Joe Montana Ready for Another QB Challenge

ROCKLIN, Calif. —  Joe Montana remembers the empty feeling of moving down on the depth chart.

Back in 1977, Montana was a junior at Notre Dame, expecting to start that fall for the Fighting Irish. But then it happened. Coach Dan Devine decided that Rusty Lisch would be the man who would direct the team, not Montana.

This year, again, Montana finds himself under the gun despite the fact he is coming off one of his best professional seasons. Waiting in the wings is Steve Young, the man who replaced Montana in the second half of last year’s dismal playoff loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

“There is always going to be competition,” Montana said. “There was competition when Matt (Cavanaugh, now with the Philadelphia Eagles) was here. There was competition when (Tampa Bay quarterback Steve) DeBerg was here. And when Jeff (Kemp, now with Seattle) was here. There is always going to be someone there.

“I’ve been up against competition before. My junior year at Notre Dame, I lost my starting job to Rusty Lisch. I’m not afraid of competition. I’ve always found a way to come back.”

Few Irish fans will ever forget the way Montana came back in his junior year. It was the third game of the season and Lisch was suffering through an embarrassing afternoon against Purdue. The Boilermakers took a 24-14 halftime lead into the locker room.

Montana came out as the Irish starter in the second half and led Notre Dame to a stirring 31-24 victory. Comebacks became Montana’s collegiate trademark and he capped his career with an amazing 35-34 victory over Houston with no time left in the Cotton Bowl.

Throughout his career, the 10-year veteran has thrived on a challenge. This year is no different. In the off-season, Montana has worked with fitness expert Ben Parks to hone his oft-injured body into the best shape of his professional career.

“I’ve been working with a guy (Parks) three days a week,” he said. “Physically, I’m probably in the best shape I’ve been in.”

Montana’s precamp workouts began at 5:30 a.m. and consisted of a weight program, shadow boxing, aerobics and running. He was able to increase his weight to 198, the first time he has hovered near 200 since college.

“I feel pretty good about the extra weight,” Montana said. “I was over 200 when I came out of college, but it wasn’t the right kind of 200 pounds.”

The fitness program may also keep Montana healthy for an entire season, a feat that has not been accomplished over the past five seasons. Montana has missed playing time with a litany of injuries which have included a severe hamstring pull, an injured knee and a ruptured disc in his back.

However, the veteran says the injuries are not on his mind.

“The day you start worrying about getting hurt is the day you get hurt,” Montana said.

The off-season was particularly difficult for Montana this year because for the first time in his career he was the subject of trade rumors.

“Bill talked to me about it (the trade rumors) at the last minicamp,” Montana said. “I was told that teams contacted the 49ers not only about me, but also Steve. That’s what happens when you have two good quarterbacks. It made me feel good that other teams initiated the talks, not the 49ers.”

The rumors caused Montana to reflect on the reality that he may be traded.

“It’s (being traded) a part of the game,” he said. “We are fortunate in this league that it doesn’t happen as often as it does in basketball or baseball. But you have to face reality.”

Montana, however, is not contemplating retirement.

“You think about it (retirement) a little in the back of your mind,” he said. “But you have to let it happen, when it happens. If you start thinking about retirement, it’s going to happen.”

Two key members of the 49ers retired last season--wide receiver Dwight Clark and tackle Keith Fahnhorst. Montana says he’ll miss both.

“I’m going to miss Dwight,” Montana said. “He was my roommate at camp. It’s sad to see a career end before it is suppose to because of injuries.”

Last season, Montana also was criticized for being one of the first regulars to report to camp during the NFL player’s strike. The strike issues have yet to be resolved, but Montana does not think the players will choose to walk again this season.

“Everybody would like to see it resolved,” he said of the collective bargaining agreement. “Hopefully, it will be resolved in the courts. I think the guys are more interested this year in playing, doing something they want to do. The guys are just tired of dealing with it.”

As for the 49ers chances this year, Montana takes a blue collar approach.

“You have your job to do and other guys have theirs,” he said. “I can’t worry about the other guys on the team. I just have to do my job the bet I can.”