SIDNEY RICE ...Minnesota wide receiver Former Gaffney High School two-sport standout Sidney Rice will have to wait until next year to play in his first Pro Bowl. But he won’t have to wait nearly that long to be honored by Cherokee County Council.

Rice pulled out of the Pro Bowl after being banged up in Minnesota’s loss to New Orleans in the NFC Championship game.

At Monday’s meeting, Cherokee County Councilman Tim Spencer made a motion to honor Rice with a proclamation.

Spencer said when the Minnesota receiver introduced him to other NFL notables during a visit last week in Miami, Rice told other players he was proud of his Gaffney roots.

Cherokee County Administrator Ben Clary then added that “Rice was a good ambassador for Cherokee County.”

Spencer said Rice expects to return to Gaffney within a month.

Rice, a third-year pro, is coming off his best season with a career-high 83 catches for 1,312 yards and eight touchdowns.

In week 10 against the Detroit Lions, he had seven catches for 201 yards.

In week six, he had six receptions for 176 yards in a victory over Baltimore. A week later, he had 10 catches for 136 yards in a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Rice had a big postseason with six catches for 141 yards and three touchdowns in the Vikings’ win over Dallas. He followed that up with a touchdown grab in Minnesota’s heart-breaking overtime loss to New Orleans in the NFC title game.