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Young's retirement close to reality
Posted: Tuesday October 19, 1999 08:57 AM
Sports Illustrated pro football writer Peter King talked to anchor Bob Lorenz on CNN's NFL Preview before the start of Sunday's slate of games. Bob Lorenz: Well Steve Young certainly wants to play and our insider Peter King joins us this morning from Foxboro and Peter, what is the feeling in 49ers camp about this? Peter King: Bob, there is very little question that Steve Young is going to retire -- in the eyes of the 49ers. In fact, some people in the 49er organization are already speaking of Steve in the past tense. Now what the 49ers are going to do is let Steve make his own decision. They do not want to force him into retirement; but they are already grooming successors and thinking of successors for when Steve Young doesn't play anymore. BL: And Peter what are others saying outside the 49ers camp? PK: Well, I was here at Foxboro yesterday talking to Drew Bledsoe about this. One of the things he said is that he really feels for Young because last year, when he had to sit out, he never thought it would be this way. But it was the most painful time of his football career, watching his team go on the field without him. I also spoke to Roger Staubach, who twenty years ago had to retire from the Dallas Cowboys because of his eighth concussion. He told me that Young and he had been playing phone tag, that Steve has tried to reach him twice in the past week and that he would advise Young if it is what he hears what it is: "Steve, there is no question what you have to do; you have to retire." BL: The St. Louis Rams are on a quite a joy ride right now and Peter, you talked to Dick Vermeil. What has he told his team about handling success? PK: Well, in the past the Rams have been lousy at handling limited success in Dick Vermeil's tenure in St. Louis. So, Dick went in on Wednesday this week, and he said one thing to his team. He said, "All we have done is win four games. We are in a sixteen round championship fight, fellows, we've just won four rounds and that means nothing. Focus on the future." BL: Peter what can you tell us about Michael Irvin, and what is happening around him right now? PK: Well, Bob, very quietly just less than two weeks ago Michael Irvin renegotiated his contract with the Dallas Cowboys and signed a new 7-year, $35 million contract with Dallas. But there are significant catches. Michael Irvin has already voided out his contract by catching his third touchdown pass against Arizona. What this means is that at the end of this year Michael Irvin, who turns thirty-four next year, is going to have the option: stay with the Cowboys at three million dollars starting next year or become a free agent and go and test the market. I still thinks he finishes his career with Dallas, because Jerry Jones is going to give him more money in the next couple of years if he stays with the Cowboys seven million dollars than he if goes elsewhere. BL: Randy Moss was a good basketball player in high school and the word going around is that Moss wants to be a two-sport star. What is the reality, Peter? PK: Well the reality is Moss has an inexperienced agent who leaked to the press that maybe Randy Moss can play basketball in the next year or two. Okay, there is nothing solid set up, nothing firm set up at all. It's one of these days Randy Moss would like to try his hand at the NBA. But because the Vikings are struggling it came out, hey, Moss has all his attention on the NBA instead of the Vikings. Moss is screwing this team up. Randy Moss had nothing to do with this. It is his agent telling a writer, hey, someday he is interested in playing in the NBA. BL: With the Tuesday 4:00 PM trading deadline fast approaching, have the Seahawks changed their stance on trading Joey Galloway? PK: Not at all if anything the Seahawks are more hard line than ever about Galloway. I talked with Seahawk president Bob Whitsitt and he told me if somebody offers me five number one draft picks for Joey Galloway we ain't trading him. So I think you are going to see the Seahawks try and freeze Joey Galloway and make him come back play in for Seattle next year. BL: What about some other names we might have out there in the next 48 hours on the trade block? PK: Well, Bob, very interesting one here right on this field today. Only Karim Abdul-Jabbar will not be on this field. Again he will be inactive for the Miami Dolphins and that's bad news for the running back from UCLA. He is on the Block, but there has to be a good offer made. Cleveland has offered low-round picks for Jabbar. Jimmy Johnson wants at least a third round choice for him. Other guys that are on the trading block this week -- Cleveland defensive end Roy Barker can be had as can Tampa Bay defensive lineman Regan Upshaw. Both of those guys would require third round draft picks or higher. BL: Okay, Peter we have always heard a lot from the mouth of Shannon Sharpe, but do you think we have heard the last from him in Denver? PK: Well, speaking of the trade deadline and Shannon Sharpe; had Sharpe remained healthy and the Broncos gone down the toilet like they are right now Shannon Sharpe would have been a candidate to be traded to Green Bay, of all places, because the Packers are in the market for another tight end. And you know Sharpe's license plates say "Go To Guy" they are not going to say that very much longer because I don't believe he will be with the Broncos next year. Byron Chamberlain is being groomed as Sharpe's replacement in their offense next year. BL: The Patriots have won 5 of the last six against the Dolphins, and, Peter, you think that trend continues today. PK: I think it continues for two reasons, number one Dan Marino is still a little bit iffy with a shoulder and neck injury, and I also think the Patriots are a little bit depleted in the run defense without Teddy Bruschi, without Ted Johnson to stuff Cecil Collins, who will become the dominant Miami back today and for the rest of the season. I think Miami will be a big threat against the Patriots, but I think Bledsoe has a big day and overcomes that. Sports Illustrated senior writer Peter King covers the NFL and appears regularly on CNN/Sports Illustrated and CNN's NFL Preview. |
