When receiver Jerry Rice signed with the Seahawks and asked Hall of Famer Steve Largent to permit Rice to un-retire No. 80 several years ago, we wondered whether Rice would allow the Niners to re-issue No. 80 to another player.

Surprisingly, Rice says that he has no problem with the Niners permitting receiver Isaac Bruce to sport Rice’s old number in 2008.

“I have always respected Isaac Bruce,” Rice recently said on Sirius NFL Radio.  “I don’t know what is going to happen in that scenario but if it was left up to me I would say, ‘Yeah.’  For Steve Largent to do what he did for me he showed me a side of him where I just feel like I have to do the same thing.  He set the standard.  It would be left up to Isaac and myself to sit down and talk or if the 49ers decide to do something like that it is OK with me.”

Then again, the Niners have yet to retire Rice’s number.  And that might actually be the bigger story here.  John Brodie, Joe Montana, Joe Perry, Jimmy Johnson, Hugh McElhenny, Ronnie Lott, Charlie Krueger, Leo Nomellini, Bob St. Clair, and Dwight Clark all have had their numbers retired by the 49ers.  But, for some reason, the guy who arguably was the greatest player in NFL history at any position has yet to be honored with having his number formally set aside.