VIEWPOINT

Bob Oates called the 49ers’ Steve Young “the most accurate left-handed passer since Ken Stabler.” That was no compliment. Stabler had by far the worst touchdown-to-interception ratio of the top 20 passers listed in the 1983 “Football Digest.” He threw more interceptions than touchdowns. Joe Montana, by contrast, has a ratio of two touchdowns for every interception, the all-time best. Steve Young’s ratio must be close.

I recall Bob Oates called former Ram Ron Jaworski a very erratic passer in his column near the end of the 1980 season, when Ron was the NFL’s leading passer and took the Eagles to the Super Bowl. Why not call Oates’ column “Used Oates”? Then the readers would know what to expect.

TED PREBYS

Fountain Valley