In Every Sense, a Complete Player

By Sam Farmer

Sept. 6, 2005 12 AM PT

Times Staff Writer

The sum of Jerry Rice’s impact wasn’t evident only on the field.

After the star receiver’s retirement Monday, a former San Francisco 49er teammate recalled his influence in a locker-room moment, how Rice -- some say the greatest player in NFL history -- made a huge difference even before he set foot on the field for Super Bowl XXIX, the most recent of the franchise’s five Super Bowl victories.

“It sends a chill down my spine just thinking about it,” said former 49er linebacker Gary Plummer, recounting how he and teammate Rickey Jackson, both experienced veterans, were as jittery as rookies before that championship game against the San Diego Chargers. They were nervous, that is, until Rice walked over and guaranteed they’d come away with their first championship rings.

“The moment he said what he said the feeling of confidence was back,” Plummer said. “The borderline arrogance -- no, the over-the-top arrogance -- was back. At that point, if I could have bet on the game, I’d have put down $1 million that we were going to win.”

The 49ers did win, of course, getting three touchdowns from Rice in a 49-26 rout. During that January 1995 game, he set Super Bowl career records for receptions, yards receiving and touchdowns. And he wasn’t finished. He played for more than a decade longer -- 20 seasons in all -- before walking away at age 42 as the owner of 38 NFL records, including those for career receptions, 1,549; yards receiving, 22,895; and touchdowns receiving, 197.

In 1997, Rice sat out 14 of 16 games because of a severe knee injury, one that many people thought might end his reign. But after that he put up a second career’s worth of numbers: 492 catches for 6,440 yards with 42 touchdowns. Those numbers are comparable to the career numbers of Pittsburgh’s Hines Ward, who is among the best receivers in the league.

In the final act of his career, Rice turned down the role of bit player with the Denver Broncos. He made his decision over the weekend in San Francisco, then returned to Bronco headquarters and informed Coach Mike Shanahan.

“This is a happy day,” an emotional Rice said Monday. “I think the tears that you see basically is that I have really enjoyed this ride.”

Released by Seattle after last season, Rice signed with Denver over the summer and was reunited with Shanahan, a former offensive coordinator in San Francisco.

Early in training camp, Rice was the third receiver, and it looked as if he might make a substantial contribution this season.

But it turned out that was more a reflection of a slow start by Darius Watts, who moved into that spot as his play improved over the course of camp. Rice slipped down the depth chart, and it became evident that his career was drawing to a close. He finished the summer with four catches for 24 yards in four exhibition games.

Rice said he takes the greatest pride not in what he accomplished on the field, but in how he played the game.

“I play the game with a lot of determination, a lot of poise, a lot of pride,” he said. “I think what you saw on the field was an individual who really loved the game and I was just like a little kid. I enjoyed the preparation and the hard work and the dedication that I had to make to try to be one of the best receivers to have ever played the game.”

Although he reached the Super Bowl with the Raiders in the 2002 season, Rice’s glory years came with the 49ers. He and Joe Montana were the two most recognizable symbols of one of the most successful franchises in sports.

While with San Francisco, he was elected to the Pro Bowl 12 times and won Super Bowl most-valuable-player and league MVP honors. When he was the No. 1 target, the 49ers won three Super Bowls and reached the playoffs 13 times.

In a news conference Monday, Shanahan remembered running into Rice at 49er headquarters after the receiver had finished one of his legendarily grueling off-season workouts.

“I asked him, ‘Jerry, what are you doing?’ ” Shanahan said. “He’s all, ‘I’m looking at film.’ I asked, ‘Who are you studying?’ He said, ‘I’m looking at the top 10 receivers in the AFC and the top 10 receivers in the NFC. I don’t want any of these young guys ever to catch me.’

“Not very many people who hold all the records give that type of commitment in the off-season. That’s why in my opinion he’s the greatest player to ever play the game.”

Rice said he’s ready to move on and spend more time with his family.

“My son, he’s playing football for the first time this year,” he said. “He’s a freshman. My daughter just told me walking downstairs, ‘Well, Dad, you know what? You can come to my volleyball games now.’ I had my oldest going off to college.

“Now I can move on and go to another place in my life.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

Caught in the act

Jerry Rice is No. 1 all-time in four major receiving categories:

*--* CATCHES JERRY RICE 1,549 CRIS CARTER 1,101 TIM BROWN 1,094 ANDRE REED 951 ART MONK 940

*--*

*--* YARDS RECEIVING JERRY RICE 22,895 TIM BROWN 14,934 JAMES LOFTON 14,004 CRIS CARTER 13,899 HENRY ELLARD 13,777

*--*

*--* TOUCHDOWNS RECEIVING JERRY RICE 197 CRIS CARTER 130 STEVE LARGENT 100 TIM BROWN 100 DON HUTSON 99

*--*

*--* TDs RUSHING/RECEIVING JERRY RICE 207 EMMITT SMITH 175 MARCUS ALLEN 144 MARSHALL FAULK 135 CRIS CARTER 130

*--*

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

Greatest show on earth

Jerry Rice, 42, announced his retirement Monday after 20 seasons in the NFL, 16 of them with the San Francisco 49ers, the last four with the Oakland Raiders and the Seattle Seahawks. He played in four preseason games this summer with the Denver Broncos. A look at Rice’s record-setting career:

* Holds NFL records for career receptions (1,549), receiving yards (22,895), receiving touchdowns (197) and total touchdowns (208).

* Recorded more yards from scrimmage (23,540) and combined yards (23,546) than any player in league history.

* Owns 38 records (16 regular-season, nine postseason, 11 Super Bowl and two Pro Bowl).

* Won three Super Bowls with the 49ers (1988, 1989, 1994 seasons); MVP of Super Bowl XXIV.

* Set an NFL season receiving yardage record in 1995 with 1,848.

* Posted an NFL single-year-best 22 touchdown catches in 1987.

* Caught a pass in an NFL-record 274 consecutive games from his rookie year in 1985 through September 2004.

* Recorded 100 or more yards receiving in an NFL-record 76 regular-season games along with a league-record eight postseason 100-yard receiving games.

* Owns an NFL-record 14 1,000-yard receiving seasons and a league-best four 100-catch seasons, including a record three consecutive 100-reception years from 1994 to 1996.

SINGLE-GAME HIGHS (REGULAR SEASON)

* Receptions...16

vs. L.A. Rams, Nov. 20, 1994

* Yards receiving...289

vs. Minnesota, Dec. 18, 1995

* Longest reception...96 yards

vs. San Diego, Nov. 27, 1988

* Touchdowns receiving...*5

vs. Atlanta, Oct. 14, 1990

* Rushes...3

vs. Washington, Nov. 24, 1996

* Yards rushing...43