Never thought of him that way, but if this is true...

Yahoo! Article 

The gist, for those that don't feel like reading, is that it might not be worth his time to play for the Vikings if they're not going to turn it around and do better this year. He'd rather rest on his 2009 laurels than have any potential sucking in 2010 to damage his 2011 paycheck.

What a shithead. Oh, and take a wild stab at who his agent is. Go ahead.
I'll give you three guesses; first two don't count. (My mother used to say that - I still don't know what it means...)

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I think the tone of that article takes some broad liberties.

I'll look at it from his perspective: He's still on a rookie contract (and not a #1 pick or even close, mind you). He's got a bum hip. There may not be football next year, and if there is he'll be looking for a contract.

Would you want to risk further injury to your hip (which you need to play football, which you are doing to try to make money) playing out a pointless season? I wouldn't.

Now, I think he's possibly rip-able for failing to get the hip taken care of sooner, but I don't know that whole story so I'm not inclined to rip. As far as this situation, I think he's being smart.

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ILike does have a good point. This season is pretty much over for the Vikings. Even looking at it from a team perspective, would you risk your primary WR for a lost season or have him back 100% for the next season?

(Of course next season is already a lost season as the Vikings are on the decline).

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I just can't condone it. This is a team sport and he's paid to be part of a team. If he wants a safe, secure job he should be selling real estate.

And I don't think he's doing himself any favors, truthfully. Would you sign him next year, knowing what he's doing (abandoning his team) this year? When the only positive on his resume is one good season (2009), when he had the hottest QB in football throwing to him?

Maybe I'm jumping the gun by assuming that what the article is implying is correct. And if the team actually decides not to risk him on the field this season, then I can understand that, too. But if he's healthy enough to play and chooses not to because it might be bad for his career... I can't get behind that. I can't root for a guy like that.

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That's what I'm referring to, as far as the tone of the article. My understanding is that this is a joint decision between Rice and the team - the wording I've seen is more in the vein of "The Vikings may decide to IR him", which I take to be partly for his health and future, but also to protect their investment in him. Given what he brought to the team last year, I'd be a bit surprised if they didn't intend to re-up on his contract, assuming the demands aren't ridiculous. He and Harvin make a very good WR combo.

And as to your last point, again, there's reason for the Vikings to put him on the shelf - if he ends up not playing all season, he becomes a question mark, and thus less likely to incur a massive bidding war. Cheaper to bring him back.

Now, the guy could be a total douche - I don't know him, and since he's a Viking I wouldn't root for him even if I did. But he sure as hell wasn't acting like one last year and prior. I live in Minneapolis, and he was easily one of the more visible and dedicated Vikings in terms of charity and community outreach. Even if he is just a jerk, there are plenty of reasons that the team could also want him on the shelf if he's not going to be ready enough to contribute soon.

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If he's still hurt (as opposed to "sore") or if the organization decides they don't want him playing then I'm fine with it. It's the (implied) self-centeredness that torques my screws. Like I said, if concern for his 2011 paycheck is the only thing keeping him off the field, then, in my eyes, he's a douchebag.

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It appears... that I may have been wr---, wr---... wr----... a little hasty in my judgement of Mr. Rice.

"That's a bunch of bull" 

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The "You have 3 guesses, and the first two don't count" means, that the answer is SOOO obvious, it should only take you ONE guess.
It's kind of a sarcastic way of saying it.

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I can understand why Rice wouldn't want to play. He did start the Pro Bowl last year, outperformed his rookie contract, and the Vikings made no attempt to give him a raise. I guess in the end he has given them a big ole shitburger to eat for their efforts.

Now, the ethics in this situation are a little bit different. He should honor his contract and play if possible, but the Vikings should have also stepped to the plate and taken care of their budding star, and used some of the money they gave to Captain Cock-n-Crocs for Rice and probably AP as well.

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Yep, it looks like events may have overrun this thread. Which is a shame, because what you wrote was really good. I'll give you an applause point so at least you get something out of this.

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