So Sidney Rice hemmed and hawed about playing last week and it was only after his hand was forced that he said he was good to go but then said it would probably only be for half the game yet when the final whistle blew, Rice had accumulated fifty some-odd snaps.
Rice responded with a vehement A Bunch Of Bull post to suggestions that contract considerations played into his decision to delay his return to the roster.
The receiver doth protest too much, methinks.
As I discussed earlier this month, Rice delayed his surgery till just before the regular season, causing significant hardship to the team’s prospects by being absent for half the season; he has characterized the hip surgery as very serious but has provided no details about the nature of the injury; sitting out the season would have strongly benefited him financially; and, finally and most damning, his agent is Drew Rosenhaus, whose clients have a history of using whatever leverage they can to squeeze money out of teams.
Given all that and the fact that Rice looked perfectly capable of playing a full game at full speed despite his warnings to the contrary, it kinda feels like Rosenhaus has been driving the Sidneymobile.
The question for the Vikings after this season is: Is Rice worth retaining?
Rice demonstrated last season that he’s got some obvious talent and skill but how much of his breakout year do you attribute to Brett Favre?
More importantly, though, Rice has yet to prove he can stay healthy. Last year was the only year he played in every game of the season, and over the course of his three-and-a-half year career, Rices has started only 22 games.
Do we really want to commit to a three- or five-year contract on the strength of one season? I think it’s an iffy proposition but maybe he’ll play lights-out the rest of the season and change my mind.
THE POST-FAVRE ERA
Probably will begin Sunday as Vikings fans watch Donovan McNabb as a potential candidate to wear Purple next season.
It’s highly unlikely because though people have pointed to loopholes in McNabb’s contract that would allow him to escape his recently-signed contract after the season, McNabb has said he’s staying in DC. And his Eagles connection is no longer at Winter Park, so there’s that.
I wasn’t a big fan of the idea of bringing McNabb to town because he’s been inconsistent over this career. He’ll have games where he’s absolutely on fire and then he’ll have games where he’s got nothing, bouncing balls in the dirt at his receivers’ feet.
WALKING WOUNDED
Vikings: Safety Jamarca Sanford (hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday’s game. Receivers Sidney Rice (hip) and Bernard Berrian (groin), cornerback Chris Cook (knee), and safety Eric Frampton (hamstring) are questionable. Defensive end Jared Allen (neck), safety Husain Abdullah (ankle), quarterback Brett Favre (ankle/foot/right shoulder), linebacker Chad Greenway (eye) and center John Sullivan (calf) are probable.
Redskins: Running back Clinton Portis (abdomen/groin) has been placed on the injured reserve list. Safety LaRon Landry (Achilles) and running back Ryan Torrain are also out for Sunday. Linebackers Lorenzo Alexander (hamstring) and Rocky McIntosh (thigh), receivers Santana Moss (knee) and Brandon Banks (knee), center Casey Rabach (knee), guards Derrick Dockery (knee) and former Viking Artis Hicks (though), defensive ends Kedric Golston (elbow/groin) and Jeremy Jarmon (hamstring), and cornerback Carlos Rogers (hamstring) are questionable. Quarterback Donovan McNabb (hamstring) was a full participant all week and is probable.