While I would classify it as “ripping” the young receiver, former Viking Cris Carter was a little testy that Sidney Rice didn’t show up to Larry Fitzgerald’s football camp this year. Rice did so last year and praised Carter and Fitzgerald for his breakout season (83 catches, 1,312 yards, 8 touchdowns) in 2009.

From the Minneapolis Star-Tribune:

“I don’t know,” Carter said. “You have to ask him. I don’t know what it’s like to have one good year and then disappear. I don’t know what it’s like. That’s on him. I really don’t know. … If I had that kind of impact on him he should have been here today.”
Carter’s response prompted another media member to ask if he is mad that Rice has not returned to workout with the group.

“I don’t look mad do I?” he said. “I don’t get mad about kids coming or not coming. Larry is the only one who invited me. Larry is the only one but some people in Kansas City as far as their administration kind of knew I was going to be here. We kind of let them know that I would be here for [receiver Dwayne] Bowe. But I’m here for Larry. Everybody else is just getting the benefit of our relationship. But Sidney is not here so I guarantee he’s not getting no better today.”

You’d think that if the camp helped transform Rice into the player he was last year that he’d do it again. But he has reportedly been dealing with a lingering hip injury too, so maybe that has something to do with it (and probably does).

Either way, Carter is probably just trying to motivate Rice.

- THE HILL has quotes from President-elect Obama reiterating his desire to see a college football playoff. Four more years!

- AWFUL ANNOUNCING says that Charles Barkley’s decision to take a leave of absence from TNT is the right thing to do.

- We thought Trevor Hoffman might sign with the Dodgers, but KNUCKLE CURVE informs us that he’s going to play for the Brew Crew next season.

- Terrell Owens now has his own blog over at YARDBARKER and is wondering what people would think if he had said the things about Cris Carter that Cris Carter said about him. Confused yet? I am.