I sometimes wonder if Jerry Rice only trips up over his own words in public but in private conversations is like the Oscar Wilde of the gridiron. Unfortunately I doubt that's so, but it doesn't make it any easier watching the man being asked to play pundit along with all the other silver-toungued athletes on ESPN. Jerry and Joe Montana, the two GOATs, both of them as liquid as mercury on the playing field, and both about as stiff as three-day old meringue when asked to open their mouths and say something interesting about the sport they took to unmatched heights of excellence.

I only say that because it was it was such a treat to watch Jerry and Steve Young being given airtime together to talk about the significance of the 49ers dynasty and their feelings about the current Super Bowl run. Young as always was the smartest, most eloquent guy in the room; Rice had unique perspectives and insights to share too, it's just that he struggles so much on camera to get from the beginning to the end of a comment it makes me uncomfortable for him.

It almost made me wish that someone had thought of asking Harris Barton or Roger Craig or Keena Turner - or even Tom Rathman if he weren't ineligible - to share their thoughts on this moment.

To the game,

I think the most likely MVPs are Aldon Smith, Patrick Willis and Frank Gore. If Colin Kaepernick runs one in for a TD, he might well be the guy too.

I just hope it's not Joe Flaccid (copyright Mo).

I also suspect guys like Garrett Celek, Anthony Dixon and Bruce Miller will make big plays.