Sidney Rice Former Gaffney High and South Carolina star Sidney Rice seems poised to have that breakout season for the Minnesota Vikings. And, maybe even more importantly, has gained the trust of NFL legend Brett Favre.

Through four games, he has 14 receptions for 172 yards and two touchdowns. He’s averaging a more than respectable 12.3 yards a catch.

In Monday night’s emotional win over the rival Green Bay Packers, Rice was one of Favre’s favorite targets with five catches for 70 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown in the second quarter.

Rice’s emergence couldn’t have come at a better time. Rice, who is in his third season with the Vikings 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.

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.