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Rice, Brown plan to return to Raiders next season

Despite an off night for the Raiders, Jerry Rice can take solace in his playoff-record 22nd touchdown. AP

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Jerry Rice and Tim Brown plan to return to the Oakland Raiders next season despite their disappointing performances in the Super Bowl.

Moments after the Raiders lost 48-21 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, both members of the ageless receiving duo said they will play next season.

They are two of just three NFL receivers with more than 1,000 career receptions, but both had games to forget against Tampa Bay's punishing defense.

Rice, the 1989 Super Bowl MVP, was playing in his fourth title game. He had five catches for 77 yards -- but all of them came in the final 20 minutes after the Buccaneers had built a prohibitive lead.

"Yes, I'll be back next season," Rice said. "Without a doubt, bar none."

Rice, an 18-year veteran, turned 40 last Oct. 13. Despite the Raiders' problems, he set a playoff record with his 22nd touchdown on a catch midway through the fourth quarter.

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"It just didn't feel good today," he said. "It just didn't click."

In his first Super Bowl, Brown had just one catch for 9 yards. It was one of the worst games in a decade for Brown, whose streak of 147 games with at least two receptions ended earlier this season against San Francisco.

"I'm not thinking about retiring at this point, so my focus is on coming back and figuring out how to get back here," Brown said. "I don't think anybody's going to question why I'm coming back next year. Everybody knows what I'm going to play for next season."

Brown, who finished his 15th NFL season, will turn 37 this summer. His wife was due to deliver twins at any moment during Super Bowl week, but she still hadn't given birth by Sunday night.

The Raiders' salary cap problems might make bringing back the receivers difficult. Oakland is expected to be well over the cap, but coach Bill Callahan has said the team hopes to keep together most of the NFL's most potent offense.

 

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