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| | Monday, May 22 Rice, 49ers hoping to quickly seal deal | ||||||
| ESPN.com news services SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Jerry Rice will receive another contract proposal from the San Francisco 49ers this week as the sides near agreement on a revised contract for him, according to Jim Steiner, Rice's agent.
Rice is hoping to add team-based performance clauses to his new deal. This would mean that if Rice's role in the offense is diminished, Rice, 37, would not be hurt financially as long as the 49ers do well. Meanwhile, the future of 38-year-old quarterback Steve Young, who has combined with Rice to form the league's top touchdown-pass tandem, is still up in the air. 49ers general manager Bill Walsh said last week that Young, who missed the final 13 games of last season after a head blow left him with his fourth concussion in three years, continues mulling over whether to resume his career and probably won't make a final decision for at least several more weeks. Rice, a 12-time Pro Bowl selection and the NFL career leader in touchdowns, receptions and yards receiving, initially balked at the cap-strapped 49ers' demands that he take a significant pay cut. San Francisco said it couldn't afford to keep Rice unless he agreed to renegotiate his contract, which included a $5.49 million cap figure for the upcoming season. While attending the team's minicamp last month, Rice said he would be willing to take a cut in pay and expressed hope he could finish his career in San Francisco. He also made a point of saying he could serve as a mentor to the younger wideouts on the rebuilding 49ers, who are coming off a 4-12 campaign. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. | ALSO SEE Decision time nearing for 49ers, Young Walsh: Broncos-Young tampering issue over  | ||||||
