Steve Young wants to play in 2000 -- whether in San Francisco or somewhere else.

Hmmm.

Oh, and wait a second.

What's this, Steve Young possibly in a Denver Broncos uniform?

Can diehard Broncos fans stand the image of one of the NFL's greatest scramblers trying to recreate his early days on the same field where their own hero -- a pretty good scrambler in his own right -- carved out the John Elway legend?

What is going on here?

Out in the Rockies you have a driven coach in Mike Shanahan, who already has two Super Bowl victories, stooping to an all-time low. He's trying to take advantage of the supposedly close relationship he has with Young by luring the stubborn and dizzy quarterback back out onto the football field.

Yeah, that's the kind of caring friend I'd like to have in my corner.

Having suffered four serious concussions, the last one ending his 1999 season, Young has been advised by doctors, family and friends to call it quits. He has done everything there is to do on the gridiron -- league MVP, Super Bowl MVP, Super Bowl victory and the highest QB rating of all-time.

Anybody who watched Young on Super Bowl Sunday last month as he sat next to ESPN's Chris Berman during NFL Countdown could plainly see the effects of those concussions. He couldn't remember team names, names of players he was trying to analyze or even the Rams' or Titans' opponents in their respective conference title games.

And if Shanahan has his way, Young will put himself at risk yet again of taking a blow to the head or hitting the turf too hard.

Then you have the continuing saga of Marino. A saga that grows sadder and sadder each day as the man with the golden arm refuses to let go.

In Marino's case, it's not a matter of concussions, but a matter of a once fine-tuned machine that has exhausted its usefulness without achieving the ultimate prize.

Last season clearly showed how much Marino's passing skills had eroded on a consistent basis. The injury he suffered to a nerve in his shoulder was more than likely a byproduct of 17 years of excessive wear and tear. His time has come, but he can't accept it.

So having taken the Dolphins' message that they no longer need his services loud and clear, Marino voided the last two years of his contract and threw open the door to any and all comers.

Only problem was, nobody has come calling, except presumably the Bucs. There have only been denials coming out of Tampa that the two parties have talked. But part of that is motivated by the fact that acknowledgment of said talks, if they took place before Marino voided his contract, could get the Bucs in trouble with the league.

Tampa Bay came within one game of reaching the Super Bowl last season behind the best defense in the NFL and promising young quarterback Shaun King. Bucs coach Tony Dungy has been quite adamant that King is his man, and he backed that up by releasing Trent Dilfer.

But general manager Rich McKay has to be intrigued by the prospect of having a healthy Marino guide an offense with talent at the skill positions to that elusive Super Bowl, while at the same time teaching King some valuable lessons.

Who better to help polish the skills of the talented King and groom him for a career as a starter than the NFL's greatest passer?

And Marino could get his Super Bowl ring in the process, then retire a happy man.

We all like to see our heroes' careers have nice, neat and happy endings like Elway and Michael Jordan. But at what price should the pursuit of the perfect ending be sought?

Marino and Young are dignified men, and they should leave the game with some bit of dignity -- and with their minds and bodies intact.

Are you listening Mike Shanahan and Rich McKay?

Andy Kent writes for the Naples Daily News in Florida.