A MIDLIFE CRISIS IN MIAMI?

Byline: Mark Purdy San Jose Mercury News 

Steve DeBerg was trying hard not to have the last laugh the other morning. But like so many other middle-aged visitors to Florida, he was basking.

``I really can't believe I'm here,'' he kept saying.

DeBerg stood beneath the bright blue sky and gazed up at puffy clouds through his designer shades. DeBerg's well-worn suntan emphasized the wrinkle marks in his neck and the creases around his eyes.

``I wish everybody who was 45 years old could have the opportunity to do this,'' he said Tuesday on the floor of Pro Player Stadium. ``A normal person couldn't do what I'm doing. But I'm not normal.''

Thus spoke the oldest man ever to pull on a football uniform for a Super Bowl game. That's what DeBerg will become Sunday as the backup quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons. His 45th birthday was last week. This beats the previous old-timer's record by almost five years. George Blanda was a mere 40 when he suited up for the Raiders at Super Bowl II. In a temporal sense, DeBerg is going to lap him.

All in all, it's a big achievement for a fellow who, before this season, had been totally out of NFL action since 1993 - and was considered totally out of his mind when he announced a comeback last summer.

``I really don't act my age,'' DeBerg admitted. ``I never have. I probably never will.''

DeBerg hasn't been cheated, from his undergraduate days at San Jose State right on through Sunday's kickoff. True story: One year ago at this time, the only passes being thrown by DeBerg were in a coed flag-football league. It was sponsored by the gymnasium where he worked out in Tampa. As a recently divorced man, DeBerg thought it might help him meet some new female friends.

And did DeBerg throw any interceptions?

``Oh, yeah.''

DeBerg's journey back to the NFL began shortly after the final flag dropped. He had time on his hands because of the divorce, and he grew itchy. So he formulated a plan. DeBerg got himself back into shape, then sat down and wrote letters to various franchises, offering them his services as a combination assistant coach and backup quarterback.

Slight glitch, though. DeBerg forgot to put his letter in the envelope that went to Atlanta Coach Dan Reeves. But it did have a return address.

``So I called up Steve,'' said Reeves, ``and asked him what was supposed to be in the envelope.''

DeBerg told him. There was a protracted silence at the other end of the line. But then the Falcons coach began thinking. After DeBerg's first retirement as a player in 1994, he had served on Reeves' staff as an assistant coach with the New York Giants. And right at that minute, Reeves was looking for a veteran backup quarterback to replace Mark Rypien, who had left the team because of a family illness.

Days later, the deal was done. DeBerg signed for a $25,000 bonus and a $325,000 salary. Then he headed off to training camp, where he roomed with Chandler.

``I was sitting there thinking, `I'm 44 years old and I've got a curfew and a bed check,' '' DeBerg said. ``But I wouldn't have traded places with anyone.''

So he threw himself into it with a passion. At training camp, he frequently did extra work on the practice field in the dark after 10 p.m., practicing dropbacks, pushing himself into form. It was a far cry from the more carefree DeBerg people knew during his 17 previous seasons with the 49ers, Broncos, Chiefs, Buccaneers and Dolphins.

He never reached the Super Bowl with any of those teams, but he sure had fun not getting there. DeBerg was an infamous practical joker and free spirit. In Kansas City, he survived the waiver wire so often and kept coming back, his teammates began calling him ``Freddie Krueger.'' In fact, one day DeBerg attempted to wear a Freddie Krueger mask onto the field beneath his helmet until coach Marty Schottenheimer stopped him.

As a 49er from 1977 to 1980, DeBerg is mostly remembered as the quarterback who was replaced by Joe Montana - but four years after Montana's retirement, it is DeBerg who remains standing. This is DeBerg's first Super Bowl and he plans to enjoy every minute of the entire week.

``I ask myself: `What am I doing here?' '' said DeBerg. ``But it's in amazement, not that it's a stupid thing. It's been a hell of an adventure so far. This could be my last game Sunday, but that's not my intent.''

It isn't?

``No,'' said DeBerg. ``Next July, I plan to make a football team.''

And then he did indeed laugh. Last.