From: GC.JAB@forsythe.stanford.edu (Tony Bechtold)
Subject: Re: Joe (Toast?) Montana
Organization: Stanford University, California, USA
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 17:00:29 GMT

In article <00960053.FFC22EC0@vms.csd.mu.edu>,
5912ramasubr@vms.csd.mu.edu writes:

>In article <tokuno.714950439@milton>, tokuno@milton.u.washington.edu (Ken Tokuno) writes:
>>donehoo@strobe.ATC.Olivetti.Com (Doyle Donehoo) writes:
>>
>>>Remember those of you who said Joe was Toast? That Joe was
>>>washed up? That he was outta here??
>>
>>>Well, toast is served. Eat your words.
>>
>>>Joe Montana was throwing in practice today, and will start this Friday.
>>

>I read today in Chicago Sun Times that joe is upset over
>placing him in IR because he feels that he can play/start before
>the month is over and also because of the fact that he cannot practice
>with his teammates. He it seems is so upset that he has (and I quote'
>from the paper here) 'asked to be let off his last year in contract'.

>Well, IMO it was a good decision for Joe that he is on IR.
>He gets to completely heal, so that he will be fresh by the time
>he starts which should be in the 5th game if he is out of IR.

>Also Youing would be more comfortable for at least the first
>4 games and then IMO his performance will improve.  SF   may
>then well be something like 3-1 and there will be not any
>play-off pressure (Though Joe does well under pressure) so that
>Joe can ease in for his first game or two (remember that he last
>played a couple of years ago) and then go in full gear leading
>the team into play-offs whhere he is the ideal QB to lead the team.

>Anyway this should be an interesting series
>regardless of who wins.

I think that the 49ers are really digging themselves a hole here
regarding Montana.  As you indicated, it wouldn't surprise me if the
49ers are 3-1, or maybe even 4-0 by the time Joe is eligible to come
off the IR.
Teams need to gel around a quarterback. If the 49ers offense is
playing outstanding football thru the first 4 games of the season,
Young is producing, I would say that it would be a mistake to yank
Young in favor of Montana.  If something is working fine, you don't
mess with it! Say they yanked Young even knowing he was playing
great football, put Montana in, and say in Montana's second game, he
re-aggravates his injury. Of course they are going to put Young back
in, but Young is going to be pissed, and the system will be
interrupted. It could take another two or three games to get back
into the swing of things, and considering that the Niners schedule
isn't an easy one (is it ever?) that move could cost them a game or
two.
I think that they should have thoroughly evaluated Joe's elbow
before Seifert named a starter. I would have had Joe throw a
simulated game, given his arm a decent workout with some long
yardage passes in there. Then perform an MRI. If any inflammation is
detected, then assume that Joe's arm is NOT going to hold up and
then name Young the starter. Instead Seifert jumped the gun like
usual!   Its really hard to say what exact approach they can take to
this whole situation. Montana has made it perfectly clear that he
will not sit on the bench.  I can't really blame the guy!  IMO,
Montana has one good year left in him. I know that Young understands
the whole situation. Let Montana play play the fifth game, MRI his
elbow and go from there. Regardless of everything, it is Joe's team!
You know that Al Davis is salivating at this whole situation.

                                                    Tony
                                                 GO 49ERS!!!
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro