Gunzlingr
05-28-2003, 07:58 AM
CHICAGO--Jerry Rice is surrounded by Snickers bars, SweeTarts and Gummy Bears as he rises from his seat at the All Candy Expo and extends a hand to a visitor.
He has come to McCormick Place to peddle candy, one of his business interests that could find its way in NFL and college football stadiums around the country this fall.
More on that later.
Rice knew his next visitor was from Detroit, and like a savvy receiver negotiating the Lions' two-deep zone, he anticipated the question.
How close was he to becoming a Lion two seasons ago when President Matt Millen and former coach Marty Mornhinweg escorted him around the Silverdome and offered him a free-agent contract?
"Real close," he said, quickly grabbing me by the leg and looking me straight in the eye for reassurance. "I was real close to becoming a Lion. The only reason I didn't is because of the role they wanted me in. I was not ready to be a third receiver or complementary player. I thought I still had skills to contribute as a frontline receiver, and I wanted the opportunity to do that."
Rice left San Francisco after 17 seasons and signed with the Oakland Raiders. Teamed with Tim Brown the last two seasons, Rice caught 175 passes for 2,350 yards and 16 touchdowns. The Lions, meanwhile, went 5-27.
"It's been rough there," he said. "But you got a good man now. He is going to win you some football games."
The good man, of course, is Coach Steve Mariucci, under whom Rice played in San Francisco, and who has been hired to put the Lions back on the NFL map. The Lions might have their Joe Montana / Steve Young-to-Jerry Rice combo in quarterback Joey Harrington and rookie wide receiver Charles Rogers.
more (http://www.detnews.com/2003/lions/0305/28/e02-177161.htm)
He has come to McCormick Place to peddle candy, one of his business interests that could find its way in NFL and college football stadiums around the country this fall.
More on that later.
Rice knew his next visitor was from Detroit, and like a savvy receiver negotiating the Lions' two-deep zone, he anticipated the question.
How close was he to becoming a Lion two seasons ago when President Matt Millen and former coach Marty Mornhinweg escorted him around the Silverdome and offered him a free-agent contract?
"Real close," he said, quickly grabbing me by the leg and looking me straight in the eye for reassurance. "I was real close to becoming a Lion. The only reason I didn't is because of the role they wanted me in. I was not ready to be a third receiver or complementary player. I thought I still had skills to contribute as a frontline receiver, and I wanted the opportunity to do that."
Rice left San Francisco after 17 seasons and signed with the Oakland Raiders. Teamed with Tim Brown the last two seasons, Rice caught 175 passes for 2,350 yards and 16 touchdowns. The Lions, meanwhile, went 5-27.
"It's been rough there," he said. "But you got a good man now. He is going to win you some football games."
The good man, of course, is Coach Steve Mariucci, under whom Rice played in San Francisco, and who has been hired to put the Lions back on the NFL map. The Lions might have their Joe Montana / Steve Young-to-Jerry Rice combo in quarterback Joey Harrington and rookie wide receiver Charles Rogers.
more (http://www.detnews.com/2003/lions/0305/28/e02-177161.htm)