After his miraculous fourth-and-29 catch and scamper last year, Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice would like to see a few more chances for another "Hey diddle diddle."
"Now that guys know that I'm a threat out of the backfield, I got to use my hands a little more," Rice told the Baltimore Sun on Sunday. "I get pushed a lot coming out of the backfield, and that's a sign of respect, but I can get my hands and get out on pass routes and continue to get open for Joe Flacco."
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Since he entered the NFL in 2008, Rice leads running backs in receptions with 311 -- 17 more than New Orleans Saints back Darren Sproles.
The 5-foot-8, 212-pound Rice is a dangerous threat out of the backfield, as he showed on the game-saving, perhaps Super Bowl-saving, fourth-and-29 catch-and-run. His comments also might have been made with the knowledge that second-year pro Bernard Pierce likely will continue to syphon off some of his carries.
Pierce isn't the same receiving threat as Rice, which will keep the diminutive vet on the field for third downs, where he has 91 catches and 863 yards for his career.
The Ravens' receiving corps has question marks after Anquan Boldin was traded to the San Francisco 49ers.
Rice is no dummy. If his carries are going to be diminished, he wants to make up for that production by taking someone else's receptions.
Follow Kevin Patra on Twitter @kpatra.
