San Francisco 49ers veteran quarterback Joe Montana said the club may be ready to trade him after Coach Bill Walsh announced that Steve Young would again likely start Sunday's game against Phoenix.
"I can't say, but I think maybe he's trying to get rid of me," Montana said. "For some reason, I think Steve (Young) gets too caught up in the competition with me."Young's dramatic 49-yard touchdown run on Sunday lifted the 49ers to a 24-21 win over Minnesota. Earlier Monday, Walsh said Young would probably start against the Cardinals.
"We'll make a decision midweek, but it's very likely that Steve will start again," said Walsh, speaking at his weekly media luncheon.
"I just don't believe that Joe (Montana) will be 100 percent ready this next week," explained Walsh. "He may be available - he may suit up and be used in a limited way - but I'm not sure that he's going to be in top form, and we're not going to give him a lot of work on the field this week.
"So I would have to say that Steve will start," added the coach.
But Montana didn't sound quite as convinced as Walsh that he would not be able to play.
"I would think that I would be ready,' said Montana when asked if he could play. The quarterback was held out of Sunday's game after suffering from a sore back.
"I'm going to try and practice Wednesday, and I feel right now I probably could be ready for the weekend."