COMMENTARY : Young Should Stay, Montana Should Go

Maybe if the San Francisco 49ers had advanced to Super Bowl XXVII and defeated the Buffalo Bills, the Great San Francisco Quarterback Controversy would have resolved itself. Then, Steve Young would have been established not only as the National Football League’s Most Valuable Player, but also as a true championship quarterback. And there would be no definitive reason to keep aging Joe Montana around anymore.

But the 49ers lost to the Dallas Cowboys, 30-20, in the National Football Conference title game, with Young at quarterback and Montana standing unemotionally on the sideline waiting for a call that did not--and should not have--come. Under Montana, the 49ers won four Super Bowls. Under Young, they have not even reached one. Talk about material for a controversy.

The 49ers should not allow it to develop further. Although owner Edward DeBartolo says he will not trade Montana, it would be best for the quarterback and the franchise to part company. At age 36 and with his best years behind him, he is a liability, not an asset. Young has earned the right to keep his job and play next season without the specter of potential change hanging over his shoulder at every turn.

Young did not lose the NFC title game. The 49ers’ defense is the culprit. It surrendered 416 yards--its second-worst performance of the season, behind the 488 it allowed to the Buffalo Bills in Week 2--and it could not make the plays needed to prevent Dallas from dominating the clock and keeping Young off the field. Despite his two interceptions, Young was effective enough to constantly drive his team into scoring position and to help the 49ers accumulate 415 total yards.

Young, 31, has, for sure, young legs and a solid arm. Montana, after arm surgery and what basically has been a two-year layoff, is not nearly as mobile, and his arm remains a question mark for the long term. But more importantly, he and Young do not get along, mostly because Montana has openly snubbed his teammate. This is not a conducive atmosphere for winning, which Coach George Seifert knows only too well.

“We’ll deal with everything in the offseason,” says Seifert, who was solidly behind Young this season. Young, who is scheduled to become a free agent but apparently wants to stay in San Francisco, expects to remain the starting quarterback. “Why shouldn’t I?” he says.

And Montana? Who knows? He already has told the 49ers that 1) he does not want to return as a reserve, and 2) he really does not have a contract next year anyway so he should be free to do what he wants. The 49ers disagree, saying he is under contract for one more season.

And 49ers fans? From the letters written to local papers, they appear to be solidly in Montana’s corner. After all, he is a living legend and the area’s reigning sports hero.

“It’s not fair,” running back Ricky Watters says. “Steve had a great season and people should be behind him.”

In the next few months, we will find out if the 49ers consider him enough of a hero to unload Montana.