| | Associated Press
DENVER -- San Francisco 49ers general manager Bill Walsh
said his team has been contacted by the NFL about the Denver
Broncos' possibly tampering with quarterback Steve Young, the
Denver Rocky Mountain News reported Wednesday.
| |  | |
| Young |
Walsh said the league is "very sensitive to it in this case.
The league is watching it closely," according to columnist Sam Adams.
There has been widespread speculation that Denver coach Mike
Shanahan would like to acquire Young, a two-time NFL MVP. Young has
been considering his future in football after suffering a series of
concussions.
San Francisco 49ers officials have said their doctors must clear
Young before he returns to action.
NFL tampering rules prevent coaches from having any contact with
players under contract with other teams. Young, 38, is still under
contract to San Francisco.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello denied the league is watching the
Broncos.
"There is no Steve Young issue that we are monitoring," Aiello
said.
Shanahan and Broncos owner Pat Bowlen haven't said anything
publicly about trying to acquire Young. Speculation, though, has
been rampant.
Quarterback Gus Frerotte, who left Detroit for Denver earlier
this year, has said Shanahan "was flat straight out with me"
about his interest in signing Young if he is available.
Young played for the Broncos coach when Shanahan was the 49ers
offensive coordinator from 1992 to 1994.
Walsh said he understood why Denver would be interested in
Young.
"I know Denver is just a player or two away from another Super
Bowl," Walsh said. "I understand Mike Shanahan's relationship
with Steve Young. He's among the coaches Steve's worked with and I
think I can speak for Steve having great regard for Mike, as I
do."
But the fact is, Walsh said, Young is under contract with the
49ers.
"But we're going to have to think long and hard about whether
he should take the field for the 49ers," he said. "And we're
going to have to hear from Steve about whether he wants to play for
the 49ers or if he would like to become a free agent."
San Francisco coach Steve Mariucci said he finds it curious that
Denver is the only team identified as being interested in Young.
"If Steve Young were ever available, there probably would be a
lot of teams that would have an interest," Mariucci said. "If
that's true, other teams have used restraint and have kept quiet
and done things the way it's supposed to be, the wait-and-see
approach."
Brian Griese, Denver's reigning No. 1 quarterback, has said he
is taking all the talk in stride.
Griese's performance last season was erratic after he was named
starting quarterback over veteran Bubby Brister. Denver ended 6-10
after having won back-to-back Super Bowl championships.
| |
 |
