Young’s MVP-Type Season Vies With Montana’s Shadow

Sometimes it just sits there, dark and foreboding. Other times, it is barely noticeable, shrinking into the background and appearing harmless. But never is it completely gone. Never does it entirely disengage itself from 49ers quarterback Steve Young. Never is Young completely free from Joe Montana’s shadow.

Even now, amid a 12-2 2 season and a string of performances worthy of Most Valuable Player consideration, the shadow still hovers over Young. Win a Super Bowl, and perhaps it will wither some. But never will it die.

And never has Young appeared more at ease with that reality.

“I know that’s the way it’s always going to be around here. I’ve realized that for a long time,” he said. “It’s never going to change, so I’m just accepting it.”

But Young may be understating his case, because he no longer simply accepts Montana’s shadow -- he embraces it.

“I think it’s one of the reasons I’m here,” he said. “You’re going to find out all about yourself. If you want to play quarterback in the pros, you play in San Francisco. That’s where you find out how good you really are. It’s because of who’s here, it’s because of the system, because of what you’re asked to do to fit the talents of everyone around you.”

But more than anything, it is the challenge to withstand the power of Montana’s legacy -- to conquer it even though there is no chance of completely eliminating it.

“I look at it as a positive now,” Young said. “I look at it like I’m stronger for this experience.”

He’s certainly playing like it. Young not only leads a team that is tied for the best record in the National Football League, but he is easily the league’s most efficient quarterback. And the numbers are very Montana-like.

In fact, Young is within range of surpassing Montana’s single-season quarterback rating record. Before Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings, Young had a passing rating of 107.8, compared to Montana’s NFL standard of 112.4 in 1989, which included 70.2 percent completion accuracy. After Sunday’s 20-17 victory over the Vikings, against whom he completed 20 of 26 passes, Young had completed 67.4 percent of his passes while throwing for 3,042 yards and 22 touchdowns, with just seven interceptions.

“I think to do what Steve Young has done this year is amazing, considering what he’s had to put up with,” said 49ers wide receiver Mike Sherrard. “You’re talking about a guy who’s playing after arguably the best quarterback that ever played. Man, that’s hard. That’s like if Jerry Rice got hurt and I had to step into his role. People would always be comparing me to him. That’s a heavy burden. That’s a really heavy burden.”

And it’s likely to become even heavier in the coming weeks, not only because the playoffs are approaching but because Montana is ready to start playing again. Montana, who is recovering from complications due to a torn tendon in his throwing elbow, has been on the practice squad for the last three weeks and feels healthy enough to play. Coach George Seifert still won’t commit to an activation date, but it appears likely Montana will be back on the roster within a week or two.

The shadow, it would seem, is about to become flesh and blood again. But this time Young, who admittedly was beaten down by the Montana legend in previous situations, believes he’s ready to fight it on his own terms. This time Young will not attempt to become the second coming of Montana, only a more polished version of himself. “This is nothing I haven’t seen before,” Young said. “You learn to handle it. I guess what I’m saying is, nothing could happen that I wouldn’t have some experience handling -- or mishandling -- before.”

A situation nearly arose last spring that would have alleviated the Young-Montana scenario, perhaps affording Young the freedom to play somewhere else without having to answer a single question about Montana. In April, the 49ers came close to trading Young.

“The circumstances back then were far different from what they are today,” said 49ers president Carmen Policy. “At that time, Joe was throwing better than he ever had been before, even before his elbow surgery (in October 1991), and we were in a position where we would listen to people if they had a lot to offer.”

Nothing happened because no one was willing to give the 49ers what they wanted. The Kansas City Chiefs called in early April and asked about Young, so the 49ers asked about linebacker Derrick Thomas. End of conversation. Then the Raiders came up with a more attractive offer--two second-round picks plus wide receiver-punt returner Tim Brown. The 49ers wanted a first-round pick added to the deal, but Raiders managing general partner Al Davis considered the price too steep.

“Looking back on it now,” Policy said, “thank God nothing happened.”

Meanwhile, Montana quietly simmers as Young guides the team to what should be an NFC West title. He has said little of his situation, but privately has expressed frustration that Seifert has been unwilling to activate him. Asked this week if he knew when he would be added to the roster, Montana said: “I wish I did. I asked (Seifert), but he didn’t give me an enswer.”

Young, meanwhile, promises to fight Montana’s shadow his own way this time, and vows to lead the 49ers in his own image. “Everyone’s going to have an opinion,” Young said. “It’s un-American not to. All I’ve got to do is be myself. That’s the only way you’re going to find out how good you really are.”