http://www.kfmb.com/sports/story.php?id=22596 Last Updated: 09-07-05 at 7:42AM Jerry Rice probably won't get the chance to sign a one-day contract and retire with the San Francisco 49ers _ not this season, anyway. The NFL's career touchdowns leader left the Denver Broncos on Monday, announcing his intention to retire after 20 seasons. He spent his first 16 years with the 49ers, winning three Super Bowl rings and becoming the career leader in every significant receiving category. Rice also told reporters that retiring with the 49ers was "the next step" in his departure. But because Rice waited to make his retirement decision until after final NFL roster cutdowns, the 49ers would have to release a player from their 53-man roster to sign Rice to a one-day contract _ a ceremonial gesture extended to several players in recent years, including Oakland's Tim Brown and Buffalo's Thurman Thomas. When asked if the NFL might make an exception in Rice's case, 49ers coach Mike Nolan scoffed. "It's not like the NFL to make an exception for anyone, so I don't know that they would," Nolan said Tuesday. "We haven't talked about petitioning anything at this point. We want to respect Jerry Rice and anything that might be his wishes, but at the same time, we're in the process of putting a football team together. We don't want to compromise anything on the team." An NFL spokesman didn't immediately return a call seeking comment, but the league previously has said no special privileges will be granted for one-day contracts. When Rice decided to return for a 21st season this fall, his agents repeatedly spoke with the 49ers about joining the club for one last season. Though San Francisco has one of the NFL's least impressive receiving corps, Nolan wasn't interested. "My interests go to the 49ers organization," Nolan said. "Certainly Jerry was an intricate part of the success that built this franchise, but my focus is on the current players and staff. I think it's important that we honor and respect Rice. He's due for that, but my focus has to be on this team and (making) sure I take care of the family at hand." Rice, who still lives a short drive from the 49ers' training complex, spent 3 1/2 seasons with the Oakland Raiders and part of another with the Seattle Seahawks before trying to make Denver's roster this summer. He said earlier in the year he considered himself "a 49er at heart. I'll always be that."
Then that should be enough. When I think Thurman Thomas, I think of a badass tailback, not a guy who was a Buffalo Bill for one symbolic day in 2000 (or whenever it was).
