Young Cleared To Play

Steve Young, sidelined the past week by a concussion, received medical clearance to resume playing.

The San Francisco 49ers said in a statement that the 35-year-old Young, who has had three concussions in the last 10 months, got the go-ahead to play following a consultation with his neurologist, Dr. Joseph Lacy. A brain scan taken last Thursday showed no abnormalities.

There was no word whether Young would start Sunday’s home opener against the New Orleans Saints.

Coach Steve Mariucci was in the midst of installing the game plan and unavailable for comment.

However, Mariucci said Monday he would consider starting rookie Jim Druckenmiller for a second straight week on the theory additional time off for Young might reduce the possibility of another concussion.

Brunell eyes Steelers game

Mark Brunell walked in the room, his pace brisk, mood upbeat. Suddenly, Jacksonville’s quarterback saga took on new meaning.

The Jaguars aren’t complaining about such an early open date now. An extra week, they reason, should give Rob Johnson time to heal his sprained left ankle. And, who knows, maybe even No. 1 quarterback Brunell could be ready when they returned to the field.

Could Brunell, initially feared lost for the season when he tore knee ligaments Aug. 9, be back in time for a Monday night game in two weeks against the Pittsburgh Steelers?

“I am ahead of schedule, but not at a place where I can make a prediction,” Brunell said. “I’m going to take it one day at a time. Each day, I’m getting a little stronger and a little better.”

Patriots’ Slade up for Jets

The game would start and Chris Slade would be on the bench. The Patriots pass-rushing linebacker was hurt that Bill Parcells didn’t consider him an everydown player.

So hurt, in fact, that he probably would have left New England if Parcells hadn’t gone first.

Sunday night, Parcells returns to Foxboro as coach of the New York Jets, and Slade, a full-time player again under new coach Pete Carroll, can’t wait.

“If I lose focus in this game, I might as well retire,” Slade said. “This is a big game for me personally, but all of them are big. This one is a little special.”

Zimmerman ends retirement

The Denver Broncos ended offensive tackle Gary Zimmerman’s short retirement, adding him to the roster and saying he might be able to play half of this weekend’s game against St. Louis.

Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said he had maintained contact with the 35-year-old Zimmerman, who had said he would retire following last season, although he did leave some room for a comeback.

Shanahan said the Broncos won’t toss Zimmerman back into the fray without a little preparation.

“It’s going to take him a while to get back … into football shape,” Shanahan said.

Bennett pleads guilty

Atlanta Falcons linebacker Cornelius Bennett pleaded guilty to sexual misconduct and could face up to a year in jail.

Bennett, formerly with the Buffalo Bills, will be sentenced Oct. 28. City judge Robert Russell Jr. released Bennett on his own recognizance on the condition he stay away from the victim, a Buffalo woman in her 20s.

The charge stems from a meeting in the Hyatt Regency Buffalo May 18. The woman, whom Bennett has known for a long time, accompanied him to his hotel room at his invitation.