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Selfish Rice!!!

pittbull

Rookie
The guy is an ego-maniac! There is no reason in the world why he should be wearing number #80! Of course it was offered to him, but he should have declined. Let their #80, be their number 80. Jerry, for the respect of Largent, wear #88!
 

WWJD

Hall of Fame
I disagree.

I think Jerry has been such a great player that if the offer was made for #80 and he took it that's fine.

He deserves it. He's been a great ambassador for the game and even though I've never liked any team he played for he's the best I've ever seen. I was lucky enough to see him play in person and I'm glad for that. I think he's a class guy.
 
I think Rice is doing what Jordan did and thats tarnishing an otherwise stellar image and legacy. 1. He asked for the number. 2. He's playing waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyy past his prime or even past his twilight. 3. The greatest WR in NFL history has been traded for a 7th rd pick? Man Jerry please limp away from the game. Family life can't be that bad.
 

texasguy346

Mod Squad
I really don't see the problem. Steve Largent is fine with him wearing his number, and I can't see why anyone else has anymore right to be upset about it than Largent himself. It's not as if the Seahawks are going to re-retire #80 and put Rice on it. Largent is okay with Rice wearing his number. As for him tarnishing his legacy keep in mind that it is HIS legacy. It's his to do with whatever he wants. Football has been something he's done all of his life, and I'm sure he has a hard time remembering a time that he wasn't playing it. Before judging Jerry's decision to continue to play a sport that he loves try and think what you would do if someone told you that you were too old to drive, or play golf, or whatever life long passion you have in your life. People thought MJ tarnished his legacy with Washington, and yet he's still regarded as the greatest. Jerry will still be the greatest WR when he decides to leave the game, and he'll be the guy every young WR aspires to be like.
 

JustBonee

Veteran
I think many people around Houston would be terribly upset if the Oilers still existed and Earl's #34 was given to a washed up player wanting to spend his final days in his jersey number ... even if it was someone like the super great #34 Walter Payton.
The memories of a player by a team are tarnished by that.
Jerry Rice is just joining the long list of players who don't know when it's time to call it quits!
 

pittbull

Rookie
Exactly. There would be a ton of people upset if someone wore #34, or if someone wore #75 in Pittsburgh, or #13 in Miami,#16 in San Fran, or #7 in Denver, and so forth! Alot of guys have made a strong name for themselves, living legends, but they don't deserve to bring back what another man has accomplished! Jerry Rice will always be remembered as #80, so switching to another number, out of respect for Seattle's original #80, who bore the bad times and frustration to help his city, would be nothing but classy. But this just shows the true arrogance of Rice. We all know he may be the best WR ever, but let each city have their greats! As for me, If I ever see another #80 worn in Houston, after Andre the Great has his retired in Htown, I'm raising @#@$~@!!! :headbang:
 

WWJD

Hall of Fame
And I agree with the poster that retirement is up to the player. He best knows his body and limits.

If there is a team, coach, general manager who is willing to use a roster spot for a Jerry Rice than that's really all I need to know. If he thinks he's still able to play and contribute and somebody is willing to let him that's enough for me. He'll retire when it's right for him to do so.

People have been calling in all year long on 610 that Bagwell should have retired, he's washed up, injured, can't do anything. And they're one game away from the WS and he's contributing.

JMO. Interesting topic.
 

infantrycak

Hall of Fame
SassyTexan said:
Jerry Rice is just joining the long list of players who don't know when it's time to call it quits!
You mean like Emmitt Smith that soo many folks said was sad and through? 5 games, 353 yards, 4.2 ypc on pace for over 1100 yds on a cruddy team. Bet Jerry and Bill would rather have him back than Eddie.

JMO, if a player thinks he can keep doing it, wants to keep playing and an NFL team thinks he can contribute, people need to get off these guys backs.
 

texasguy346

Mod Squad
SassyTexan said:
I think many people around Houston would be terribly upset if the Oilers still existed and Earl's #34 was given to a washed up player wanting to spend his final days in his jersey number ... even if it was someone like the super great #34 Walter Payton.
The memories of a player by a team are tarnished by that.
Jerry Rice is just joining the long list of players who don't know when it's time to call it quits!
I understand people's gripe about it, but Earl would be the only one who would have a legitimate one. If Earl allowed Walter Payton to wear his number, then I wouldn't have anything against it. I could understand if Rice were a rookie who'd be there for several years to come, but in all likely hood he'll be there for a relative short amount of time. No one will confuse Rice's #80 with Largent'ss. Pittbull mentioned that he thought Rice was arrogant, and that may be the case but Largent obviously thought him deserving enough to wear his retired number. I understand fans believing that a player is 'theirs', but it was that player that made the number significant and its his decision if he wants it to be worn by another player. I could understand your argument if Rice had worn the #80 without Steve Largent's blessing, but since he did get permission to wear it from Largent then I don't see what all the fuss is about. The fans in Seattle are surely welcoming Rice with open arms if they feel he can help them become a better team.
 

Ihategeeks

Veteran
infantrycak said:
You mean like Emmitt Smith that soo many folks said was sad and through? 5 games, 353 yards, 4.2 ypc on pace for over 1100 yds on a cruddy team. Bet Jerry and Bill would rather have him back than Eddie.

JMO, if a player thinks he can keep doing it, wants to keep playing and an NFL team thinks he can contribute, people need to get off these guys backs.

HELL YEAH TESTIFY

Everyone thought Jerry Rice was done when he left the 49'niners

THen on the raiders he gets 92 catches in 02



Jerry had 62 catches last year , why? Because freaking Rick Mieir was the QB.
 

LiveForTheGame

Waterboy
pittbull said:
The guy is an ego-maniac! There is no reason in the world why he should be wearing number #80! Of course it was offered to him, but he should have declined. Let their #80, be their number 80. Jerry, for the respect of Largent, wear #88!
I remember watching something on ESPN about Jerry Rice. They were saying that his ego and arrogance are the reason he is the best ever. When he was out with the injuries he'd come back harder and better than ever because he wanted to show that he could still do it. To be the best in the NFL or whatever profession you're in...you have to believe you're the best and carry yourself that way...not in public but in your work ethic and the way you view yourself.

As for him wearing #80. IMO, if the number is so sacred to one player then it should be retired. No one is going to remember Rice as the Seahawk's #80- he'll always be the 49ers' #80. Largent will be remembered as the Seahawk's #80 more than Rice so it really doesn't matter.
 

Double Barrel

Texans Talk Admin
Staff member
Contributor's Club
What, exactly, is the meaning of retiring numbers?

Rice completely disrespected the spirit of retiring numbers, and he did it solely out of self-centered arrogance.

I have a lot of respect for Jerry Rice, the player, but I've lost a lot of respect for him as a person this past season due to his constant "me first" whining and his focus solely on personal records over team wins.

Jerry Rice is a shell of his former self, and taking the number 80 as a washed-up used-to-be-a-ProBowler barely worth a conditional 7th rounder is really sad.

He should have honored the legend of Largent by taking another number, just out of class if nothing else. Are you telling me that Rice's play on the field will be affected by which number is on his jersey?! If so, his mindset is whack!

Oh well, Seattle's problem, not ours!
 

WWJD

Hall of Fame
I haven't heard him whine at all. I think his opinion is that he could help the team he's on IF he was on the field. If he's not on the field and riding the bench he can't. I think he just went to Norv Turner, told him he wanted to play more, they couldn't or wouldn't do that so they traded him.

They did the same thing for Tim Brown who wanted to play more and I haven't read anything about him "whining". They just want to play.
 

JustBonee

Veteran
Whether or not he's got something left is beside the point. If someone will have him, let him play til he drops.

It's all about the NUMBER ... and saying Largent says it's okay, so what's the problem? What can Largent say? He would look like the bad guy if he didn't go along with it.
Reading some Seattle message boards and seeing the same reaction.
 

Double Barrel

Texans Talk Admin
Staff member
Contributor's Club
Rice said he was not told he would have a diminished role in coach Norv Turner's offense this season, and Rice has reacted bitterly after being held without a catch in three of the team's last five games.

Last week, Rice met with Raiders owner Al Davis to discuss his frustrations, and agreed at that time to accept whatever role the team had for him. Rice also reiterated his desire to be traded to a team on which he could be more productive, telling reporters, "I can't go out this way."
Source

I have immense respect for Jerry Rice's career and impact on the game of football, as well as a lot of admiration for his achievements and work ethic.

But I hate to hear a Hall of Famer end his career with obvious selfish attitudes.

By all means, if he wants to play in the CFL until he is 60 years old, go for it!

But, personal records should be viewed AFTER your career, not during games! He is losing sight of his legacy, and he is tarnishing a great legacy in many young fans' minds right now. A lot of younger people do not remember seeing the great Montana/Rice tandem and his five championship rings.

And regarding the number thing, it's just a personal preference. I think he put Largent on the spot by asking him. It lacks class, IMO. idonno:
 

texasguy346

Mod Squad
As others have pointed out Largent and Rice are okay with it, and I don't see the problem. Largent wouldn't be a bad guy if he didn't want someone to wear his number. I'm sure Jerry isn't the first WR to play in Seattle since Largent that wanted to wear #80 for whatever reason, and no one has gotten to wear it except Jerry. Perhaps it wasn't an option for any other young player, but Largent could've made an exception for any young talented player that he wanted to. Yet he never did. Largent obviously felt Jerry was deserving of borrowing his number for a year or so. Largent's legacy won't be tarnished because someone wore his number. He'll always be #80 for the Seahawks just like Jerry will always be #80 for the 49ers. You may not agree with Jerry's decision to wear #80, but if Largent offered his #80 to him and Jerry declined then there would be a string of people claiming Jerry insulted Largent by not wearing his number. The fact still remains that both Steve Largent and Jerry Rice seem to be perfectly content with the whole situation.
 

JustBonee

Veteran
Just one trip through the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio and seeing the legends and their history might change some views about number-swapping.

 

WWJD

Hall of Fame
I agree with texasguy. It's no big deal.

NO is not a hard word to say. Steve Largent didn't say no and he could have.

Just something to talk about on message boards I think. It will be interesting though to see how Jerry does if he plays more. I personally think he's still got something left.
 

texasguy346

Mod Squad
Largent open to Rice in No. 80

Steve Largent is a Hall of Famer and a Seahawks legend. But he won't stand in the way of newly-acquired Jerry Rice wearing Largent's retired No. 80. Largent, who went on to become a four-term U.S. congressman from Oklahoma, was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1995.
The number was retired by the team in 1995 after Largent's induction in Canton, Ohio, and hasn't been worn by a Seahawks player since he left.

Rice asked Largent for permission to unretire the number in Seattle, which Rice has worn throughout his NFL career, and received his blessing.

"When he said that, it sent chills through my body," Rice said. "It meant the world to me. I know what he did for this team. When you think about the Seattle Seahawks, you think about Steve Largent."
ESPN

Steve Largent's #80 is his, and its up to him what he wants to do with it. You or I can claim ownership of it, and try and tell him what to do with it but it ultimately becomes his decision. He gave Rice his blessing to wear his number when he just as easily could have told him that he'd rather not have him wear it. Just as Rice's legacy is his to do with what he wants. If he wants to 'tarnish' his legacy, or if he wants to play in the NFL until he's 60 then that is all up to him. We, as fans, have no ownership over player's legacies or their jersey numbers. Sure we may have their jersey in our closet, or amongst other sports memorbilia, but we do not have any say over what that player does with their number. Both Largent and Rice are grown men capable of making their own decisions. They don't see this situation as a problem, and I can't say that I see one either.
 

TheOgre

All Pro
Personally I think retiring numbers is ridiculous anyways. What happens when a team has retired 40 jerseys years from now? There are other ways to honor players than to retire their jerseys numbers. I don't like the "24B" options that I heard thrown around.

The only other alternative would be to temporarily retire jerseys, say 50 years. If it is a big deal for a Dolphin's QB to wear the number "13" around 2050, then we have some anal people out there.
 

StarStruck

Hall of Fame
Contributor's Club
When I add Jerry Rice's jersey to my collection, it will look like this.

or


I believe for the most part, once Rice retires, his time in Oakland and Seattle will be a fleeting thought although his contribution to both will be appreciated. I see it as a temporary assignment and when his career is over, the borrowed number will have no lasting affect on how either player is remembered by the team that brought their fame.
 

texasguy346

Mod Squad
SassyTexan said:
Looked that way yesterday. ...bad karma unretiring #80...
Rice definately won't be the Rice that played in San Fran, but no one would at 42 years old. Add to that his short week in practice, and an uncharacteristically poor performance out of Matt Hassleback and you get 1 catch for 10 yards. Don't get me wrong. He's not going to put up a bunch of 100 yds games for them, but he'll definately get a couple first down catches next game. Especially with Robinson out on suspension. As for bad karma I guess it must've started 3 weeks ago when they lost to the Rams. Then followed that up with a loss to the Patriots, traded for Rice on Tuesday and then lost to Arizona. Three game losing streak...Ouch. So much for the Seahawks walking away with the NFC West.
 

TheOgre

All Pro
I still remember OJ with the 69ers, Montana with the Chiefs, Franco with the Seahawks (that was very pathetic), and Bruce Smith with the Skins.
 
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