Jerry Rice's ACL injury

Considering Rice was spun down by his facemask, Sapp takes full responsibility for that play.

Was Sapp doing his job, yes, since his job is to tackle the guy with the football. Doesn't change the fact that he broke the rules to do it.

100% of the blame falls on Sapp. If he doesn't take Rice down by his facemask, Rice doesn't tear his ACL.

Blaming Mooch for that is like blaming Seifert for Montana's broken wrist against the Giants

Sapp's Fault!!! Cheap Shot in my book!!!

If Sapp didn't tear Jerry's ACL, Jerry's records could have been even more tremendous and amazing!

i think jerry was showing signs of decline even before the injury, though even in decline he was better than most

face masks happen all the time from all angles, and very rarely do players suffer serious injuries from them, i cant blame sapp, its just an unfortunate incident, the guy came back later in the same season

Always felt that it was a cheap shot and have never liked Sapp as a result.

I thought that He was still dominant when he came back later that season. Of course I was only 13 or 14 at the time so my memories may be more nostalgic than anything. What I thought really ended his dominance was the second injury in his first game back. I believe he was having a good game when it happened as well. After that game the next time I remember seeing him he looked much more tentative.

Originally posted by domingo:
Always felt that it was a cheap shot and have never liked Sapp as a result.

Felt the same way. But Sapp was doing his job. Rice had a field day running across the middle and catching those short slants and turning them into long gainers. He'd been doing that throughout his career.

Look, Rice was on the downside of his career when the injury took place. He had peaked. He wasn't going to get any better.

BUT, yes, the injury did cost him in terms of statistics and lost touchdowns. No doubt about it.

I too, hated Sapp for doing that. I still hate the man with a passion.

I just remember how devistated I was when rice went down. I just bought my first 49ers jersey that year.

I was even more devistated when steve young got K.O'd because of a missed block.

Originally posted by Chico:
Sapp's Fault!!! Cheap Shot in my book!!!

If Sapp didn't tear Jerry's ACL, Jerry's records could have been even more tremendous and amazing!

Never liked Sapp because of that incident. Dirty piece of crap he was.

It had profound implications for the franchise as well.

I would argue that if Rice had not been injured, we could and would have won the Championship in 97 and 98.

f**king Warren Sapp that cock sucker.

Originally posted by kray28:

Originally posted by Chico:
Sapp's Fault!!! Cheap Shot in my book!!!

If Sapp didn't tear Jerry's ACL, Jerry's records could have been even more tremendous and amazing!

Never liked Sapp because of that incident. Dirty piece of crap he was.

It had profound implications for the franchise as well.

I would argue that if Rice had not been injured, we could and would have won the Championship in 97 and 98.

Even though we had some running game troubles back then, we were so good every year its crazy to think about the difference now.

Jerry came back and had a solid game on MNF vs. Denver , until he got hurt on a TD catch in the endzone

Originally posted by kray28:

Originally posted by Chico:
Sapp's Fault!!! Cheap Shot in my book!!!

If Sapp didn't tear Jerry's ACL, Jerry's records could have been even more tremendous and amazing!

Never liked Sapp because of that incident. Dirty piece of crap he was.

It had profound implications for the franchise as well.

I would argue that if Rice had not been injured, we could and would have won the Championship in 97 and 98.

I concur...I remember we smashed on the broncos that year in 97. If we met them in the super bowl. I believe we would have won. It would have been a closer game than the regular season game but we matched up well against them.

In 98 I think that we wouldn't have lost to Atlanta if Hearst got hurt. I miss that Guy...

We really had a hard time getting past green bay during Moochs career with us..I remember hearing something about him giving plays to green bay possibly being the reason he got fired..any truth to this?

Originally posted by unst4bl3:

Originally posted by kray28:

Originally posted by Chico:
Sapp's Fault!!! Cheap Shot in my book!!!

If Sapp didn't tear Jerry's ACL, Jerry's records could have been even more tremendous and amazing!

Never liked Sapp because of that incident. Dirty piece of crap he was.

It had profound implications for the franchise as well.

I would argue that if Rice had not been injured, we could and would have won the Championship in 97 and 98.

Even though we had some running game troubles back then, we were so good every year its crazy to think about the difference now.

97 and 98 we had Hearst tearing opposing defenses a new one. He had one of the most dominant seasons from a 49er RB in team history in 98.

Just think with basically no Rice in 97 we went 13-3, and with a recovering Rice and a much weaker defense we went 12-4 in 98. It's pretty clear that we were missing key pieces in each turn and it all happened with the window closing. Just terrible luck.