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Rice's salary makes his return to 49ers questionable
Pasquarelli: The cream of the sour 2000 free-agent crop "We would very much like to have Jerry back," 49ers coach Steve Mariucci said Friday. "The question would be, `How do we work it out?' " So far, they haven't come close to doing that. Over the last three weeks, the 49ers restructured the contracts of 14 players, including quarterback Steve Young, as part of their efforts to wipe out a $24 million cap overrun. Young agreed to an incentive-based package that cut his 2000 cap figure by $3 million to $5.1 million and San Francisco was $3.5 million under the cap by Thursday's league-wide deadline for compliance. However, Walsh said the 49ers still need more room under the cap to be able to take part in free agency and to pay their draft picks. San Francisco, which had its first losing season since 1982, heads into the April draft with the third overall pick. Rice, 37, the NFL's career receiving leader, has a 2000 cap figure of $5.49 million that the 49ers very much want to reduce. Last season, Rice didn't have the same type of production that has characterized his brilliant career but he still led the team with 67 receptions for 830 yards. And so far, Rice and his agent, Jim Steiner, have balked at the 49ers' insistence he lower his salary and try to make up for it through an incentive-based package. However, Rice has said in the past he would be willing to take a pay cut, though he never specified how much. "We're going to take the same approach with Jerry as with Steve but I can't tell you what that will entail because we're going to have to examine his contract and examine any meeting of the mind relating to Jerry helping us as Steve has," general manager Bill Walsh said. "But if Jerry has made up his mind to play for this contract and this contract only, then we have to decide whether we'll be able to assume that. We'd like to have Jerry back but it will be close as we get to the draft and as the year progresses, where that all fits together." Steiner did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment. Walsh and Mariucci said they expect to continue negotiations with Rice and his representative and set no timetable for a resolution. "But obviously, the sooner the better," Mariucci said. San Francisco (4-12), coming off its first season in 20 years with double-digit losses, also is waiting to hear about Young's playing status. The two-time league MVP, who missed 13 games with a concussion last season, is expected to decide by April whether he will continue playing for the 49ers, ask for his release and go elsewhere or retire. Meanwhile, the 49ers turned their attention to trying to re-sign defensive lineman Junior Bryant, an unrestricted free agent. Walsh said he opened negotiations with Bryant's representative on Friday but said the 49ers would be in competition with other teams for his services. The 49ers also said they have received encouraging news about running back Garrison Hearst, who missed last season because of circulatory complications that stalled the healing of a broken ankle. Walsh said an operation to stimulate blood flow to the area seems to be working and the 49ers are optimistic Hearst will be able to play next season. Also Friday, the 49ers signed cornerback Monty Montgomery to a one-year contract worth $385,000. Montgomery, a three-year veteran, signed with the 49ers in October after he was waived by Indianapolis. He made two starts for the 49ers at cornerback then broke his arm during a Nov. 29 game against Green Bay and missed the remainder of the season.
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