I think just what my parents instilled in me was hard work and being able to always go out there and focus and be 100%. I took that work ethic into the NFL and everyday I always gave 100% and never wanted anything to be handed to me. I wanted to earn it. And every time I stepped on that football field during practice I wanted to leave that football field with learning something about what the practice was about for me that day...
Jerry RiceThe absolute worst thing a receiver can do is worry about not catching the ball or about getting hit.
Jerry RiceTo me it was never about what I accomplished on the football field, it was about the way I played the game.
Jerry RiceI was just a small boy from Mississippi, and now little kids are going to identify with me through this game.
Jerry RiceMy first experience with football was not very good because I didn't plan on playing football. I was just playing hookie one day and I was a sophomore and decided not to go to class. And the principal - normally he does his rounds and I thought I had him down pretty good where he was going to be - he sort of walked up behind me and scared me. He noticed I could run real fast. So that's how I got introduced to football.
Jerry Rice