Jerry Rice can't say exactly when he'll be back from his left knee injury, only that he will be back - and he intends to return later this season.
"Even though I live and die on the football field, I have to be smart with an injury like this," the 49ers All-Pro receiver said Friday, addressing reporters for the first time since he was injured in San Francisco's season-opening 13-6 loss at Tampa Bay."But I'm really going to give it a shot because I feel it can be done. I'm going to work hard and I'm a fast healer."
He even accelerated the process, taking his cast off himself. He said it was so uncomfortable he had to remove it after two weeks, about five days ahead of schedule.
"It happened at 3 a.m. One morning I went to the garage and sawed it off. I felt I had the cast on long enough," said Rice, who underwent surgery the day after the injury. "I'm stronger. I'm just looking forward to getting back out there."
The closest he would come to specifying a time frame for his return was by the postseason.
Rice, the NFL's career leader in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns, was hurt running a reverse in the Aug. 31 game. Defensive tackle Warren Sapp burst through the line and grabbed Rice by the facemask, yanking him down to the turf.
Sapp was penalized on the play and said afterward he didn't mean to hurt Rice.
Rice, who had never missed a game due to injury in 12 previous seasons, said he realized immediately that the injury was serious.
"I knew it was serious when I wasn't able to jump right back up," Rice said. Rice said he had just planted his foot when Sapp collared him and pulled him down.
"When he twisted me like that and dragged me down, the only thing my knee could do was give way, and it did," he said. "It was unfortunate that it happened. It was unfortunate the way it happened. But I don't hold no grudges or anything like that."
Rice said he hadn't heard from Sapp, nor did he expect to or want to. Asked why not, Rice said, "Just because of his personality. When he's on the football field, he's a madman. But I'm not going to say he did anything wrong. that's all part of football."
Rice said he's consumed these days by his rehabilitation in much the same way that he applied himself to the rigorous offseason workouts which he credited with keeping him injury-free for so many years. He said that is pursuing his rehab with even more determination than his legendary workouts.
"I think it's more arduous because they have to hold me back. But it's a situation where it happened, I'm dealing with it. I don't really feel like I've had a down moment. Everything has been positive," Rice said.
He said at no time did he consider quitting.
"I feel like I'm still explosive. I'm not going to let this knee slow me down," he said. "I've been fortunate over the years and I think the important thing is I have a legitimate chance of coming back. This is not career-ending or anything like that."
Rice, who visited the 49ers on the sidelines during last week's 33-7 win over the Saints, said he would be back for Sunday's game against Atlanta in his new role as a cheerleader and coach.
He said he's talking all the time to the 49ers young receivers J.J. Stokes and Terrell Owens, and he's doing what he can to help them.
"To be honest, it's really been a little exciting," he said. "This has been a once in a lifetime opportunity for them. They're getting a chance to show what they can do."