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Montana and Rice on Radio Row

You can’t get through Super Bowl week and all the media attention surrounding it without discussing the history of the big game.

Who better to share their insights on the magnitude of the event than 49ers Hall of Famers Joe Montana and Jerry Rice? Not a bad choice considering the quarterback-wide receiver duo hold a combined seven Super Bowl rings between them.

Both are hot commodities during Super Bowl week, and both spent their Thursday morning on ESPN’s Mike and Mike radio show to discuss their triumphs as well as promote their respective sponsorship affiliations.

Rice hit the airwaves first and was immediately asked about his mindset this time last year when he was named as an inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

“I didn’t take it for granted,” said the greatest player of all-time according NFL Network.

Rice was asked for his thoughts on Sunday’s matchup as well as his opinion of underrated Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward.

“He’s a guy you’re going to get a little of everything,” Rice said. “On run plays he’s going to get in position to block. He’s going to make those difficult catches to make the chains keep moving. He’s a savvy guy, he’s always going to fight and he wants to win… I think he’s going to have a good game this weekend.”

Having said that, Rice likes the Green Bay Packers to win a closely-contested Super Bowl XLV.

Other highlights of the discussion included Rice’s memories of Montana, who he called, “magic on the football field.”

“You knew if he had any time on the clock, he’d move that ball and win the game for you,” Rice said.

Montana was equally complimentary of his former teammate.

The highest rated passer in Super Bowl history (127.8) in four victories talked at length about the undeniable chemistry the two shared as members of the 49ers.

“You have to have a receiver that tells you what they’re doing,” Montana said. “His communication back to the quarterback made things so easy.”

Montana also offered some insight as to his “even-keeled” mentality that allowed him to be considered one of the greatest players in NFL history.

Host Mike Goldberg pointed out the famous John Candy story, in which Montana cracked a joke in the huddle, informing his teammates of seeing the late comedian prior to leading the most famous game-winning drive in Super Bowl history.

“That’s what I would have done in any game,” said Montana, who emphasized the importance of being able to roll with the punches in both good and bad times.

Being at the Super Bowl to do appearances is enjoyable for Montana, but does he miss the game of football?

“Oh yeah, every day,” he said. “It’s something I did for 31 years before I retired and then you quit cold turkey and there’s no going back to it. Just the excitement of knowing what it’s like on the field, it doesn’t go away.”

Rice’s appearance was on behalf of Proctor and Gamble’s “Take it to the House” campaign while Montana spoke for Hass Avocados.

Fun fact: According to Montana, 70 million pounds of avocados are consumed on Super Bowl Sunday.

You can listen to Rice’s interview by clicking here, and Montana’s by clicking here.