Montana nears the end zone

American Football If it was Joe Montana's last pass, it could not have come at a more appropriate site, the Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, and in the same end zone where he experienced one of the many glorious moments of a glorious National Football Leaguecareer, the touch down pass to John Taylor that won the 1989 Super Bowl.

This one from the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback was intended for Willie Davis and was knocked down by Troy Vincent, of the Dolphins, with 21 seconds left in yesterday's 27-17 play-off loss to Miami and Dan Marino, whom he last played against (and beat) a decade ago in the Super Bowl.

Was it Montana's last pass? "I haven't thought about it. I didn't think I'd have to think about it," he said. "To ask me that now is like asking a fighter after he's lost a championship bout if he'll fight again."

For much of the game, the 38-year-old looked very much like a 28-year-old. His statistics certainly were vintage Montana - 26 out of 37 throws, 314 yards and two touchdowns. But he also threw a critical interception in that same West end zone and the Chiefs became a team with nowhere to go but home.

The question for Montana: would home continue to be Kansas City or would he relinquish the last year of his contract and return to the West Coast, where he still keeps his house?