THE SIDELINES : Montana Close to Signing NFL’s Biggest Contract: $13 Million

Joe Montana indicated he may be close to agreeing to the highest contract in the NFL, a deal that reportedly would bring the San Francisco 49ers quarterback $13 million over four years.

Montana’s contract was one of several that dominated the opening of the 49ers’ training camp Wednesday at Sierra College here.

He was typically nonchalant about his contract as he emerged from the first team meal at camp.

“It’s not finalized,” he said of the proposed deal, believed to pay him $4 million this season and decrease by $500,000 each of the next three years.

If the figures are correct, Montana’s new contract, averaging $3.25 million annually, would surpass the paychecks of the two quarterbacks who now top the league. Jim Kelly of Buffalo and Randall Cunningham of Philadelphia average slightly more than $3 million a year.

Montana, who turned 34 in June, signed a contract extension in 1988 that would have earned him $2.5 million this season. But after he led the 49ers to their fourth Super Bowl victory in January, owner Ed DeBartolo Jr. hinted that he would redo Montana’s contract.

Montana said he would like to have the contract formalized before the season starts.