Thursday, Sept. 30, 1999

Dilemma day

Young hurt again; Dillon loses a friend

By Robert Neely, Associate editor

• The Steve Young dilemma — Loud, annoying alarm sirens are sounding for all of us who have the 49ers’ quarterback on our rosters. The concussion problems that Young has had in the past only magnify his current malady. There’s a limit to how much pounding one’s brain can take, and Young is nearing that limit — and he knows it.

So what can we do? In the PFW in-house league, I dealt for Dan Marino, at this point a competent if unspectacular backup. But everyone who owns Young should have a concrete backup plan in place, because I don’t think it’s 100 percent certain that Young will play for the rest of the season. One more concussion may be enough to put him over the edge. If you have Young, be very cognizant of and realistic about this situation and get Plan B in place now.

• The Corey Dillon dilemma — It was to most an insignificant transaction on Wednesday. The Bengals cut FB Brian Milne. No big deal in fantasy terms, right?

Wrong. Here’s why that move matters: First of all, it leaves the Bengals with only two healthy running backs total for this week’s game vs. St. Louis — Dillon and FB Clif Groce. Recent imports Sedrick Shaw (via waivers) and Michael Basnight (from the practice squad) can’t be counted on to produce much for at least a week, maybe two. So Dillon will have to be a huge workhorse, a role that he desires but isn’t yet accustomed to.

The bigger problem, though, is Dillon’s blocking. Milne was the Bengals’ starting fullback. That job now falls to Groce, who is more of a runner than a blocker. The only other fullback on the roster is rookie Nick Williams, who has been plagued by injuries throughout the preseason and early regular season and can’t be counted on to open holes. Milne was no great shakes, but he at least knew what to do. I’m not sure you can say that about Groce or Williams. Not a good turn of events for Dillon.

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1999 - 2000 Season