25 Things You Didn't Know About Jerry Rice

Could you imagine Jerry Rice as a Dallas Cowboy?

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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To say Jerry Rice had a great career would be an understatement. The Hall of Fame wide receiver made 13 Pro Bowls, won three Super Bowls, and is widely regarded as the greatest football player to ever live. There's a lot about Rice that we don't know though. For example, do you know who he would choose between Steve Young and Joe Montana? Or that he developed his hands by catching bricks? How about the fact that he was almost drafted by the Dallas Cowboys? We dug up a bunch of other interesting facts about the NFL great. Check out 25 Things You Didn't Know About Jerry Rice.

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25. He was almost drafted by the Dallas Cowboys.

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24. He once came to training camp during a contract dispute with a blank helmet tattooed on his biceps to send the

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23. He was upset that Warren Sapp didn't apologize to him for causing his ACL to tear.

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22. His then-wife Jackie almost died from complications from giving birth to their third child.

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21. He would look at Michael Irvin's stats each week and try to keep up with him.

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20. If he had one game to win, he would choose Joe Montana over Steve Young.

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19. In 1984, he finished ninth in the Heisman Trophy voting.

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18. His favorite place to eat in San Francisco is Crustacean Restaurant off California Street.

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17. He was the first player selected in the 1985 United States Football League (USFL) draft.

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16. He accounted for 13.4 miles of total offense in his career.

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15. He received a one-day contract from the Niners for $1,985,806.49.

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14. He says he was driven to succeed by the fear of disappointing his father.

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13. His father knew his son would be something after he dove in a thornbush and got stuck real bad.

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12. He kept a Wheaties box with Steve Largent on it in his locker.

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11. He would wake up at 4 a.m. before 49ers practice just to hit golf balls.

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10. He set 38 NFL records and 18 Division I-AA records.

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9. He holds a bevy of Super Bowl career, too.

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8. He's one of two players who have been named first-team All-NFL 10 times.

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7. If it wasn't for football, Rice would've had a career that involved him using his hands.

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6. He was given the nickname "Fifi" early on in his NFL career.

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5. He was given the nickname "World" in college.

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4. He's from Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, the same frat as Emmitt Smith, Olden Polynice, and Scottie Pippen.

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3. He worked on his speed by chasing horses.

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2. He developed his hands by catching bricks as a kid.

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1. He got his start playing football in high school when he ran away from his principal.

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