Nothing resolved with Rice, Raiders

ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) _ Raiders coach Norv Turner still considers Jerry Rice a starter in Oakland's offense and plans to use the receiver Sunday against Denver. <br/><br/>The 42-year-old Rice told the

Thursday, October 14th 2004, 8:04 pm

By: News On 6

ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) _ Raiders coach Norv Turner still considers Jerry Rice a starter in Oakland's offense and plans to use the receiver Sunday against Denver.

The 42-year-old Rice told the team he wants to be traded if he can't have a significant role, and he met with owner Al Davis on Wednesday night to discuss it.

``Gosh, I wasn't in it,'' Turner said Thursday of the meeting. ``They talked about the situation and nothing has happened to this point. Jerry practiced today and had a good practice.''

Rice, who will earn $1.35 million in base salary this season, said earlier this week he would like to go elsewhere before the Tuesday deadline next week so another team could better utilize his talents.

``There's no news,'' Rice said in the parking lot as he left the facility for the day. ``We just talked football. We put two heads together and had a good talk.''

The NFL's career leader in catches and touchdowns and the only receiver to ever play after age 40, Rice is tied for eighth on the team with five receptions for 67 yards and no touchdowns. Last season, he led the Raiders in catches (63) and yards receiving (869).

When asked whether the Raiders would consider releasing Rice if they can't trade him, Turner did not offer a specific answer.

``We talked yesterday about the conversation about a possible trade,'' Turner said. ``If that was something that could happen, he had an interest. As I said, we're getting ready to play in this game.

``The way it's worked, he's probably got 50, maybe 60 percent of the snaps. We're going to use all those guys and rotate them around.''

Rice, in his 20th NFL season and fourth with Oakland, has said he'd like to play again next season. His record streak of 274 consecutive games with a catch ended in a 13-10 win over Buffalo in Week 2. He threw a sideline tantrum after that game.

``It is pretty obvious the direction of this team,'' Rice said Wednesday. ``So I want to play. I feel like I've worked hard enough and I prepare myself. If I couldn't do it, it would be a different story. I still felt like I have some fire in me and I'm looking forward to just getting back on the field.''