Edelman’s neighbor Rice big inspiration

When Julian Edelman faces his hometown team Sunday, he can show off for the old neighborhood. One resident in particular. Hall of Famer Jerry Rice — “Mr. Rice,” to Edelman — lived down the street from the Patriots receiver in

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Woodside, California, about a halfhour south of the 49ers’ Candlestick Park home.

Edelman dated Rice’s daughter, Jaqui, in high school and took her to the prom, but that’s not why he was shy around her father.

“I was too terrified of him because he was the G.O.A.T. and he was a god in our area,” the 2019 Super Bowl MVP said of the 1989 Super Bowl MVP. “He’s definitely been an inspiration, for his work ethic and how seriously he took his craft.”

A 10-time All-Pro selection who is the NFL leader in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns, Rice was known for his grueling workouts. At 5 feet 10 inches — 4 inches shorter than Rice — Edelman figured he would have to make his way in football in a similar manner.

So, if Rice built his leg strength by running up a hill in a neighborhood park, Edelman was going to climb the same route, a 2½- to 3-mile incline known as “Jerry Rice Hill” that would leave the would-be football star vomiting. Whatever Edelman is doing has been working.

The Kent State quarterback turned NFL receiver hooked up with Tom Brady for three 1,000-yard seasons. But it’s in the postseason that Edelman truly has excelled: His 118 playoff receptions for 1,442 yards are the most in NFL history except for one man: Jerry Rice.

“It’s an honor to even be near anything of his,” Edelman said.

Sunday marks the second time in his 11-year career that Edelman, whose childhood dogs were named “Dwight” and “Montana,” will face the 49ers. In 2016, he caught eight passes for 77 yards and a TD in New England’s 30-17 victory.

■ Dolphins: Ryan Fitzpatrick’s dismay about losing his job as starting quarterback was compounded by how quickly the news spread.

“My two boys in middle school, they don’t get to find out from Dad,” Fitzpatrick said. “They get to find out through a friend that got a text message.”

Coach Brian Flores, who told Fitzpatrick he was promoting Tua Tagovailoa to the starting job, also was annoyed the news leaked Tuesday before he could tell the team.

Fitzpatrick said his boys didn’t take the news hard. “They probably dropped me from their fantasy teams,” he said, “but other than that, they still love me.”

■ Seahawks: The team has someone whose name went unlisted on its injury report who is hurting nonetheless: coach Pete Carroll.

The 69-year-old underwent arthroscopic knee surgery during Seattle’s bye last week and then pushed himself too much at work this week to the point he was using a golf cart and a cane at practice.

Carroll said he’ll be fine Sunday and doesn’t believe he will need special precautions on the sideline. He just might not be moving as fast as normal.