He is adding to his legend.

Jerry Rice is not supposed to be playing the game of football anymore. He is 39 years old. He should be watching the game at home. He should be gardening his front lawn.

Instead, Rice is winning the admiration of fans around the world. He is doing the impossible. He is setting records in football for becoming the oldest player to do this, the oldest player to catch that, the oldest player to score this, the oldest player to do that. Funny thing is, he doesn't play as though he's old.

In Oakland's 38-24 win over the Jets, Rice reminded the football world that he still can get the job done. While he's said all the right things about the 49ers, you can bet there is a strong feeling of vindication within JR that he can still play. And he's showing the team right across the bay what a huge mistake they made in letting him go.

J.J. Stokes doesn't explode downfield as a 29 year old like Jerry Rice can as a 39 year old. Terrell Owens has all the talent in the world but will never be as popular as Rice was with the 49ers because he doesn't have class. When Rice celebrates after a big play, he does it with enthusiasm that is genuine.

As a Raider, Rice is doing the impossible.  He is beating defenders with seventeen years of football wear and tear. He is winning over a fanbase that has spent the last decade and a half loathing him. Hating him not because he was despicable or lacked class. But despising him because he was so damn good at what he did, and the team that benefitted from his hard work was the arch rivals across the bay.

It's a pretty safe bet that New York Jet fans now hate Rice. He used and abused their secondary for 183 receiving yards on nine catches. Every single catch by Rice resulted in a first down. He caught passes in traffic and he reeled in catches when it looked like he was on his very own island as he was so wide open. He blew by defenders on skinny post patterns and took the tough hits from linebackers on slant routes.

And he did it in primetime. He reminded everyone that he is still Jerry Rice...and he may be getting better. After all, he had more receiving yards in this playoff game than in his last four playoff games combined. His 47 yard catch and run late in the third quarter was his longest playof reception since 1989, when he torched the Vikings for a 72 yard touchdown...as a 26 year old. Rice is doing all this as a 39 year old.

Now Rice and the Raiders travel to New England to face the Patriots. The last time Rice played there, he scored a 75 yard touchdown. Can Rice do it again? Can he lead the Raiders to their second straight conference championship?

Jerry Rice is playing the best football of his life. His team is winning. And normalcy is returning to the game of football. Yes...yes. Life is good...once again!