The Seattle Seahawks’ No. 80 jersey heads back to the rafters.
Veteran receiver Jerry Rice, who wore Steve Largent’s once-retired jersey after joining the team last October, was released upon his own request Friday. Generally considered the greatest receiver in NFL history, Rice has played 20 professional seasons and owns 35 league records.
While Rice said Friday that he still hopes to continue playing next season, the release could pave the way for his retirement.
“I still have a lot in my tank,” Rice told ESPN radio. “I can still play if a team will give me that opportunity. There’s a good chance that I will be back in uniform next year. I may not. I’m not going to rush into anything. I’m pretty much at peace if it doesn’t happen.”
Rice, 42, was acquired for a seventh-round draft pick in October. He played in 11 games with the Seahawks, catching 25 passes for 362 yards and three touchdowns. His most memorable Seattle performance came in a loss to Dallas on Monday Night Football, during which he caught eight passes for 145 yards and a touchdown.
But a statement sent out by Rice’s agent said that the future Hall of Fame receiver wanted to move on so that the Seahawks could continue to develop their younger wide receivers.
“Moving forward, in the next few months,” Jim Steiner’s statement read, “Jerry has plans to evaluate his options for playing professional football and will make a decision as to whether he will continue playing or begin the next chapter in his life.”
Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren, who hinted in January that Rice would probably not return, expressed his gratitude for the impact the veteran had on Seattle’s receiving corps last season.
“We are grateful to Jerry and the role he was willing to fill for the Seahawks last year,” Holmgren said. “He is one of the greatest players in the history of our game and we wish him nothing but the best.”
Rice started nine games, due mainly to a series of suspensions to Koren Robinson. Had all of Seattle’s receivers been healthy and playing, Rice would probably enter minicamps no better than fourth on the team’s depth chart – behind Robinson, Darrell Jackson and Bobby Engram.
Second-year player Jerheme Urban showed promise in limited action, while the team also has high hopes for youngsters Taco Wallace and Jason Willis.
Rice might have a tough time finding a job on a free-agent market that also includes Tennessee’s Derrick Mason, Pittsburgh’s Plaxico Burress and Carolina’s Muhsin Muhammad.
If Rice decides not to continue playing, he will probably be temporarily re-signed by San Francisco so he can go into the Hall of Fame as a 49er.
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