SAN FRANCISCO – The loudest cheer to come from the Candlestick Park stands on Sunday? That's easy. It was when Steve Young was introduced during a halftime ceremony to retire his No. 8 jersey.
Young also watched as his name and number were unveiled on the stadium's inner ring, the Hall of Fame quarterback joining 10 other such honorees, plus the late former coach Bill Walsh.
"It's the sounds, the smells, the grass, the memories," said the two-time NFL MVP, describing the emotions running through his body after the celebration. "It's like, Pavlovian. It's time to go play."
The 49ers could have used vintage Young on a day in which they fell to the New England Patriots 30-21, or any of his former teammates who joined him on the dais, guys like Jerry Rice, Brent Jones and Harris Barton.
"He's a guy that could destroy you with his left arm and then turn around and destroy you with his legs," said Jones, a former roommate of Young. "Not only that, he was a brilliant field general in the huddle."
Under Young, who succeeded Joe Montana, the 49ers won Super Bowl XXIX, a 49-26 blowout of the San Diego Chargers. Young retired following the 1999 season, thanks in part to concussions.
He is a broadcaster for ESPN now and has taken an interest in the 49ers' fortunes, particularly since the style of game his teams played has become a relic.
"There's a heritage here," Young said. "Whatever the West Coast offense is, it may have been conceived other places, but it was born here.
"To not see a slant pattern for a few weeks here, it's hard. But nobody's running the 1985 West Coast Offense anymore. Time moves on."
Banta-Cain returns – Linebacker Tully Banta-Cain, inactive for the first four games, made his season debut count against his former team. Playing more on defense than he expected, Banta-Cain finished with a half sack, a quarterback hurry, and he seemed to be around the ball whenever he was in the game.
Banta-Cain had said he needed to make the most of his opportunity to stay on the active roster in the weeks to come. Did he make his case?
"I think I've made the case in a lot of different ways," he said. "It's how you react. I haven't been playing for four weeks. It's how you react to that situation."
Banta-Cain was activated for the game when coach Mike Nolan decided to sit linebacker Roderick Green. Nolan said he wanted to use both Banta-Cain and defensive back Marcus Hudson, also inactive the first four weeks, because of Hudson's ability on special teams.
Et cetera – Safety Michael Lewis left the game late in the fourth quarter when he reinjured his right elbow. He originally hurt it against Detroit. The injury, however, is not believed to be serious.
• Isaac Bruce's two touchdown catches gave him 88 for his career, tying him with Don Maynard for ninth all-time in the NFL.
• Punter Andy Lee had an 82-yard punt in the second quarter, tying him with Tommy Davis for the second-longest punt in team history.
