ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Jerry Rice moved across San Francisco Bay
Tuesday, becoming a member of the Oakland Raiders.
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Jerry Rice is falling in line with Roger Craig and Ronnie Lott. It seems every Hall of Fame 49er must make a stop with the Raiders.
Merril's complete analysis |
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"I'm glad to be here, I'm glad to be a part of this," Rice
said, thanking the Raiders for "a chance to continue doing what
I've been doing for 16 years."
After 16 record-setting years with the 49ers, Rice didn't want
to stray far from his mansion, his friends and his fans after being
released by San Francisco on Monday because of salary cap problems.
Rice, who won three Super Bowls with the 49ers, moves from a
rebuilding team to a squad that reached the AFC Championship Game
last season.
Rice's deal is for four years and $5.4 million, including a $750,000 signing bonus, ESPN.com's John Clayton reports. Rice will make $1.4 million this season.
"I'm living a dream right now. A situation like this doesn't
happen that often. After 16 years in the league, to come to a team
of this magnitude, I'm excited abut the possibilities," Rice said.
"It was time to move on, and this is probably a great situation
where I can jump-start my career again."
Rice, who holds every significant NFL receiving mark, has said
he would like to play at least two more years.
He wore his usual No. 80 -- but in Raiders silver and black
instead of his familiar 49ers colors -- while participating in an
informal practice session Tuesday morning.
"Hey, I look good in it man," Rice said jokingly.
Noticeably absent from Tuesday's workout was veteran Tim Brown,
the Raiders' marquee receiver for more than a decade.
On Monday, before teeing off at his charity golf tournament,
Rice said he was still dealing with the emotions generated by his
long-anticipated release by the 49ers.
"I think I've had time to prepare for it, and I'm at peace
right now," Rice said. "I've had so many great years with the
49ers. I have so many friendships. I can always go back to that."
Agent Jim Steiner said both the Raiders and the Seattle Seahawks
submitted contract offers. But Rice said Oakland's proximity to his
new 15,000-square-foot home in suburban Atherton played a large
part in his final choice.
Steiner said Rice's new deal would be a "two-year commitment on
both sides' part," though the actual contract might be longer
because of salary cap machinations.
Rice, 38, who holds league records with 1,281 receptions and 187
touchdowns, had spent his entire career with the 49ers, but was cut
because of the team's salary cap problems.
Rice anticipated his release since early last season, when his
role diminished as Terrell Owens became San Francisco's top
receiver. Though the 49ers offered him a $1 million bonus to
retire, Rice didn't want to stop playing.
"The closure of this is great, and I'm glad it's the Raiders,"
Walsh said. "I'm glad it's close, and that he doesn't feel he's
being shipped to Devil's Island somewhere in the Midwest. I think
he'll do very well over there."
Among Rice's NFL records are his 176 touchdowns on pass
receptions; 12 seasons with more than 1,000 yards receiving; 1,848
yards receiving in a single season; and 22 touchdown receptions in
a single season.
The 12-time Pro Bowl selection was the NFL Offensive Player of
the Year in 1987 and 1993 and the Super Bowl MVP in 1989. He has
19,247 yards receiving, including at least one catch in his last
225 games, another record.
Rice was the final link to the 49ers' two decades of excellence.
Joe Montana, Ronnie Lott, Steve Young and several others have
retired, and Walsh recently stepped down as general manager.
Rice became the latest San Francisco great to spend the twilight
years of his career with the Raiders and owner Al Davis, who often
clashed with the 49ers during the tenure of former San Francisco GM
Carmen Policy.
Over the years, the Raiders have lured Lott, Roger Craig, Tom
Rathman, Marquez Pope and others into the silver and black. Oakland
signed Charlie Garner, the 49ers' leading rusher the past two
seasons, to a four-year contract in April.
Rice's release gave San Francisco approximately $2.5 million in
cap room, which GM Terry Donahue will use to sign backup
quarterback Rick Mirer and several rookies.
"Jerry Rice is a 49er for life. That's just the way it is,"
Donahue said. "But it's a time for the organization to move on.
We've got young players to step up and carry the torch."
Steve Mariucci, who coached Rice in his final four seasons in
San Francisco, already was thinking about the 49ers' Aug. 19
preseason game on Candlestick Point against the Raiders.
"That's going to be weird, won't it?" Mariucci said. "I bet
he'll come over to our sideline by mistake."
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