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Summarized by Kent Larsen
Steve Young Retires
USA Today pg1C 9Jun00 S2
By Richard Weiner: USA Today
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA -- NFL star and LDS Church member Steve Young will
reportedly announce today that he is retiring from football. The news leaked
to several news organizations on Thursday, and San Francisco 49ers general
manager Bill Walsh confirmed the decision on Thursday. Young i the top-rated
passer in NFL history and a two-time league MVP.
The decision dashes the hopes of several other teams, including the Denver
Broncos, who hoped to get Young for another shot at the Superbowl. San
Francisco is widely considered to be rebuilding this year, with no shot at
the championship. But Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, who met with Young on
Monday, setting off a flurry of speculation, said he advised Young to think
twice about playing, "I told him if he had any reservations whatsoever about
playing, then he should retire," said Shanahan.
Young has suffered at least six concussions during his career, the most
recent knocking him out of competition during most of last season. But
beyond health concerns, the 49ers faced a salary-cap hit because of the size
of the superstar's salary. Young's decision to retire relieves the 49ers of
having to put his large salary under the salary cap. It also relieves the
team of a potential public relations nightmare, like they faced when Young's
predecessor Joe Montana left to play for another team at the end of his career.
Young's plans in retirement are not yet clear. Since he passed the bar exam
in 1993, he could practice law. He is also listed as the chairman of
Internet startup found.com, which is
trying to provide Internet presence for traditional retailers. Young is also
under consideration for a commentator slot on Monday Night Football.
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