HONOLULU (AP) — Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice says he has a draft strategy mapped out for picking his Pro Bowl squad and wants quarterback Peyton Manning and linebacker Robert Mathis on his side.
Rice told reporters on a conference call Monday he plans to take a balanced approach to selecting his players for the Jan. 26 game and expects rival alumni captain Deion Sanders to focus on defense.
Rice says he expects the game to be a throwback to battles he and the former defensive played out when they were all-stars in the NFL. He says he wants bragging rights and knows Sanders wants the same.
The two-day draft is a departure from the game’s traditional AFC vs. NFC format, with a schoolyard-style selection process modified with several twists.
