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The San Francisco 49ers might not release Jerry Rice immediately after June1, as was commonly believed, the Oakland Tribune reported Wednesday.
Rice, a league source told the newspaper, has asked the Niners to possibly wait up to a week until he has decided on his next team before they cut him.
The Niners, who have given Rice permission to talk to other teams, will release the NFL's all-time leading receiver to save $2.5 million against the salary cap.
"We are in no rush," head coach Steve Mariucci told the Tribune. "We need that money to sign our rookies, but they won't be signing on June1."
Rice, who has spent his entire 16-year career with the Niners, reportedly is weighing offers from Oakland, Detroit and Seattle, although the Lions aren't feeling real optimistic.
"My feeling is that he probably will try to stay on the West Coast," Detroit team president Matt Millen said, "but we should get that cleared up within the next few days."
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