Jerry Rice

Jerry Rice
Originally uploaded by brucesingman.

Jerry Rice of the "All Pro Sports Football Series"

Friday, August 25, 2006 - 12:00 AM

Permission to reprint or copy this article or photo, other than personal use, must be obtained from The Seattle Times. Call 206-464-3113 or e-mail resale@seattletimes.com with your request.

Jerry Rice officially calls it a career

By GREG BEACHAM
The Associated Press

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Jerry Rice spent some of his favorite days on the green practice fields next to the railroad tracks that run behind the San Francisco 49ers' training complex.

That's where Rice honed his game over countless hours as he became the NFL's most prolific receiver — and that's why he felt those fields were an appropriate place to say his latest goodbye to the sport he revolutionized.

Rice signed a one-day contract to retire with the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday, officially ending the receiver's matchless career back where it began.

Rice, who scored more touchdowns than anyone in league history, shed no tears during a short signing ceremony on the fields at the training complex opened in 1988 by the 49ers, his team for the first 16 of his 20 seasons.

The receiver wore his ring from the 49ers' 1989 Super Bowl championship team on a chain around his neck as he hugged his wife, Jackie, and shook hands with San Francisco owner John York.

"I would like to put the uniform on and run on that football field, but I think it's time to move on," Rice said, gesturing toward the fields where the current 49ers were practicing. "I feel welcome here. I feel like this is my home, and this is something I'll never forget."

Rice, who will turn 44 in October, hasn't played since parting ways with the Broncos before last season, holding his first retirement news conference last September in Denver. He spent three seasons in Oakland after leaving the 49ers, then played a final year with the Seahawks.

"This is where I got my start," Rice said of San Francisco. "This is where my legacy is at. This is where my heart got started, and this is where I'm going to end it."

Rice's 208 total touchdowns are 33 more than second-place Emmitt Smith. Rice holds NFL records with 1,549 receptions for 22,895 yards, and also holds the top single-season marks of 1,848 yards and 22 touchdowns.

Rice's final NFL contract was for $1,985,806.49 — a sum suggested by his agent, Jim Steiner, to reflect Rice's first year in the league (1985), uniform number (80), the current year ('06) and a 49 for obvious reasons. The contract was strictly ceremonial, and Rice won't actually be paid.

The 49ers will honor Rice again during a game against the Seahawks on Nov. 19 at Candlestick Park, and his No. 80 is expected to be retired in the future.

Copyright © 2006 The Seattle Times Company

the most innovative football ... see http://www.allprosportsfootball.com ... , basketball and automobile racing series ever produced for home entertainment featuring: eleven of the greatest NFL football players and the most successful coach in NFL history; five of the greatest NBA basketball players and one of the most successful coaches in NBA history; and six internationally recognized automobile racing champions ... . sharing their life stories and demonstrating their skills in a very entertaining setting of upbeat music, three dimensional digital graphics and action footage