Young Is Willing to Be Patient--for Now

Steve Young may be the best backup quarterback in the National Football League.

But when the first-string quarterback is Joe Montana, there is no chance for a promotion.

Young knows there are a lot worse situations than his with the San Francisco 49ers. Being on the sideline Sunday for Super Bowl XXIV between San Francisco and the Denver Broncos isn’t a bad gig. But Young has aspirations that can’t be satisfied in his current role.

“I feel like I’m an impact-type of player,” Young said. “If I get three or four plays (at the end of a game), that’s not going to make me happy or unhappy.

“I’m willing to go the distance as far as being patient (for my opportunity). If everyone moved on every time things got a litle hard, then you’d miss half the great opportunities in your life.”

Young is 28 and in his sixth season in pro football. These are his prime years as a player.

Having been a starting quarterback for the Los Angeles Express in the USFL, Tampa Bay and on a spot basis with the 49ers, Young isn’t engaging in wishful thinking when he sees himself as a starter.

That may never happen in San Francisco. Sometime soon Young must weigh the importance of individual, as opposed to team, success and determine if he can find a better balance somewhere else.

“After the Super Bowl is the time to talk more about my situation,” Young said. “I’ll sit down with (Coach) George Seifert, (owner) Eddie DeBartolo and probably Joe and we’ll discuss it.”

The 49ers traded for Young four days before the 1987 draft. Montana had disk surgery in September of 1986. Alhough he returned two months later, doctors weren’t sure how long Montana would be able to play.

Montana, 33, is under contract through the 1992 season and shows no sign he will be unable to fulfill his obligations.

In training camp last season, Bill Walsh, then 49ers coach, attempted to push Montana by hinting Young could become the quarterback. The “competition” was over quickly.

“Last season I had the feeling that we were going into (training camp) almost as equals and Joe ran away with it and left me holding the bag,” Young said. “I never had a chance to get out of the starting blocks.”

Young has played in 29 games with the 49ers and started eight. At times he can look like a left-handed version of Montana.

This season against Atlanta, Young completed 10 consecutive passes in the second half (11 for 12, 175 yards for the game) after replacing Montana, who was injured. Young threw three second-half touchdowns against the New England Patriots. “I’ll stand by what I’ve done. I think I’ve pushed as hard as anyone to get this team into the Super Bowl,” Young said. “I feel I’m one of the small reasons why we’re in the Super Bowl.”