Quick Kicks

Rice reaches milestone

Jerry Rice caught a pass in his 200th consecutive game Sunday. Nothing new there it just extends Rice’s ongoing NFL record, which started back in his rookie season in 1985.

The difference is that the past three games of that streak have been losses. Rice had never suffered three consecutive losses in his 15-year career.

“I have never dealt with this,” he said. “But what are you going to do? Cancel the season?”

What Rice is going to do is to keep fighting. He is one of the few guys left in the 49ers locker room who have actual Super Bowl rings, who know what it took to be a champion, who aren’t just spouting cliches when they talk about the 49ers’ tradition.

He knows it’s up to him to impart his knowledge. Though he would rather do it by playing and practicing hard, he also knows he might have to get in his teammates’ faces occasionally.

“If the young players don’t know, then it’s up to the veterans,” he said. “If you have to call players out and single them out, then we have to do that.”

Rice did just that Sunday. He was irate on the sideline after Vikings kick returner David Palmer sliced through the kickoff-coverage team for 32 yards. Rice went over to where the coverage team was grouped on the sideline and gave the unit an earful. He left, paused, and turned around to tell them some more.

“I was trying to let everyone know that every play is a crucial play,” Rice said. “I don’t want to point fingers, but you can’t give up. You’ve just got to keep working.”

Saints face wrath of Ditka

Mike Ditka saved his ire for the players this time. He laced into the Saints at halftime and blasted them throughout the second half of Sunday’s embarrassing 31-3 loss to the New York Giants.

But Ditka, who was fined $20,000 by the Saints for making obscene gestures last week, was talked out by the time he met the media to dissect New Orleans’ fifth straight loss.

“Obviously, there is not much you can say. I wish I could say something,” said Ditka, his face a crimson red. “We didn’t play good. We were totally confused on defense - disorganized.

Offensively, we played just as bad. The only encouraging thing was watching Ricky (Williams) run.

“I guess we’re the elixir that makes everybody happy. When we show up, everybody else seems to get better.”

Marino could be out awhile

While quarterback Damon Huard led the Miami Dolphins to another win, Dan Marino maintained his position on the sideline as a backup and coach.

It could remain that way for the next several weeks.

Marino will fly to California on Tuesday to see a specialist and get a second opinion on his neck injury, ESPN reported. Marino has a bone spur in his neck that caused spasms and weakness in the muscle between his neck and right shoulder.

“He’s still having problems throwing the ball,” coach Jimmy Johnson said. “We kept him as the third quarterback because I wanted him to be a coach today. He said he could go in and hand off, but he’d have a tough time throwing the ball.”

The last word …

“We’re about to turn the corner. It’s almost like we’re peeking around the corner. We’re that close to being a complete team.”

- Eagles receiver Charles Johnson.