Fort Lauderdale – Jerry Rice always finishes his route. He did it forever as a 49ers wide receiver, and again in his brief time with the Raiders. It helped make him the greatest wide receiver of all time, and arguably the greatest NFL player, period.

Rice wouldn’t pull up short Saturday, not now that he’s been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was going to answer the question about his legendary work ethic, no matter how many times he had to pinch the bridge of his nose and sniffle through his red-eyed tears.

“It’s something my parents instilled in me,” Rice said before choking up, thinking of his deceased father who taught him to catch bricks, picturing his mother who welcomed anybody into their Crawford, Miss., home and made them dinner.

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