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EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- On Wednesday, Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress indicated Sidney Rice made the decision to have hip surgery on his own because he couldn't tolerate the pain.
On Thursday, Rice painted a different picture on his blog -- including a revelation the injury could have ended his career.
The Vikings' top receiver wrote he had three MRIs on the hip, beginning right after he injured it "pretty bad" in January's NFC championship game. After tweaking the hip in minicamp, Rice wrote, he had another MRI that came out the same, so he continued to rehabilitate the hip instead of having surgery.
"I went to training camp not at 100 percent but I started feeling better," Rice wrote. "I was running, doing some cutting drills, things like that. Last week I was a little sore after the cutting drills, but the pain was something I thought I could tolerate.
"Like a week and a half ago I went back to see the doctor for another MRI and he said it showed significant changes. It was something he thought would be a serious problem if I didn't get it taken care of right then, a problem that could shorten my career.
"I was feeling better, I had my full range of motion back and felt like I was ready to go, but the doctor compared the last two MRIs and said I should get it taken care of right now."
Rice wrote he discussed the situation with teammates and Vikings trainers, and the consensus was he needed surgery.
"Once the doc got in there and checked everything out, he said having the surgery was the best move I could have made, so I don't regret it now," Rice wrote. "He said it could have been much worse if I would have tried to play on it during the season. He said it could have been my last year of playing football, so I know I made the right decision."
Only hours after surgery, Rice rode an exercise bike for about 20 minutes on Monday night and continues to undergo physical therapy in Colorado.
He said he's not sure when he'll return but "I'm aiming for being back on the field before midseason. I want to do as much rehab as I can as fast as I can without jeopardizing the injury or making it worse. Whatever the doctor says, I'm shooting for two weeks before that."
Rice also responded to speculation that his approach to the injury was impacted by his expiring contract, which is due to pay him only $550,000 this season.
"I'm not really worried about that at this point," Rice wrote. "My main focus is getting back on the field and performing at a high level like I did last year and helping the Vikings win a Super Bowl. It's not my concern what people say about my contract, whatever happens, happens.
"If the Vikings decide to give me an extension, that's great. If not, life goes on. I'll continue to work hard and do everything I can to be successful in what I've been doing my whole life, and that's playing football."
