At the time that the 2000 season was set to begin it was made public knowledge that the 49ers would not be able to keep Jerry Rice after the season was over. Years of salary cap purging would not make that possible. So we all knew that this was coming. We all saw it, but I digress, nothing prepares you for the day your team has to part ways with the player who you thought would never wear another uniform. That is where many of us were earlier this week. The word was coming down through the grapevine that the two teams Jerry was considering, had been narrowed to one. The Oakland Raiders had been in the hunt for Rice's services for months, however it did not appear likely that he would sign with them. How could a man who has been everything that the Raiders are not agree to play for them? It was unfathomable that we were going to be forced to endure the sight of this great player wearing silver and black. The time is here though. We have seen him at practice with his new team. You know the one right? The team that is going to "rejuvenate his career" the team that is "a new beginning" for him. This is a man who has seemingly proven to everyone that he is the greatest receiver of all time and that no one in the history of the NFL has been able to hold a candle to him. One would think that he has nothing left to prove, but he does. To himself. He believes that he is not done with the game of football. And it most certainly is not done with him. Jerry needs only 24 more touchdowns to achieve 200 and 753 yards to hit 20,000. He will most certainly reach his receiving yards goal this season, the touchdown goal may take two years. Hold the line, is that not the number of years that Rice said he wanted to play for. He has said that the numbers do not mean that much to him but step back and look at the big picture. 200 touchdowns and 20,000 yards. Has a nice ring to it right? Not only does it sound good but it looks good as well. The closet player in touchdowns to Rice is Emmitt Smith who has 156 total. But even with that number we are talking about two different positions on the field. The fact remains that Jerry Rice is a legend in his own time. Not only with 49er fans but with fans of football in general.

When Rice takes the field for the Raiders this season he will be wearing the silver and black, however he will bleed red and gold for the rest of his life. You do not forget your roots. Jerry's roots are in San Francisco and they will be long after he hangs up his cleats. He is San Francisco and his family is San Francisco. Joining another team is not going to change that. (Unless he was to go to the Cowboys) Without a doubt the number 80 on the 49er roster will be retired when Rice does decide that his playing days are over. Whether that is in two years or ten. Whenever it is, one thing is certain, noone will ever be to the 49ers or the game itself what Jerry Rice is.

I hope the Raiders win a Super Bowl in the next two years. As much as it pains me to say that, I really do. Not for the putrid Raider Nation, but for Jerry. He is better then any who have come before him and he like Michael Jordan deserves to go out on top. There is noone in the game who is more deserving of that honor than Rice. For all that he has done for the 49ers and the game of football, all the lives that he has touched on the field, to see him retire a champion would be the ultimate testsment to his career. It is what he has earned.

Have you ever seen pure excellence? Perhaps you need to ask yourself what that term means to you. Pure excellnce to me is Jerry Rice streaking down the sideline at the New Jersey Meadowlands hauling in a pass from Joe Montana as two Giant defenders knock each other to the ground and Rice wins the game in the final minute with a touchdown.

Pure excellence to me is Jerry Rice in the corner of the endzone jumping over two Cincinatti defenders and pulling down a pass from Joe Montana with the clock reading zeros.

Pure excellence to me is Jerry Rice catching 1000 passes, breaking the touchdown record, breaking the receiving yards record, going to the Pro Bowl 12 times, overcoming two knee surgeries to continue to perform better then half the receivers in the league, setting the record for most touchdowns for a QB WR combination with Steve Young at 84, being an intrigal part of "The Drive" in Super Bowl XXIII that won the 49ers third championship in the 80's, setting post season records in receiving yards, touchdowns, career receptions, receptions in a game and most receiving yards in a game.