Rice cools down after tantrum over receptions streak

Sunday's game was the wide receiver's first without a catch since 1985.
ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) -- Jerry Rice returned to the practice field Monday and showed the Raiders the same old-fashioned work ethic that has defined his stellar career, a day after his record receptions streak ended.
Coach Norv Turner tried to get Rice involved in Oakland's offense Sunday, and there were a handful of plays that could have gone his way -- but the Buffalo Bills forced the Raiders to do other things.
Rice fumed in the final minutes when he realized he was going to be held without a catch for the first time since his rookie season of 1985, when Ronald Reagan was president and Barry Bonds hadn't even hit the first of his 701 home runs.
Rice, who turns 42 next month, hung his head on the field late in the Raiders' 13-10 win over Buffalo as his run of 274 straight games with a reception came to an end.
He threw his helmet to the ground, causing it to bounce over a metal bench, hollered to himself, and paced the sideline for several minutes. He kicked a yard marker and it grazed the back of an Oakland police officer. Rice said later none of his behavior was directed toward Turner.
Rice was not around the locker room after team meetings to talk with reporters.
Turner's respect
Turner said he was impressed with Rice's hustle in conditioning drills Monday.
"I've got so much respect for Jerry and what he has done throughout his entire career," the coach said. "He's such a pro. I know that yesterday was hard on him, and he was out today and he ran and he worked."
Rice's tantrum didn't seem to bother his teammates much. Most just ignored it.
"If he had to give up a record for us to win, I think that's a small price to pay," left guard Frank Middleton said. "It's easy to go out and play football every week when you're playing for something. He was playing to keep his record alive.
"Now, the record is dead and you really get to see what kind of character he has. If he comes out and does great because the record's not on the line anymore, it's just going to make him look better as a player. If he shuts it down and gets mad because it's broke, that's going to say something about him, too."
Rice apologized after the game for the outburst and said he'll just start a new streak this Sunday, when the Raiders host Tampa Bay for a reunion featuring former receiver Tim Brown, running back Charlie Garner, coach Jon Gruden and general manager Bruce Allen.
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