Shutdown Corner - NFL

Shutdown Corner

Mon Mar 10, 2008 11:45 am EDT

Number 80? Why do that to yourself, Isaac Bruce?

By MJD

As sports fans, things like the number on an athlete's chest probably mean way more to us than they do to athletes themselves. It's our duty to obsess over things like that. The NFL's ability to make money depends on it.

The world is not going to stop spinning if Isaac Bruce wears Jerry Rice's #80. The legacy of Jerry Rice will not be tainted, no one's #80 Rice jersey becomes obsolete, and the 49ers will continue to function as they always have.

Still, though, if you're Isaac Bruce, why even explore the possibility? Why invite comparisons to the greatest of all-time?

I feel confident if that if Ike Bruce wore #80 and caught 75 balls for 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns next year, no one would have any problem with him wearing #80.

But you might want to consider, Ike, that your quarterback is going to be Alex Smith. The 49ers averaged 145.0 passing yards per game last year, the worst in the league by a substantial margin. There's at least a decent chance that you're not going to be very good.

Maybe Mike Martz comes in, has a spritzer, turns things around, and has the 49ers looking like the 1999 Rams. Maybe. But again, I'd like to call your attention to Alex Smith, and raise the possibility that the 49ers might not be great next year. 

And if Bruce puts on that #80, drops a few passes, is kept off the field with injuries, and ends up with about 400 yards ... things could get ugly for him. Rice has given him permission to wear the number, which is nice of him, but it's not Rice that'll be showing up every Sunday to boo and throw things at him.

• Rice says it's OK for Bruce to wear No. 80 / Instant 49ers

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1134 Comments

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  1. Steve-Ro
    1. Posted by Steve-Ro Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:29 pm EDT

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    Interesting how they did not retire Rice's number but it is even more interesting to me that "Rice has given him permission to wear the number." Seriously, what would have happened if Bruce wore #80 either way?
  2. DDub
    2. Posted by DDub Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:46 pm EDT

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    49ers fans, booing and throwing things? Wrong side of the bay, hombre. Though they are some of the coolest tailgaters around, most of the Niner fans don't even care who their team is playing anymore; they're too busy drinking their wine coolers and admiring each others' brand new NFL gear.
  3. jerloma
    3. Posted by jerloma Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:33 pm EDT

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    What's Rice gonna say? He wore Largent's #80 for the Seahawks after it had been retired.
  4. evaohell
    4. Posted by evaohell Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:56 pm EDT

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    "49ers fans, booing and throwing things? Wrong side of the bay, hombre"....that's a load of crap. I went to a 49er game about a 2 years ago at the Stick. The fans there were f-ing rude. I was with my Dad and My 4 year old (at the time). There was a couple next to us. The guy kept yelling obceneties to me and my son, we were both wearing Raider's Jerseys. Screw that, 49er fans are just as rude and ignorant as any fans in the league.
  5. Jonathan M
    5. Posted by Jonathan M Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:45 pm EDT

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    don't go o a game wearing the wrong jersey, what you expect?
  6. kylejs101
    6. Posted by kylejs101 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:55 pm EDT

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    This is beyond a non-issue.
  7. lyle s
    7. Posted by lyle s Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:59 pm EDT

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    #4- your complaining about 49er fans being rude and your a raiders fan?....what a joke.
  8. bdoubled06
    8. Posted by bdoubled06 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:04 pm EDT

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    As a Life long 49er fan living in St. Louis, i've gotten to see Bruce be one of the most consistent recievers in the NFL over the past 10 years. Im very excited to see Bruce as a 49er, and to take him away from a divsional opponet. So if Jerry Rice says he is okay with Bruce wearing his number, I say let him! Its gonna be sweet to see a #80 out there again, even though its not Jerry.
  9. Mike
    9. Posted by Mike Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:24 pm EDT

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    You could never compare Largent to Rice , Lol .
    Largent woouldn't make most peoples top 10 WR , Lol .
    He had the numbers because the Seahawk had no other weapons besides
    Curt Warner . I personally hated the 49ers in the late 80's and through the 90's
    but , I know that Rice is the Greatest WR to "EVER" play the game .
  10. evaohell
    10. Posted by evaohell Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:56 pm EDT

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    Actually, no I wasn't complaining. simply pointing out that every fan is just as rude as any other. The problem I had was that I was with my young son and and my father (who is a 49 fan) trying to enjoy a game...However, If I were at the 49er game wearing raiders gear and talking crap, I would expect to get it back.
  11. Hong T
    11. Posted by Hong T Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:48 pm EDT

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    First, Jerry Rice is probably the best NFL Player ever in NFL history! If I were Isaac Bruce, I'd pass and wear T.O.'s number! #81 and make Terrell Owens an after thought! So Jerry Rice is the kindest guy ever and they should just retire the #'s 16 and #80 forever! and maybe Bryant Young's #, too because no one can replace Bryant Young's heart! I's say wear #81, #16, #80 and maybe #8 are untouchable!
  12. Turtle
    12. Posted by Turtle Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:25 pm EDT

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    I just think, if you're on a new team, and the # is retired or a hall of famer, why not use a new # w/ your new team? Don't be such a premadonna.
  13. Bernard K
    13. Posted by Bernard K Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:05 pm EDT

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    Bruce isn't even in the same field as the great Jerry Rice. As a forty niner fan I would be greatly disappointed if anyone other than JR were to wear the #80 in a SF uniform. If Bruce wears that jersey I would only hope that his first play from scrimmage on the practice field would result in his head getting knocked off by a rookie trying to make a name for himself and this would result in either Bruce being out for the season or even better FOREVER!!!!!!
  14. chupito
    14. Posted by chupito Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:00 pm EDT

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    I believe that Issaac Bruce should wear another number and the 49ers should retire Jerry Rice'snumber 80
  15. Jason1978
    15. Posted by Jason1978 Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:43 pm EDT

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    Mike A:
    Rice IS like you said the greatest WR to ever play but Steve Largent was a great WR and it wasn't just because his team didn't have other weapons. That's like saying Rice wasn't that good because he had a HOF QB throwing him the ball. The Oilers let Largent go because he was too small but when he retired he held six major records at his position, made 7 pro bowls and made the HOF. Largent never had a QB even close to the greateness of Montana. Largent has eight seasons of 1000 yards or more. Only Jerry Rice, Tim Brown and Jimmy Smith have more. Largent is 9th in the NFL for all-time yards, 6th all-time in td catches tied with future HOF WR Tim Brown.
  16. Richard R
    16. Posted by Richard R Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:01 pm EDT

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    It seems that in the past few years retired numbers are not really retired anymore ---------- namely Jerry borrowed Largents number 80 in Seattle --- Dilfer borrowed Brody's number 12. I'm sure there are other instances throughtout the league. In my opinion a retired number should stay retired ---- a player wanting a number thats been officially retired --- sorry, pick another number.
  17. Richard R
    17. Posted by Richard R Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:01 pm EDT

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    It seems that in the past few years retired numbers are not really retired anymore ---------- namely Jerry borrowed Largents number 80 in Seattle --- Dilfer borrowed Brody's number 12. I'm sure there are other instances throughtout the league. In my opinion a retired number should stay retired ---- a player wanting a number thats been officially retired --- sorry, pick another number.
  18. Recliner
    18. Posted by Recliner Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:45 pm EDT

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    If the 49er organization has not retired #80, than it is an available number. What's the big deal?
    Go Vikings!!! (Had to sneak that in.)
  19. RS P
    19. Posted by RS P Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:55 pm EDT

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    Who cares what number Ike wears?
    Shouldn't the major concern be the fact that a 35 yr old free agent on his last legs is now your best receiving option?
    How about Frank Gore not being able get through a game without a major nick?
    Or how about Alex Smith and his complete bafflement with the NFL?
    The 49ers are a 6-10 team at best. Bruce wearing 80 is the least of their worries.
    49ers fans are pretty annoying. At least not scary annoying like Raiders fan though.
  20. Carlos O
    20. Posted by Carlos O Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:12 pm EDT

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    If the team wants to sell jerseys he better pick a different #. I would never own another #80 in niners colors.
  21. Harry-o Stereo
    21. Posted by Harry-o Stereo Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:21 pm EDT

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    First of all, I have to agree if the #'s not retired, it's fair game. It would be nice if Bruce would respect the greatness of the number though. Secondly, I've been to several 49er games at the 'Stick wearing the opponents jersey and never had a single problem, including 1 to 2 hrs of tailgating before the game. I've never seen nor heard of any problems with 49er fans... they're pretty mellow. I've also been to Lambeau field a couple times and found Packer fans to be totally obnoxious morons. Bunch of goatropers. So i'm not really seeing why they say GB fans are so great. It seems like they have a collective IQ of 70.
    If Bruce wears #80, he'd better do it justice or just retire.
  22. Lawson Lambert
    22. Posted by Lawson Lambert Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:58 pm EDT

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    I like having a ring of honor, but in all seriousness, I don't think any numbers should be retired.
    It can eventually become a problem as too many numbers get retired because each generation wants to honor their own. If Garnett wins some champions then Boston will have to retire his and Pierce's numbers and will have to start issuing 3 digit jerseys soon.
    So just have a team Hall of fame and stop this silly jersey retiring.
  23. Scott D
    23. Posted by Scott D Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:45 pm EDT

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    Raider fan, I would hate to go to a game with my kid and hear any bad language or have anyone single me out. But there is still no comparison on this planet that can connect the idiocy of the raider fans and the treatment they give to even there own fans. You are taking your life into your hands in Oakland and you want to compare that to being heckled and putting up with bad language? I am certainly not saying that you ran into some real [profane] 49er fans, no excuse.
  24. Vin
    24. Posted by Vin Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:36 pm EDT

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    what the f is this guy talking about? he obviously doesnt know anyhthing about the level of class demonstrated by Rice. Largent let Jerry wear his #80 in Seattle, now Jerry wants to return the favor to someone else. Isaac Bruce isnt a nad candidate to wear Jerry's #80. go to hell with this whole article.
  25. sportsnut888
    25. Posted by sportsnut888 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:02 pm EDT

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    The 49ers recent history has been to retire numbers when the player gets elected to the HOF. So you have to figure that #80 will be retired when Rice is elected upon his first year of eligibility, but the 49ers have been holding the number out since he left the team, even before he retired.
    If I'm Bruce, I wear a different number, out of respect for the greatest WR of all time. Nice of Rice to say it's OK with him, but in my humble opinion, I'd wear a different number out of respect for the individual and the game.

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Shutdown Corner is an NFL blog edited by Matthew J. Darnell. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

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