5459 or psaunders@denverpost.com.
