by Jerry Feitelberg

In San Francisco U.S.Federal Court on Tuesday U.S.District Judge Charles Breyer issued a protective order for former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana in the Senator Leland Yee and Raymond Shrimp Boy Chow case. Montana was questioned by the FBI earlier regarding the Yee-Chow corruption sting.

Montana since retiring from football in 1994 has lived a primarly secluded life outside of football and does not grant interviews and shot just a handful of TV commericals. He has been heavily involved in real estate investments and what speicific questions the FBI asked Montana was not forthcoming according to press reports from the San Francisco Chronicle who broke the story.

Montana received the protection order because Breyer wanted to make sure that his reputation is in tact and that there is no misunderstanding that Montana did anything wrong in the Yee-Chow investigation, “it’s important for people who are innocently involved are not subjected to undue speculation” said Breyer.

One of the defendant’s attorneys James Brosnahan representing Keith Jackson a former fundraiser for Yee and San Francisco School Board of Education president who is currently out on bail, Brosnahan said he would not confirm or deny the meeting between the FBI and Montana, “I have nothing to say affirmantively or negatively about it”

Montana attorney Rob Mezzetti said that the FBI was not trying to reach Montana and that Mezzetti had no information about any conversations between the former 49er quarterback and the FBI, “if the FBI was trying to reach out to Joe I would know about it and nobody has tried reaching out to him.” said Mazzetti.

FBI spokesman Peter Lee said that he also could not confirm or deny any talks between Montana and the FBI, “I wouldn’t be able to confirm or deny that interaction.” As far as any association that Montana has had with Senator Yee or Shrimp Boy that has never been established. Yee is being charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to illegally deal fire arms and Chow is being charged for money laundering.

Montana is involved in a number of real estate ventures including building a $300 million transit village near the South Hayward BART Station and a $400 million project near Levis Stadium in Santa Clara which includes a hotel.

Montana quarterback for San Francisco from 1980 to 1992 before finishing his career with the Kansas City Chiefs from 92-1994.

Jerry Feitelberg is a talk show host for http://www.sportsradioservice.com