You've read about it -- the conversation between the Genius (49ers general manager Bill Walsh) and the Mastermind (the Mastermind) -- and now we are here to tell you what it means.

	Mike Shanahan has pointedly denied rumors about the Broncos' interest in Steve Young.

According to the Genius, he and the Mastermind talked recently at some length about not talking about Steve Young (Steve Young).

They couldn't talk about Young directly -- even while talking about him -- because that, for some reason, would have been tampering. But the Genius then went on to say that the NFL boys were investigating the Broncos for tampering anyway, not that he had asked them to.

"I know the National Football League is very sensitive to this case," Walsh said. "The league is watching it closely."

He even said the NFL had called the 49ers directly about tampering and were apparently able, during the conversation, to even use Young's name -- although, according to my sources, Walsh wanted to use pig Latin, just to be safe. Meanwhile, the NFL has denied any investigation, which means nothing and everything because the last time the NFL revealed an investigation, J. Edgar Hoover was in cotillion class.

Walsh then went on to say the Broncos had to be interested in Young because they have pointedly refused to deny the rumors.

And this is where it gets confusing.

If the Mastermind had actually told the 49ers he wanted Young, while not saying he wanted Young -- can you wink over the phone? -- why the doubletalk from Walsh about non-denial denials?

Let's face it, you don't have to have an advanced degree to deconstruct this one. The 49ers, who don't want Young anymore, who expect him to fail his physical, if not his fourth-grade CSAP, are hoping the Broncos not only sign Young but are forced to cough up a tampering-related draft choice when they do sign him.

But isn't that too easy to figure out?

We'll go to the tape, provided courtesy of Linda Tripp, of the conversation between the Genius and Mastermind, which will soon be forwarded to the Mensa Hall of Fame.

Genius: Wassup?

Mastermind: Wassup?

Genius: Wassup?

Mastermind: Wasssssssssup?

Oops, wrong tape. That was the John McCain-George W. conversation, in which McCain agreed to endorse Bush only because the Broncos had.

	“	The 49ers are angling for a draft pick, of course. But, more than that, they might have some explaining to do. If Young, as Walsh suggests, fails the 49ers physical then passes a Broncos physical, somebody is being less than honest. ”

Let's face it, these guys are both too smart to say anything they didn't want overheard.

What's puzzling here is not the reason underlying Walsh's apparent candor. The 49ers are angling for a draft pick, of course. But, more than that, they might have some explaining to do. If Young, as Walsh suggests, fails the 49ers physical then passes a Broncos physical, somebody is being less than honest.

If Young is able to play, Young is able to play. So let the NFL investigate. It beats the AMA. (The DEA, meanwhile, is still tied up with Romo.)

That still doesn't clear things up, though. Why, given the possibility of being hit with tampering, would the Mastermind call the Genius at all? What do you think these guys talk about anyway -- the relationship of the West Coast Offense to Fermat's Theorem? Or the apparent paradox in that although there is no "I" in team, there is one in franchise.

I don't want to sound too conspiratorial here -- Oliver Stone already did his football movie -- but this sounds a lot like collusion to me.

Why call? Did the Mastermind have some leftover free weekend minutes on his cell phone? I'm sure Walsh had already heard the Steve Buck joke -- although, gosh, it does get funnier with each telling.

And as for tampering, if the Broncos were any less subtle, they would have to take out a want ad. (We have operators available now.) They already have up that billboard: "Steve, if you lived here, you'd be home by now."

Am I wrong, or have the Broncos been basically begging the NFL to bust them? Not only does the Mastermind refuse to deny anything, he has Gus Frerotte announcing that the Broncos want Young and that he, Frerotte, is ready to learn at the knee of the master. Come on, this is recruiting time.

Here's my theory: This seems to be Walsh's way of helping out. If the Broncos can't talk to Young directly -- the Justice Department is not subpoenaing his e-mail, by the way -- they can let Walsh talk for them.

They're all old buddies from 49ers days, back when they were winning Super Bowls together.

If Young decides not to retire and that he wants to stay with the 49ers, what do they do then? Do they cut a legend? Do they explain to their fans that, yes, we're going to stink this year, but we can't use Steve Young?

Are they going to say they're concerned only about Young's health but then have to explain why the Broncos think he's healthy enough?

Didn't the 49ers recently get busted for a salary-cap violation? Wouldn't it help everyone -- including the NFL -- to get Young's contract voided? I'm sure the 49ers hope it's only Eddie DeBartolo Jr. who winds up in prison.

Suddenly, there seems to be a convergence of interest in Young deciding to play out his years at whatever the Broncos' new stadium is going to be called.

It seems like it's in everyone's interest -- except, of course, concussion-prone Steve Young's. It's his head everyone is trying to tamper with.