49ers, Rice Are Ready to Part Ways

Confirming what has been widely known for months, San Francisco General Manager Bill Walsh said Wednesday that Jerry Rice probably will play the final home game of his 16-year career with the 49ers on Sunday against Chicago.

Walsh said he expects to release Rice, the game’s most prolific receiver, on June 1. The move will give San Francisco about $2 million in salary cap room for next season.

“He is the last [player] of significance from a bygone era of true greatness in this organization,” Walsh said. “It’s sort of the passing of the torch to a group of younger players.”

Walsh said Rice, scheduled to make $4.2 million next season in a contract that runs until 2004, likely will be released because of the 49ers’ salary cap woes and pressure from San Francisco’s young and developing receivers.

After failing in weeks of negotiations to possibly restructure Rice’s contract, Walsh said he will give Rice’s agent, Jim Steiner, permission to speak to other teams.

Rice, who isn’t ready to retire, said he doesn’t think he’ll play beyond the 2001 season. Rice, who will turn 39 next year, said he doesn’t want to be in uniform at 40.

“I still enjoy the excitement of the game, and I still have that fire,” Rice said. “I’m at peace with whatever happens. When it happens, it will be devastating. It will be a shock, but I’ve seen guys like Joe Montana and Ronnie Lott and Steve Young go through it. I know how to deal with it.”

Rice holds NFL records with 1,268 catches, 19,110 yards receiving and 176 touchdown receptions. Walsh called Rice “possibly the greatest football player ever to take the field, and certainly the greatest San Francisco 49er.”

Once the favorite target of Montana and Young, Rice has become the 49ers’ No. 2 receiver behind Terrell Owens. But Rice has 62 catches for 668 yards and seven touchdowns, and he said he didn’t regret his decision to return to San Francisco when he could have left or retired last summer.

*

Chicago quarterback Cade McNown will start Sunday’s game at San Francisco after missing six weeks because of a separated shoulder. McNown, a 1999 first-round selection out of UCLA, was 1-7 as a starter before the injury as the Bears matched the worst start in the franchise’s 81-year history. Chicago is 3-3 since, with Jim Miller and Shane Matthews at quarterback. . . . Quarterback Vinny Testaverde, who injured his left groin in the Jets’ loss to Oakland, is listed as probable for New York’s game against Detroit. . . . Denver quarterback Brian Griese took another step in his recovery from a separated right shoulder, throwing about 30 passes during practice. Griese, the NFL’s top-rated passer, has sat out the last four games and will sit out Sunday’s game at Kansas City. . . . St. Louis strong safety Rich Coady will miss the remainder of the season because of a bulging disc in his neck. . . . Left guard Glenn Parker will miss the New York Giants’ game against Dallas after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. . . . Jacksonville running back Fred Taylor did limited work in practice because of a deep bruise on his left leg and is listed as probable for Sunday’s game against Cincinnati. . . . Lee Flowers, Pittsburgh’s second-leading tackler, will miss Saturday’s game against Washington because of a sprained knee. . . . Carolina’s Reggie White says he might call it quits for good after this season. “I need to see what the team wants to do, then I have to sit down and decide what I want to do,” White said. . . . With Jake Plummer and Dave Brown nursing injuries, Arizona might give third-stringer Chris Greisen his first NFL start against Baltimore. . . . Buffalo quarterback Rob Johnson got a vote of confidence from Coach Wade Phillips. “We’re making yardage and he’s a high-rated passer. That’s why we feel like he has a future,” Phillips said. . . . Running back Jerald Moore cleared waivers and has been re-signed by New Orleans, who released linebacker Phillip Ward.