Quick Kicks

Young roughed up

San Francisco quarterback Steve Young sustained a bruised back and shoulder in Sunday’s loss to the Indianapolis Colts and is expected to undergo and MRI exam today.

Young, jarred earlier in the game, was taken out for one play after another hard tackle on San Francisco’s final drive in its 18-17 loss.

Young, knocked to the ground by rookie Ellis Johnson, gave way to Elvis Grbac for one play with a minute to go. He returned seconds later and completed one more pass, but a 46-yard field goal attempt by Doug Brien was wide right with 50 seconds to go.

A week earlier, Miami’s Dan Marino also returned to the game after a painful tackle by the Colts. The next da-y, an MRI showed knee damage that required surgery, and Marino is expected to be out at least a couple more weeks.

Young first hurt his shoulder when the Colts’ Ray Buchanan grabbed his arm as he attempted a pass in the second quarter. He did not want to come out of the game at that time, he said.

“I felt like I could play and felt like I should play until that last hit,” Young said. “I wasn’t hampered enough not to do the job.

Parcells bone dry

New England coach Bill Parcells suffered from dehydration after the Patriots’ loss to the Kansas City Chiefs and was advised by a doctor to stay in seclusion after the game.

Parcells did not hold the customary postgame news conference after the game on the advice of Dr. Jim Dineen, an internist.

Patriots officials said it was not immediately known how serious the condition was.

Local watch

Former Washington State quarterback Drew Bledsoe was 25 for 47 for 237 yards while throwing his first two touchdown of the season for New England against Kansas City. Bledsoe also threw an interception in the Pats’ 31-26 defeat.

Former Idaho and Central Valley kicker Mike Hollis kicked field goals of 49 and 40 and converted three extra point attempts, but he also missed field goals of 47 and 54 in Jacksonville’s 30-27 loss against Chicago.

Monday night matchup

The Oakland Raiders march into Denver’s Mile High Stadium tonight to take on the Broncos. When these two teams get together you can throw the records out the window.

And Denver usually follows.

The 3-3 Broncos have the 5-1 Raiders just where they don’t want them.

“We’ve got to find a way to win this football game,” Denver coach Mike Shanahan said.

If they do, the cure for cancer and the secret behind the Bermuda Triangle can’t be far behind. The Broncos have lost six consecutive games against the Raiders, 11 of the last 12, and two in a row in Denver.

Also, the Broncos have lost seven straight on Monday night, while the Raiders are prime time’s darlings with an NFL-best 31-11-1 record.< , DataTimes