(REUTERS) — Jerry Rice has signed a six-year, $30 million contract extension to remain with the Oakland Raiders, a salary cap-friendly deal that theoretically could keep the star receiver playing until he’s 46.
Tim Brown, the longest-tenured Raider with all 15 of his seasons in Oakland, also signed an extension — which means the NFL’s oldest receiving tandem will stay together for now.
“Them coupled with Jerry Porter were as productive as any receiver trio in recent memory,” Raiders senior assistant Bruce Allen said Tuesday. “We’re happy to have them back, and I’m sure Rich Gannon is as well.”
The AFC champions were more than $30 million over the salary cap heading into the offseason, with some estimates as high as $50 million.
Rice received a signing bonus, and the deal is “back-end loaded,” his agent, Jim Steiner, said, meaning much of his salary would be paid out in those final years.
“We’re happy with the deal,” said Steiner, who has reworked Rice’s contract almost every season. “Jerry’s happy with the deal. They appreciate Jerry’s contributions. Since he left the 49ers, it has worked out perfectly well.”
The 40-year-old Rice joked during last season’s playoffs that he might play until he’s 45.
“It could happen,” Steiner said. “He takes it year to year based on how he feels and how he’s playing. Who knows?”
Rice had 92 catches for 1,211 yards and seven touchdowns in his 18th NFL season, a testament to his disciplined preparation and conditioning regimen. He joined the Raiders after the 2000 season.
In 2002, Rice became the first player in NFL history to score 200 touchdowns; he broke the record for most playoff yards in a career, and he tied a record for most career playoff touchdowns. He was selected for his 13th Pro Bowl, his first in four years.
Brown, 36, “signed a very similar deal” to Rice’s, according to Steiner. Brown’s agent, Marvin Demoff, did not immediately return calls for comment.
Brown reached his first Super Bowl last season, after finishing with 81 catches for 930 yards and two touchdowns to help the Raiders win their third straight AFC West crown.
“Tim has been a great Raider for many years, and Jerry looks good in black, doesn’t he?” Allen said. “They’ve been playing well for us, and there’s no reason to expect anything else in the future.”