The Tennessee Titans announced their decision Wednesday to part ways with quarterback Vince Young whom they drafted 3rd overall in 2006. The decision by owner Bud Adams to move on ends one of the most tumultuous tenures of a highly drafted player with his original franchise since Michael Vick.
Young started off his rookie year in 2006 as the backup to Kerry Collins but wound up starting from the third game on. Though his passing stats were unimpressive, VY led the Titans to a six-game winning streak late in the year, helping them finish a respectable 8-8. The next year was more of the same — embarrassing passing stats (17 interceptions and nine touchdowns) but a 10-6 record that got Tennessee to the playoffs where they lost 17-6 to the Chargers.
Young didn’t handle criticism well, specifically whining about Merrill Hoge’s words. Then came the report that Vince asked out of the playoff game because the pressure was too great for him, and all the negative attention led him to contemplate retirement. As if all that wasn’t bad enough, Young went AWOL in September of 2008, to the point people thought he was contemplating suicide. He ended up being fine, but he missed almost the entire season because of injuries. The Titans went 13-3 without him.
The 2009 season wasn’t as kind to Tennessee — they went 0-6 to start the season, a year after opening up 10-0. Bud Adams ordered a quarterback change from Collins to Young, and Vince responded by leading the Titans to six straight wins. The team went 8-2 with Young as a starter, and for the first time he showed maturity and progress as a passer.
The Titans started off this past season well, going 4-2 while Young looked strong as a quarterback. He was hurt in the Monday night game against the Jags, returned after missing a week, and never was the same. Then came the game against the Redskins where Young hurt his thumb and got into his spat with coach Jeff Fisher that pretty much ended his future in Tennessee.
When he wasn’t hurt, Young was effective however ugly his stats may have been. The problem is between his suicide/AWOL incident, asking out of a playoff game, discussing retirement, cursing at his coach and walking out of the locker room, Young created too many problems. He has talent, he can win, and he’s a better option than what many teams currently have at QB. With new teammates, a new coach, and a new city, Young may develop into a new player. If I were a GM in Buffalo, San Francisco, Cincinnati, Arizona, or Minnesota, I would take a stab at VY.
