Giants’ Young Takes NFL Job

George Young didn’t spend much time focusing on his accomplishments Thursday as he stepped down after 19 seasons as the New York Giants’ general manager to become an NFL senior executive.

Instead of talking about the two Super Bowl championships, the eight postseason appearances, or the decisions to draft Phil Simms and Lawrence Taylor in the early years and to hire Jim Fassel last year, Young talked about things closer to his heart.

“It’s not necessarily an easy job but, in reality, when you love your work, it’s a joy,” Young said seconds before his voice broke and he turned the microphone over to his replacement, Ernie Accorsi. “That’s the way I view it.”

Young, 67, will move into a newly created post, the NFL’s senior vice president of football operations, handling the league’s relations with college football, the World League in Europe and youth football.

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Dennis Green’s coaching future might be with the Minnesota Vikings after all.

Viking President Roger Headrick, in the midst of negotiating to sell the team--or buy it for himself--gave Green a strong vote of confidence Thursday night. Headrick also squelched speculation that Green might be headed for the Oakland Raiders, who called this week to inquire about the coach.

“I would be very surprised why anybody would raise the Raider thing again,” Headrick said, adding he would suspect tampering if the rumors persist.

Green, who won the first playoff game of his six-year tenure two weeks ago, has one year left on his contract at $900,000. He said during the season that he wouldn’t return in 1998 without an extension.

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Offensive tackle Anthony Munoz of the Cincinnati Bengals and linebacker Mike Singletary of the Chicago Bears--who played against each other--were the only first-time eligibles on the list of 15 finalists on the ballot for induction this year into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

The 1998 induction class will be announced Jan. 24 at San Diego. At least four will be inducted.

Miami Dolphin center Dwight Stephenson and Pittsburgh Steeler wide receiver Lynn Swann, both close to being elected last year, are again on the list.

They are joined by L.A. Ram and Washington Redskin Coach George Allen, Bengal quarterback Ken Anderson, Minnesota Viking defensive end Carl Eller, Redskin and Viking safety Paul Krause, Ram offensive guard Tom Mack, Cleveland Brown tight end Ozzie Newsome, Pittsburgh administrator Dan Rooney, Steeler wide receiver John Stallworth, Viking offensive tackle Ron Yary and Ram defensive end Jack Youngblood.

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Three Denver Bronco offensive linemen were fined for violating league policy by having a slippery substance on their arms in Sunday’s playoff game at Kansas City. Initially, all five starting offensive linemen were fined $5,000 apiece, but the fines for two were rescinded.