As Vikings fans and the team's flagship radio station make their own pleas for Brett Favre to return for another season, the man who might have benefited the most from Favre's arrival inMinnesota also plans to reach out to the quarterback very soon to make hiscase for why the future Hall of Famer should wear purple again in 2010.
Wide receiver Sidney Rice said on Jim Rome's show on ESPN today that hehasn't called Favre yetbut plans to do so in thenext couple of weeks. That would be a wise call forRice to make.Afterhaving a forgettablefirst two seasons with the Vikings -- in part becauseof injuries -- Rice emerged this season to put together a Pro Bowl year.
Ricefinished fourth in the NFLwith1,312 receiving yards, catching a team-leading 83 passes and eight touchdowns. "I'm hoping he's coming back," Rice said. "I haven't talked to him about it. I just want to let him relax and spend time with his family. He said he was going to talk it [over] with his family and things like that. So, I'm going to let him do that, give him his time.But I'mgoing to be giving him a call pretty soon."
Rice said he would make that call, "before it gets too late."He told Rome that he will definitely mention to Favre that this team has the ability to repeat the success of 2009. "He carried this team a long way,"Rice said. "The championship game didn't turn out like we wanted but we really have an opportunity next year."
Rice was interviewed while in South Florida, site of the Super Bowl on Sunday between New Orleans and Indianapolis. The Vikings, of course, lost to the Saints in overtime in the NFC Championship Game and Rice admits it still stings.
"It's still not gone yet," Rice said when asked how long it took toget the defeat out of his system. "It's hard. Those guys worked hard and they earned everything that they'vegotten, but it's really hard to sit back and be down here doing all of these events and not seeing my team'sname up on the sign."
Rice was the intendedreceiver on the third-and-15 passlate in the fourth quarter against the Saintsthat Favre threw across the middle. The ball was intercepted, ending any chance the Vikings had of attempting a last-second, game-winningfield goal.
Asked about that pass, Rice said: "I was going across the field and I felt like Iwas in an open area soItoned it down alittle bit.It's avery difficult throw. Throwing across your body,back across the field, while you're running one direction. I really haven't looked at the film, I haven't looked at that play. Iwill get around to it eventually, though."