Rice Calls An End to a Sterling Career

My Way - Sports News: "Rice Calls An End to a Sterling Career
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Sep 5, 6:15 PM (ET)

By EDDIE PELLS

(AP) Jerry Rice, one of the most dominate wide receivers in the NFL, is comforted by his wife Jackie as...
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DENVER (AP) - The greatest receiver of all time realized he would be no better than the fourth receiver for the Denver Broncos. It was no way for Jerry Rice to end his career, so he called it quits after 20 sensational seasons.

'I never thought I'd ever see this day,' Rice said Monday during an emotional news conference at Broncos team headquarters.

And the NFL may never see anyone like Rice again.

The 42-year-old receiver, a first-round draft pick out of tiny Mississippi Valley State in 1985, leaves the field with 38 NFL records, including the most career receptions (1,549), yards receiving (22,895) and touchdowns receiving (197).

But as much as the numbers, it was the way he did things that made the biggest impression - the right way. He was a slave to details, a master of route-running precision, a good guy off the field and a workout junkie both in season and out.

(AP) San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice (80) is surrounded by Cincinnati Bengals defenders,...
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Revered by fans and his peers, Rice told the players he was retiring during a short meeting held after his public announcement. The Broncos gave him a standing ovation.

'Not many people that own all the records spend that type of commitment and give that type of commitment in the offseason,' Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. 'That's why, in my opinion, he's the greatest player to ever play the game.'

Next, it's time for that debate, and nobody can accuse Shanahan of overstating it.

Rice led the 49ers to three Super Bowl titles and helped make Joe Montana and Steve Young look great. He mastered the West Coast offense and made a career of turning short catches into long gains. His work ethic and attention to the little things"