New Deal Expected for 49ers’ Young

Quarterback Steve Young, starting the final year of his contract, and the 49ers neared agreement Tuesday on an extension to keep the two-time NFL most valuable player in San Francisco for several more seasons.

After weeks of negotiations, team President Carmen Policy and Young’s agent, Leigh Steinberg, were en route Tuesday to the team’s training camp in Rocklin, Calif., to complete discussions.

“They’re putting the finishing touches on the deal,” General Manager Dwight Clark said.

Young, 35, had no comment.

The deal was expected to be announced today.

Clark said Young’s extension would clear at least $1 million in additional salary cap space, likely helping the 49ers come to terms with quarterback Jim Druckenmiller, their top draft pick and only remaining unsigned player.

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The Kansas City Chiefs signed their first-round pick, University of California tight end Tony Gonzalez, to a six-year contract. Financial terms were not disclosed.

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One of four men arrested along with St. Louis Ram defensive end James Harris on cocaine charges--Dwight Flowers Jr., 30, of Chesterfield, Mo.--pleaded guilty to intent to buy and distribute cocaine and crack cocaine in federal court in East St. Louis, Ill. Harris, free on $750,000 bond, was back at the Rams’ training camp.

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Baltimore Raven middle linebacker Ray Lewis injured his neck during a practice drill and was placed on a stretcher and transported by helicopter to a hospital, but the Ravens’ team physician said the injury was not serious.

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Rookie free-agent defensive end Brent Burnstein, who left the Tennessee Oilers’ training camp last Friday and was waived after some veteran players threatened to cut his shoulder-length hair, was claimed by the Arizona Cardinals. Burnstein played at Arizona State.

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Contending that the traffic stop was illegal, a court motion filed on behalf of Tampa Bay Buccaneer defensive lineman Warren Sapp contends that marijuana seized from the player’s car in June should be suppressed as evidence in his drug case in Tampa, Fla. Sapp, 24, was charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession. A hearing on the motion was set for Aug. 25. . . . Edgar Bennett, star running back for the Green Bay Packers, had surgery to repair the torn left Achilles tendon that ended his season. He will need at least six months to recover. . . . Tennessee Oiler wide receiver Derek Russell suffered a possible fractured collarbone during practice. The team was awaiting X-ray results. . . . Pro Bowl punter Matt Turk ended his holdout by completing a five-year, $2.78 million deal with the Washington Redskins that includes an $830,000 signing bonus. . . . The Philadelphia Eagles signed veteran defensive back Charles Dimry, 31, to a one-year contract, ending their search for a backup cornerback. Dimry, 31, was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers earlier this month in a salary-cap move. . . . The Indianapolis Colts released veteran offensive lineman Troy Auzenne, who had been trying to recover from a nagging knee injury. . . . Carolina Panther defensive end Gerald Williams, 34, announced that he will retire after this season, his 12th.