Tuesday, September 06, 2005

 

Jerry Rice


Thanks Jerry
Johnny Unitas ended his career with the San Diego Chargers, Joe Namath ended his with the Rams (they used to play in Los Angeles) and threw the last pass of his career to Doug Plank. Doug Plank played for the Chicago Bears.

I don't know how much Jerry Rice had left when he signed with the Denver Broncos this past off-season. I knew he wouldn't be a starter, but number 3 receiver was definitely a possibility. The Broncos definitely could use a third receiver with their receiving corps so thin after their top 2. Some grumbled that they didn't want to see a Jerry Rice of diminished skills playing with yet another team. As far as I'm concerned Jerry Rice, the greatest wide receiver the game has ever known, has earned the right to do (or not to do) anything he wants on the football field. If Jerry Rice, who is still better than about 40% of the receivers in football is happy helping a team by playing limited time, then Jerry Rice can do that.

On the other hand if Jerry Rice doesn't want to be in a situation where he may be inactive for some games, where even if he is active he may not play or ever see a ball thrown his way, well, Jerry Rice has earned that too. It would be easy for me, as a Broncos fan, to be mad at Jerry Rice. I saw so much potential with him in this offense, so much potential for him to help young receivers like Ashley Leile and Darius Watts, to be a mentor, to be an example of how hard work, and Jerry was an exceptionally hard worker, can pay off.

It wasn't meant to be, and I have no ill feelings for Jerry Rice. In a way, got the best of both worlds. I got to see one of the all time greats wearing a Broncos uniform (even if that #19 did look weird), but I didn't have to see him languish on the bench, or worse, play lackluster football. He won't go out like Namath or Unitas.

I get to remember Jerry Rice as one of the greatest football players of all time. Even if his last games were played as a Seahawk, he was a useful member of the Seahawks, a number 3 receiver, and his last game was a playoff game. He deserved a better send off (the great ones almost always do exception: Bronco QB John Elway who was Super Bowl MVP in his last game). He wasn't assured of a better send off in Denver, he was almost assured a worse send off. Thanks for hanging them up now Jerry. And Thanks for everything you've done for the game since you started playing it.

BOJ

Comments:
If only there were some politicians out there that were qualified to receive such reviews.
 
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