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McIntosh and Rice look to build on early-career success
Rocky McIntosh Both former Gaffney High stars Sidney Rice and Rocky McIntosh enter their NFL training camps with something to prove.
McIntosh, a third-year linebacker, was the Washington Redskin's second leading tackler last season. But he's recovering from offseason knee surgery.
McIntosh and the Redskins open the preseason on August 13 at the Baltimore Ravens. McIntosh and another former Gaffney High standout, Andy Strickland, will be on the same field when the Redskins travel to Jacksonville to play Strickland and the Jaguars in a preseason game on Sept. 3.
Rice, who is entering his third season with the club after a stellar career at South Carolina, had a productive rookie season in 2007 that saw him rank second among all NFL rookie wide receivers and first among Vikings receivers with four touchdown receptions.
But Rice's numbers slipped in 2008 after suffering a knee injury that hampered him all last season.
But a rejuvenated Rice sat out this past offseason to recover from his injury.
He also spent part of the offseason working out with several NFL stars, including Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald Jr.
Sidney Rice Jerry Rice and Cris Carter also participated in the workouts.
Rice said that what he learned from those workouts is going to help him become a playmaker for the Vikings this season.
"A lot of technique work, hard training, a lot of running and picking up a couple of new things that I need to work on from Larry as well," Rice said. "This year I plan to stay out with the quarterbacks after every practice when I have time to catch at least fifty balls or however many they want to throw."
So convinced was Rice about how the workouts improved his game that he committed to staying in Minnesota for part of next offseason to work with the group again.
"I made a commitment with them, they asked me to be there next offseason," Rice said.
Rice and the Vikings will meet Peyton Manning and the Colts to open the preseason on Aug. 14. On Aug. 31, Rice and the Vikings will be on ESPN in a game at Houston.
