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While the trade likely will not be announced until Tuesday, the Oakland Raiders on Monday night reached agreement on a deal that will send disgruntled wide receiver Jerry Rice to the Seattle Seahawks for a conditional seventh-round draft choice.
Earlier in the day, ESPN.com learned through several Oakland players that Rice bade farewell to his Raiders teammates, telling them he expected to be shipped to the Seahawks. In fact, Rice even autographed some of his used football cleats for younger teammates and signed some jerseys as well.
"He basically said, 'Hey, I'm out of here,' and wished us good luck for the rest of the season," said one player.
Trades for the 2004 season must be completed Tuesday by 4 p.m. Eastern time.
"Certainly we'd consider it," Holmgren said in Kirkland, Wash. "I had our pro personnel people look at Jerry. Yeah, we're exploring it. ... I would think it would give any team a boost, but really it's up to the Raiders. It's really their call."
The most prolific wide receiver in NFL history, and some contend the greatest player at any position, Rice has been all but forgotten by the Raiders in his 20th league season. He has just five receptions and, in three of five games, did not register a catch.
Although he did not demand a trade, Rice, who has made no secret of his desire to move to a team where he could get increased playing time, met last Wednesday with Oakland owner Al Davis. Since that meeting, he has consistently referred to the Raiders in the past tense, and spoken publicly about his fond memories of his tenure there.
In the past few days, the Raiders have ramped up their efforts to resolve the Rice issue, despite finding a relatively soft market for his services. At age 42, Rice is no longer a big-play threat, and most personnel directors view him as a possession receiver at best. Oakland officials believe that Rice, if retained, would simply be a distraction for the balance of the season.
The Seahawks were one of the finalists for Rice's services when he was released by San Francisco in the spring of 2001. Plus, the Seahawks, who have lost two straight games after a 3-0 start, are having problems at the wide receiver position.
No. 3 wideout Bobby Engram, one of the top slot receivers in the league, suffered a sprained left ankle in Sunday's defeat at New England and could be sidelined be a week or two. -
Wish he'd retire instead of taking some young kid's spot on the team.Comment
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He deserves to go out catching some balls...the Raiders suck, and they were sucking him down with them. His days as a deep threat may be over, but he's still a damn good receiver catching short to mid-range passes in a west-coast offense.Comment
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And then doing what? Falling down? He's tarnishing what hes accomplished by trying to hang around.Comment
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wow, thats crazy. Well maybe he'll get some more balls thrown his wayComment
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Give me a break...it's Seattle, they suck. Jerry with one leg would be better then having one of those "young guys" you are talking about....Originally posted by YellowJacket
Wish he'd retire instead of taking some young kid's spot on the team.Comment
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The sad thing is that he will be wearing #80! That number was retired for Steve Largent and now they are bring it out of retirement ....with Steve's permission of course! I just hope he doesn't tarnish what Steve did back in the day by wearing his number!Comment
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I say if the guy can still play and still has the desire at his age, who are we to say he shouldn't. I wish him well he will be a great addition to an already pretty good wr coreComment
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I for one say he shouldn't... go out while you're on top so that ppl can remember you being the best. Look at Barry Sanders - u know good and well he could have played another 5-6 years, maybe more, and broken every rushing record there was, but he saw that his prime was over, so he got out... jerry needs to do the same so we can remember him as the best receiver in history and not the guy who got traded to seattle for a 7th round pickComment
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Rice is the best ever but should have never asked Steve Largent to use his retired #. Raiders suck anyways so him in any other uniform is better than the silver and black! GO NINERSComment
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Jerry Rice is the best receiver of all time....if he wants to wear #80, or any other number retired for any receiver who has played the game, he should get the damn number.Last edited by hitmansb; 10-25-04, 12:33 AM.Comment
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Right, now hes an old man, who drops passes, runs slow routes and needs to leave the NFL before he tarnishes all his accomplishments, that wont last long anyway.Comment
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