The future Hall of Fame receiver is to announce his retirement at a Monday afternoon news conference, ESPN's Andrea Kremer.
Rice, who met with Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan earlier in the day, was informed he was not going to be Denver's No. 3 receiver and possibly would not be active for every game. After learning of that role, Rice decided he would rather retire, according to Kremer.
When the Broncos cut down their roster to 53 players on Saturday, the 42-year-old Rice made the squad, but knew he potentially could be Denver's last option at receiver.
Darius Watts' strong performance in Friday night's 30-21 preseason victory over Arizona won him the No. 3 job behind Rod Smith and Ashley Lelie. Rice had moved ahead of Watts on the depth chart earlier in camp, but Watts' recent push changed the team's thinking.
In fact, Charlie Adams is expected to challenge Watts for the No. 3 job. Adams has been cut a couple times, and he's catching the ball well after getting contact.
Rice signed with Denver this summer in hopes of finishing his career as a backup with the Broncos. He wanted to be the team's No. 3 receiver.
"That was a must for him," Rice's agent, Jim Steiner, told The Associated Press on Sunday.
Workers at the hotel where Rice has stayed since he signed with Denver -- a golf resort close to the Broncos facility -- said Rice's golf clubs were gone, and he checked out of the hotel late last week.
Denver kept six receivers on its final roster, including Rice, Darius Watts, Charlie Adams and Todd Devoe.
After Denver's final preseason game Friday, Rice told the Denver Post: "Those guys deserve to be on the field. They worked real hard. The thing is, I'm going to hold my head high if it doesn't work out."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
It is sad to hear it that way. He shoud have retired earlier, perhaps two seasons ago or at least at the end of last season. It would heve been good to see him go in his own terms as the greatest receiver of all time.
Daniel Snyder has defined incompetence, failure and greed to true Washington Redskins fans for over a decade and a half. Stay away from football operations !!!
I actually really like it when guys play until they can't anymore.
People always criticize Ricky Henderson and future Hall of Famers who play past thier prime but I have always really respected that kind of attitude. It shows how much they love the game. At the end of their careers they aren't playing for glamour or for money anymore but for the true LOVE of the game.
How many of us say when we see players bickering about contracts, "I would play for nothing, it would be an honor to be able to do what they do." Last year on Monday night he showed he could still burn the Cowboys and that was great. Seven catches for 145 yds and a TD, that was awesome!
Greatest of all time. (Art Monk, of course, is the second greatest of all time).
"We're not going to be the pushovers of the NFL, we're gonna push over some people!" - Clinton Portis
How much would it have sucked if Jerry Rice, like D-Mac last year, was inactive for most of the games. How insulting! He made the right call her. He will always be considered to be one of the best....if not THEE best.
Fran Farren "Justice Hog"
Newark, DE
“God didn't give us a spirit that is timid but one that is powerful, loving and controlled.” 2 Timothy 1:7
jerry rice is the best...hands down. they showed a graphic on espn today, comparing his lead over the second place in catches, yards, and touchdowns. 448, 7200+, 67...that's just unbeleiveable. the man is a legend, and is one player who stands for integrity and all that is right about sports. here's to a great career jerry rice, and hopefully you will be a better reporter than darrell green :-p
Sean, may you always rest in peace and look down on us with the same love that we look up to you.
I know it was his time, but its hard to watch none the less. I have so much respect for Jerry Rice. He was ALL ABOUT the game. And I will always remember him as the best to ever play.
apparently, however, being the all time leader in receptions doesn't guarantee a spot in the hof. (yes, i'm continually bitter about the insult to art monk).
I'm a jack of all trades, the master of three
Rockin' the tables, rockin' the mikes, rockin' the young lay-dees.
I like Don Hudson personally. If Hutson had played in the West Coast offense with the likes of Montana and Young, and continued to play for 20 years, his numbers might be comparable.
As it is, in 11 years with green bay (25-35), Hutson scored 99 receving td's good for 5th all-time and 11th for combined rec/rush td's.
He averaged 16.4 yards per catch on 488 catches (7991 yards), as well as 4.6 yards per carry on 62 carries (284 yards) over a 116 game career.
If we compare that to Rice's first 11 seasons, here's what we get:
Category-----Rice-----Hutson
Receptions---942------488
Yards--------15123----7991
Average------16.4-----16.4
TD's---------146------99
TD's/Rec-----6.4------4.9
Best YPC-----20.4-----24.9
Next Best----18.9-----23.3
As you can see, even in a run-first era on a run-first team, Don Hutson's career is similar and even better in some areas. I vote for Hutson.
RIP 21
"Nah, I trust the laws of nature to stay constant. I don't pray that the sun will rise tomorrow, and I don't need to pray that someone will beat the Cowboys in the playoffs." - Irn-Bru
Good job Jerry
