| | SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Steve Young, still battling to
recover from perhaps the worst of several concussions over the last
three years, met with his neurologist Wednesday and his football
future appears increasingly uncertain.
|  | | Steve Young, right, consoles Jeff Garcia during the loss to St. Louis on Sunday. |
Young, 38, a two-time NFL MVP and six-time passing efficiency
leader who led the San Francisco 49ers to their fifth Super Bowl
victory in 1994, failed to gain clearance to play in Sunday's game
after a day-long battery of tests.
The tests were led by Dr. Gary Steinberg, the chief of
neurosurgery at the Stanford Medical School. San Francisco team
physician Dr. James Klint also was present for the examination.
"I really want to play again," Young said Wednesday evening.
"To me the most important thing is to get cleared by the doc and
I've just got to keep working at that."
A subdued coach Steve Mariucci said Young was still dealing with
post-concussion symptoms of fatigue and wooziness 2 1-2 weeks after
sustaining the damaging head blow.
"I think the symptoms are lasting a little bit longer than they
did before," Mariucci said. "In previous concussions, he has
recovered sooner. That in itself is the concern."
The medical team will eventually either clear Young to resume
playing or determine there are too many health risks and recommend
he retire. Repeated concussions can lead to premature senility and
other kinds of brain damage.
"I understand about concussions," Young said. "I'm a resident
expert. I know I can't risk the future and I have a full life ahead
of me. I don't want to miss any of that."
For the first time, Mariucci raised the possibility that he and
general manager Bill Walsh may take a more active role in deciding
Young's future.
"We're not there today, but there will come a point where a
decision has to be made," Mariucci said. "If it were ever to fall
in our laps, we would make a very conservative decision. Steve's
health is more important than anything, where we play, who's the
backup, our Super Bowl chances, the whole thing. Steve's health is
A-No. 1 in our decision, period."
Young, in his 15th NFL season, has been resisting the calls of
his agent, friends, family and even some current and former
teammates to quit, saying he still has a passion to play football.
"I've been playing close attention too and I'm concerned about
it just like everybody else," said Carolina fullback William
Floyd, a teammate of Young on San Francisco's 1994 Super Bowl team. "This is like the fourth or fifth time in as many years and it's
scary to think about."
Mariucci acknowledged Young has been besieged with pleas to
retire and perhaps his time has come.
"More people are suggesting the 'R' word to him," Mariucci
said. "He doesn't like hearing it, but sooner or later he's going
to need to admit it to himself, not hear about it but say it and
believe that it's right. He hasn't come to that just yet, but
eventually that will occur. I can't tell you when."
Even as much as Young wants to play, he won't ignore a
recommendation from his doctors to quit if that's what it comes to,
said his agent, Leigh Steinberg, who is not related to the
neurologist.
Wide receiver Jerry Rice added he believes Young is at the point
where he, too, needs a resolution.
"I think he's dealing with the situation pretty well under the
circumstances," Rice said. "I don't know exactly which direction
he's going to go but I think he's ready to make a decision."
Young, who turned 38 Monday, suffered his fourth concussion in
three years Sept. 27 against Arizona. He was leveled by blitzing
cornerback Aeneas Williams, and his head struck tackle Dave Fiore's knee before slamming into the ground.
The force of the blow left him unconscious for several seconds.
Jeff Garcia has started two games in place of the injured Young,
and will start again Sunday against Carolina.
Even if Young eventually receives medical clearance, Mariucci
said he would probably rest him for an additional period of time to
make sure he's all right.
Last week, Young conceded he was bothered by headaches and
grogginess after trying to resume practice with the team.
The latest concussion now appears to be the most serious for
Young, who endured two in 1996 and another in the 1997 season
opener at Tampa Bay.
Leigh Steinberg said he, along with Young's family and some of
his friends, have been urging Young to retire for the last two
years, and they renewed their calls in the aftermath of the latest
concussion.
| |
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AUDIO/VIDEO
 Steve Young says he wants to play football.
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