NFL: The 49ers and Rice

By Alan Keffer Sportsuperstarz.com Columnist

The saga that has been the battle between Jerry Rice and the San Francisco 49ers is apparently far from over. According to sources from both sides who spoke with Sportsuperstarz.com, the battle that is messy already will get messier before it ends.

Rice, who is set to be released by the 49ers and has already stated that he is not ready to retire. This would mean that the career 49er would finish his career in another team’s uniform. According to sources close to Rice, his treatment by the 49ers has been unfair. According to the source, the NFL’s all-time leading receiver feels he deserves better.

“He feels the way he has been treated is crap,” said a source close to Rice, who spoke to Sportsuperstarz.com on condition of anonymity. “The guy has done more things in his career than about ten receivers have done in theirs combined. He would never say it publicly, but what they have done is wrong and he feels that they owe him more than what they have done for him.”

However, the view is different on the other side of the bridge. A 49ers official who spoke with Sportsuperstarz.com on condition of anonymity stated that the 49ers simply couldn’t afford to keep Rice. He also explains that with talented young receivers like J.J. Stokes and Terrell Owens, Rice has simply overstayed his welcome.

“Why have him here when we have two other guys capable of doing the job,” stated the official. “Plus the guy is eating salary cap room. His problem is that he is not the go to guy anymore and that bothers him. His attitude is based on his pride and it’s selfish. The guy needs to step aside for the good of the organization. His career is over and he can’t deal with it.”

Rice holds every career NFL receiving record, as well as the NFL’s career touchdown record. This past season he had 75 catches for 807 yards and 7 touchdowns. Over his career, his numbers are staggering. His 1,281 catches have been good for 19,247 yards and 176 touchdowns. According to the source we spoke with, Rice feels cheated by the way his 49er career is ending.

“The guy feels he should get more than this,” said the source. “The guy is a class guy and has done everything he can for them. They always ship their legends out like they are a used coffee table. That shouldn’t be done in this case. The guy is a record holder and a Super Bowl MVP. They need to treat the guy better than this. The organization is wrong over this one and they won’t say it.”

However, according to the 49ers, Rice is upset over losing his career. “The guy is upset that he is being gotten rid of,” the official stated. “The guy could have done the honorable thing and retired, but did he? He is the selfish one in this and he is the one that will not do what is best for the other. He needs to get over being washed up and that’s that.”

The 49ers have had numerous salary cap concerns throughout the decade and have stated that they simply can’t afford to keep the multiple time Pro–Bowler. According to his agent, several teams have already expressed interest in acquiring the receiver. According to his agent, fourteen teams have already called about Rice playing in their gear next season.

Sometimes careers end. And sometimes a team must part with a career superstar. However, it is rare that it ends up in this big of a mess.

Article courtesy of Sportsuperstarz.com