Young Awaits Medical Clearance to Play

San Francisco quarterback Steve Young, sidelined for 13 games after suffering his fourth concussion in three years, probably will be medically cleared to play next season, his agent told the San Francisco Examiner.

“It’s quite probable he will,” Leigh Steinberg said late last week. “He could pass a physical. It’s just his choice. Steve wants to play. He’s weighing his options.

“His goal has always been to retire a 49er, and he’s not ready to retire.”

Young, 38, must receive clearance from his neurologist before resuming his career. He was sidelined in the third week of the season against Arizona.

Steinberg said the question of whether the quarterback will play did not appear to be medical.

“Now, the risk is his,” Steinberg said. “Steve’s decisions now are: Does he feel like he wants another season or two? What will the 49ers’ protection be like next year? We need to hear their plans, how they plan to protect him.”

Steinberg did not immediately respond to requests for further comment from the Associated Press on Saturday.

The 49ers have asked Young and some other key veterans to take substantial pay cuts in a bid to keep the team together and help resolve a salary-cap crisis.

General Manager Bill Walsh must eliminate a $24-million cap overrun by March 1, when all teams have to be in compliance with the NFL’s payroll limit.

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Dick Vermeil, who led the St. Louis Rams to an NFC-best 13-3 record and their first trip to the playoffs in 10 seasons, was selected as Associated Press NFL coach of the year.

Vermeil, whose team was 4-12 last season, is the third Ram coach to be selected as coach of the year, joining George Allen (1967) and Chuck Knox (1973). Vermeil, 63, received 27 1/2 votes.

Indianapolis’ Jim Mora finished second with 18 1/2. Tennessee’s Jeff Fisher got 2 1/2, Jacksonville’s Tom Coughlin one and the New York Jets’ Bill Parcells one-half vote.

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Marty Schottenheimer, former coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, has joined the candidates for the Green Bay Packer coaching job. Packer General Manager Ron Wolf has acknowledged that the team contacted Schottenheimer about the vacancy created by the firing of Ray Rhodes.

Seattle offensive coordinator Mike Sherman also is among the prospects mentioned for the Green Bay job, as is Virginia Tech Coach Frank Beamer. But Beamer said he’s not interested.