Jerry Rice Retires

[BigSKINBauer]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2152365
Jerry Rice is calling it a career.

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."