Shanahan has targeted a defensive end, free safety and quarterback as his needs in the free-agent market, and while he has identified a number of candidates at the other positions, he apparently has focused solely on Young among the quarterbacks.

That means the coach will have to wait, perhaps for at least another month, until Young's situation is settled.

NFL tampering rules prevent Shanahan from having any contact with players under contract to other teams, so he has been reluctant to discuss Young.

At the conclusion of the 1999 season, however, after Denver limped home with a 6-10 record partly because of the inconsistent play of young quarterback Brian Griese, Shanahan said, "If Steve Young is out on the market, everyone would be interested in him. The question is, how's his head?"

The status of the 38-year-old Young is uncertain, both because of the 49ers' salary constraints and Young's history of concussions. The two-time league MVP missed the final 13 games of last season after suffering his fourth concussion in three years.

Family members and friends have advised him to retire, but Young is not yet ready to quit the game.

Last week, Young restructured his contract with the 49ers, allowing the team to gain $3 million in salary-cap relief, but that doesn't mean he is committed to remaining in San Francisco. The new contract is believed to include a termination clause that can be triggered at any time.

If Young leaves the 49ers, the team would save about $3 million in salary and roster bonuses, but it also would be forced to accelerate $4.8 million in prorated signing bonuses at a net cost of $1.8 million against this season's salary cap.

Young had three of his most productive seasons (1992-94) while Shanahan was his offensive coordinator in San Francisco. "I loved playing for him," Young said.