Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice, the greatest to ever play the game, is making his rounds this week promoting his partnership with Rice-A-Roni and Pasta-Roni, which seems fitting. He's been on 95.7 The Game, NFL Network, the RapSheet and Friends podcast, and took the time to speak with Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area on the latest 49ers Insider Podcast.

A lot of what Rice had to say has already been heard on the other media outlets, but Maiocco did ask the longtime San Francisco 49ers receiver what he thinks about the team's current crop of wideouts.


Remember, at one point during the offseason, Rice was heavily campaigning for the marriage between the 49ers and All-Pro wide receiver Antonio Brown, then with the Pittsburgh Steelers. A mere nine months later, Brown has been with the Oakland Raiders, a brief stint with the New England Patriots, and may never play football again.

Many analysts will be quick to point out that the 49ers lack a true No. 1 wide receiver, opting to go the receiver-by-committee route.

Rookie Deebo Samuel currently leads the group with 11 receptions for 147 yards with a touchdown.

"I think they're playing -- they're winning by committee," Rice told Maiocco of the 49ers receivers. "Deebo Samuel, I think he's that go-to guy. This guy, he catches the football. He's very physical. He goes across the middle. He does everything, and he doesn't shy away.

"I think these guys (are) going to continue to put up numbers, and I think Jimmy G is going to feed them."


Maiocco also asked why Rice never considered coaching in the NFL. It's a topic of discussion that often comes up among fans.

"My thing is more of a mentor," Rice said. "Coaching, you really don't have a life, to be honest with you. To be able to pass that knowledge on to the guys, and just talk to them about stuff that's on the football field, off the football field, I would love to do that."

Rice said that he does help mentor NFL players, like the Arizona Cardinals' All-Pro receiver, Larry Fitzgerald. He will also work with the 49ers young receivers whenever he is around them.

"These guys, when they see me, they know I'm approachable," Rice continued. "They know they can come up to me. They can ask me different questions, and I don't mind passing that knowledge on."

You can listen to the entire conversation with Rice below.




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