A Jerry Rice in a Baltimore Ravens just didn't sound right. Now, a Jerry Rice in a San Francisco uniform has a familiar ring to it.
The Baltimore Sun reported on Monday that Jerry Rice Jr., a wide receiver out of UNLV and son of the NFL Hall of Famer texted the newspaper and said that the Ravens told him "they liked his hands, competitiveness and quickness."
What they don't like is the idea of giving him a roster spot. Baltimore won't sign the younger Rice. The team will "have him on their emergency list of players to consider signing in case of injuries at the receiver position," Rice Jr. told the Sun.
Rice Jr., however, quickly secured another tryout - this time with the 49ers during the upcoming weekend.
Working for the next opportunity... Appreciate the ravens for getting my feet wet... Now preparing for #49ers this weekend.. Leggo!
— Jerry Rice Jr. (@JRtherealgoatJR) May 19, 2014
Rice's father made his career legendary with the 49ers, spending 16 of his 20 seasons in San Francisco. He had 1,000 receiving yards 12 times and scored double-digit touchdowns nine times, with a high of 22 in 1987 when he helped lead the 49ers to a Super Bowl championship.
Baltimore Ravens to give Jerry Rice Jr., a tryout
Rice Jr. is three inches shorter and 15 pounds lighter than the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Hall of Famer. Whereas his father was a first-round draft selection by the 49ers out of Mississippi Valley State in 1985, Rice Jr., is an undrafted free agent.
He caught 11 passes for 86 yards for the Rebels last season and one touchdown his senior year after transferring from UCLA. Rice walked on with the Bruins program, eventually earning a scholarship, according to NFL.com.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh complimented the efforts of Rice Jr., during his tryout.
"Jerry Rice Jr. has done a nice job," Harbaugh said. "He's a really good athlete. He doesn't have his dad's size, but he sure got his athleticism. He runs in a real similar way. He's got that West Coast offense down. He's probably had that playbook since he was in the cradle.
"He knows all the rules of the crossing routes. He knows what to do, very good hands, real smooth athlete. He did a real nice job."
Harbaugh's words may have carried some weight with the 49ers coach who just happens to be Harbaugh's brother, Jim.
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