Steve Young Lays in Perpetual Wait With 49ers

He is as much a part of the San Francisco 49ers as Ronnie Lott, Jerry Rice, Roger Craig and even Joe Montana, the man he has understudied for three years now.

He has two Super Bowl rings and the respect of personnel people throughout the National Football League. What Steve Young wants is control -- control of his present and control of his future.

He is unlikely to get it as long as he remains a professional football player.

“One of things you learn if you stick around the NFL long enough,” Young said, “is that your life is not your own in a lot of ways. The 49ers have made it clear to me that I’m not going anywhere. All I can do is wait.”

Young has been watching and waiting since his 1987 trade to the 49ers from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He is perhaps the NFL’s best reserve quarterback. Yet, without a trade, there is little chance he will be doing more than clipboard-carrying anytime soon.

Despite rumors that surfaced prior to the NFL draft, including one confirmed inquiry from the New England Patriots, a trade is not imminent. At least that’s what the 49ers have told Young, a former Brigham Young University star.

So Young’s situation heading into his fourth training camp with the 49ers is not unlike his situation last year, or in the two years before that. He figures to remain a well-compensated caddy for Montana, arguably the NFL’s best-ever quarterback.

“Joe took his game to another level last season,” Young said Monday. “He was a great player the previous two years, but he became one of the best of all time last year.

“There’s a lot of joking that I’m part of my own problem. The feeling is Joe is such a competitor and he thrives on the competition (from Young).”

When he played last season, Young played well, either relieving or substituting for an injured Montana. In six games his quarterback rating was 120.8, which would have put him among the league’s elite signal-callers had he played more.

He threw 92 passes, completing 64 for 1,001 yards. Only three of those passes were intercepted and eight went for touchdowns. His added ability to run produced 126 yards and two touchdowns in 38 carries.

Young, 28, threw three passes in San Francisco’s 55-10 win over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXIV, completing two.

By any standard, Young is a most capable backup. Yet, that role is testing him these days as he watches the prime years of his career disappear.

While he loves San Francisco and has learned plenty from Montana, the question remains the same as it has been the past three years. Would Young rather be a reserve quarterback on the top team in football or the starter on a less qualified one? There are plenty of teams that could find a place for him.

“It’s a tough call, because we are such a great team and it is such a great place to be,” Young said. “Do you want to be on a team that’s in the playoffs very year, or do you want to put yourself on the market?

“We were in the playoffs this year. If we’re not in them again next year, it’ll be our own fault because we’re so talented.”

Young has been down the losing road before, first with the Los Angeles Express of the United States Football League and then with the Buccaneers.

Playing behind a miserable offensive line, Young absorbed a pounding in Tampa Bay. He put up good numbers, but in neither year was the team a contender.

Young welcomed the deal to San Francisco in April 1987, believing the opportunity to work under Coach Bill Walsh and alongside Montana would prolong his career. He has played in 25 of a possible 48 regular-season games, his most extended work coming in 1988 when injuries to Montana forced him into 11 games.

“I played some of my best football in Tampa Bay when I was getting my butt kicked every week,” Young said. “What you’d like to find is a spot where you can go and play and the team will be playing some important games.”

When the 49ers traded for Young, surrendering second- and fourth-round draft picks, it was their way of preparing for Montana’s eventual retirement.

Yet, Montana, who will be 34 next month, has shown no signs of slowing down. If anything, he has improved over time. He has said that he intends to play at least three more seasons.

What does that mean for Young, who figures that he will play for another six seasons? His options are limited. With one year remaining on his contract, he could play for the 49ers this season, then think about moving to another team.

The 49ers asked Young to sign a contract extension last season, which he refused, leaving open the option of exploring the free-agent market next year. However, with the significant restrictions that exist in the NFL (whoever signs Young would have to compensate the 49ers with two No. 1 draft picks), it is questionable how legitimate an offer Young would receive.

Young could consider skipping training camp in an attempt to force a trade, but says that he won’t do that out of loyalty to owner Ed DeBartolo Jr. Also, he doesn’t that believe a holdout would be in his best interest.

“The 49ers care a lot about loyalty,” Young said. “(A holdout) could get really ugly. Plus, I don’t see too many success stories from players who have done that. Jay Schroeder (formerly of the Washington Redskins, now with the Los Angeles Raiders) did that and the Raiders still are looking at five guys to play quarterback.”

So Young plans to remain a company man, hoping that the 49ers will do right by him in the future. He remains convinced of his talent and staying power.

“The way it’s working out, there’s no doubt in my mind I can play six more years,” Young said. “If Joe continues to play well, I believe the 49ers will do the best thing for me.”