Tweet
Niners coach not interested in Jerry Rice
Jerry Rice wants to return to the San Francisco 49ers next season, and coach Mike Nolan would welcome him -- but only for a ceremonial retirement.
Between NFL Draft picks on Saturday, Nolan repeated his declaration that he doesn't expect Rice to play for the 49ers again. The NFL's most prolific receiver has campaigned for one more year with San Francisco, where he played his first 16 seasons.
"We have a lot of respect for Jerry, (and) we would love to have him retire as a 49er," Nolan said. "As far as him being a part of this squad this year, I don't believe that's going to happen. As we move forward with this roster, it's not a fit as we speak (now)."
Rice, who will be 43 in October, was released by the Seattle Seahawks on Feb. 25. He won three championships with the 49ers and reached one Super Bowl with the Oakland Raiders, who traded him to Seattle last season.
"I'm going to retire as a 49er either way, but I'd like to do it with one more season," he told a crowd at a charity basketball game at Sacramento's Arco Arena on Friday night, as quoted by the Sacramento Bee. "I think it would be great for the Bay Area."
Rice holds every significant NFL receiving record, compiling 1,549 receptions, 22,895 total yards and 197 touchdowns receiving in 20 NFL seasons. He also has 207 total touchdowns -- 32 more than Emmitt Smith, who retired after last season.
Nolan also doesn't anticipate signing controversial free agent receiver David Boston, who made a positive impression on the 49ers during an interview last month. San Francisco didn't land a receiver with its first four picks in the draft, and the club desperately needs quality wideouts -- but Nolan seems to believe Boston's risks outweigh his benefits.
"I don't foresee it happening," Nolan said. "(The possibility) might be squashed in the draft. If we don't (draft a receiver), we would certainly consider it.
"I'll be frank with you. If it happens, it will happen on my terms. Otherwise, it's a contradiction to everything I've said as far as reputation goes."
Boston caught 169 passes for 2,754 yards and 15 touchdowns with the Cardinals from 2000-01, but his more recent past includes a four-game suspension for alleged steroid use, team disciplinary problems, a no-contest plea to an assault charge and a major knee injury that forced him to miss all of last season with Miami.
Source: AP
Between NFL Draft picks on Saturday, Nolan repeated his declaration that he doesn't expect Rice to play for the 49ers again. The NFL's most prolific receiver has campaigned for one more year with San Francisco, where he played his first 16 seasons.
"We have a lot of respect for Jerry, (and) we would love to have him retire as a 49er," Nolan said. "As far as him being a part of this squad this year, I don't believe that's going to happen. As we move forward with this roster, it's not a fit as we speak (now)."
Rice, who will be 43 in October, was released by the Seattle Seahawks on Feb. 25. He won three championships with the 49ers and reached one Super Bowl with the Oakland Raiders, who traded him to Seattle last season.
"I'm going to retire as a 49er either way, but I'd like to do it with one more season," he told a crowd at a charity basketball game at Sacramento's Arco Arena on Friday night, as quoted by the Sacramento Bee. "I think it would be great for the Bay Area."
Rice holds every significant NFL receiving record, compiling 1,549 receptions, 22,895 total yards and 197 touchdowns receiving in 20 NFL seasons. He also has 207 total touchdowns -- 32 more than Emmitt Smith, who retired after last season.
Nolan also doesn't anticipate signing controversial free agent receiver David Boston, who made a positive impression on the 49ers during an interview last month. San Francisco didn't land a receiver with its first four picks in the draft, and the club desperately needs quality wideouts -- but Nolan seems to believe Boston's risks outweigh his benefits.
"I don't foresee it happening," Nolan said. "(The possibility) might be squashed in the draft. If we don't (draft a receiver), we would certainly consider it.
"I'll be frank with you. If it happens, it will happen on my terms. Otherwise, it's a contradiction to everything I've said as far as reputation goes."
Boston caught 169 passes for 2,754 yards and 15 touchdowns with the Cardinals from 2000-01, but his more recent past includes a four-game suspension for alleged steroid use, team disciplinary problems, a no-contest plea to an assault charge and a major knee injury that forced him to miss all of last season with Miami.
Source: AP
Comment