DENVER (AP) -- The Greatest Of All Time wants to finish his career as a backup with the Denver Broncos.
Jerry Rice, the NFL's career leading receiver, signed a one-year deal Wednesday with the Broncos, where he'll compete for a spot as a reserve.
Thus ends the 42-year-old's search for a place to play his 21st season and add to his totals of 1,549 catches for 22,895 yards and 197 touchdowns -- all league records.
Earlier in the offseason, his agent, Jim Steiner, sent out a league-wide e-mail notifying teams that the ``GOAT'' -- Greatest Of All Time -- was available.
To some, the pitch may have seemed a bit beneath a player of Rice's caliber. To the receiver, though, it made sense.
``What motivates him is, he loves the game, loves being around the guys. He has a passion for playing football, it's what he does and it's who he is,'' Steiner said. ``The more people say he shouldn't do it, that becomes a personal challenge.'' Steiner said Rice told him this will be his last season and that the he wants to go out at a place where he can win and feel comfortable. That's why the Broncos make sense. Denver coach Mike Shanahan was San Francisco's offensive coordinator from 1992-94.
Jerry Rice, the NFL's career leading receiver, signed a one-year deal Wednesday with the Broncos, where he'll compete for a spot as a reserve.
Thus ends the 42-year-old's search for a place to play his 21st season and add to his totals of 1,549 catches for 22,895 yards and 197 touchdowns -- all league records.
Earlier in the offseason, his agent, Jim Steiner, sent out a league-wide e-mail notifying teams that the ``GOAT'' -- Greatest Of All Time -- was available.
To some, the pitch may have seemed a bit beneath a player of Rice's caliber. To the receiver, though, it made sense.
``What motivates him is, he loves the game, loves being around the guys. He has a passion for playing football, it's what he does and it's who he is,'' Steiner said. ``The more people say he shouldn't do it, that becomes a personal challenge.'' Steiner said Rice told him this will be his last season and that the he wants to go out at a place where he can win and feel comfortable. That's why the Broncos make sense. Denver coach Mike Shanahan was San Francisco's offensive coordinator from 1992-94.
