Steve Young Is Ready for His Debut in NFL

Quarterback Steve Young, whose pro contracts have prompted far more debate than his completions, steps up in class today.

Six weeks after disgruntled Tampa Bay fans began chanting his name in unison, the 24-year-old former Brigham Young All-America makes his NFL debut when the 1-10 Buccaneers face Detroit. Young places his quick feet, strong left arm and bulging financial portfolio on the line behind an injury-ravaged offensive front.

“I’ve always taken the attitude since I’ve been here I’ll do anything to help the team win,” says Young, who signed with the Buccaneers Sept. 10 after several months of haggling between attorney Leigh Steinberg and club official Phil Krueger. “I think now they’re telling me to just go out and play and do the best you can under these conditions. I’ve tried to make every week here a learning experience.”

After setting or tying 13 NCAA records with the Cougars, Young dominated the sports headlines by agreeing on a 1984 contract with the USFL’s Los Angeles Express. That pact was estimated to be worth $40 million for 40 years--not bad for a 22-year-old kid out of Salt Lake City with curly black hair and a mischievous smile.

Young started the final 12 games for the playoff-bound Express in ‘84, passing for 2,361 yards and 10 touchdowns while running for an additional 515 yards and seven TDs. Last season was a Hollywood horror flick as the 3-15 team suffered a numbing wave of injuries and became financially supported by the league as fan support withered.

So did Young’s passing skills.

“This past spring we ran a one-back offense because we only had one back,” says Young with a weak smile. “Still, I met great friends and great coaches and the things that were challenging made me a better person. I don’t regret my experience in the USFL and it will pay off in the long run. I really feel I made the best choice at that time.”

Young’s skeptics point out his numbers this spring were unimpressive as he was intercepted 13 times compared to just six scoring passes. The runner-up to Mike Rozier in the 1983 Heisman voting was picked by Tampa Bay in the NFL supplemental draft on June 5, 1984 and Steinberg negotiated a six-year, $6 million deal with the Buccaneers two days after this year’s season opener.

“I want to play Steve in enough games to get a good look at him,” says Tampa Bay Coach Leeman Bennett. “Young’s start should not be interpreted as a demotion of Steve DeBerg. Young has progressed well under the disadvantage of not playing in training camp, but he’s a good talent. He’s got quick feet, good accuracy and touch on the ball and he’s smart. I told him he’s not coming in as a savior . . . this is a 1-10 team.”

And Young knows it.

“My attitude now is to go out and fight like crazy and never accept the fact that you lost,” Young says. “I don’t think you’re ever a loser if you’re out there fighting. What’s tragic is if you accept it. I’ll put the pressure on myself Sunday (today)--I expect to go out there and do wonderful things. But I’ll try to play within myself and let all the other talent we have on offense pick up the slack.”

Young must be using a lens from the Palomar Observatory to see all that other talent. A mediocre attack will be weakened as the Buccaneers operate without at least one starting offensive lineman. Sean Farrell is out with ankle problems and tackle Ron Heller is questionable with a knee injury; see No. 8 run from the Lions Sunday . . . see him scramble. See Bennett turn blue from holding his breath.

“I don’t know much about him, but I do know that Young’s a great athlete and he can run like crazy,” says Detroit rookie coach Darryl Rogers. “He adds an ability to run, which he really can do well, but I’m not sure he can pass as well as DeBerg.”

Unlike DeBerg, Young hasn’t experienced the boos of a hometown crowd.

“No, I don’t remember any boos in L.A.,” he says. “Then again, there weren’t enough people there.”