Fisher: I believe Young can win in this league
Posted by Anthony Stalter (05/11/2011 @ 10:30 am)
Tennessee Titans head coach Jeff Fisher gives instructions from the sidelines during the second half of the Kansas City Chiefs’ win in their NFL football game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri December 26, 2010. REUTERS/Dave Kaup (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL)
Despite their rocky relationship, former Titans head coach Jeff Fisher still believes Vince Young can still win in the NFL if he gets into the right situation.
From NFL.com:
“Vince has won a lot of games; he’s led teams to the playoffs before,” Fisher said. ”I believe he can (win in the NFL). It’s just a matter of him finding a place that suits him and be in the right place and work hard. But he certainly has that ability.”
There’s a chance that Fisher is just taking the high road in order to shine good light on himself. After all, trashing Young now only makes him look bitter for the way things ended in Tennessee.
Still though, he didn’t have to say what he did. He could have avoided saying anything positive at all – in fact, he could have said something negative and made it even harder for Young to find opportunities to play elsewhere. He may be saying something completely different about Young behind closed doors, but it’s big of him to say positive things to the media about a quarterback that he’s had a tumultuous relationship with in the past.
One other note on Young: two sources tell the Washington Examiner’s John Keim that they would be shocked if Young wound up playing for the Redskins next year. There had been talk that the Skins were the frontrunners for V.Y.’s services, but coach Mike Shanahan has a strong friendship with Fisher and former Titans’ coordinator Mike Heimerdinger, leading some to believe that neither of them will give a ringing endorsement for their former QB. (Despite what Fisher said above.)
Redskins the front-runners for Vince Young?
Posted by Anthony Stalter (05/06/2011 @ 1:30 pm)
Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young (10) passes against the San Diego Chargers during their NFL football game in San Diego, California October 31, 2010. REUTERS/Mike Blake (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL)
The South Florida South-Sentinel hears that Washington is the front-runners for Vince Young’s services this offseason and Redskins beat writer Rich Tandler has also heard the same thing.
I’ve concluded Vince Young would be a good option IF the price is right (FREE….once Tennessee cuts him). But that’s ONLY if he’s mentally right, and motivated. Young’s the quarterback that presents the greatest risk, but if you factor in his QB efficiency when healthy last year, and win-loss record, he’s also the young quarterback who presents the most reward.
Two years ago I banged the drum for the Dolphins to sign Michael Vick and got stoned, so go ahead and throw them….But before you do look up Young’s career stats and win-loss record. I’m hearing the Redskins are the front-runner for his services, so it’ll be interesting to see if the Dolphins get in the game.
Young supporters can (and probably will) throw his win-loss record at me all they want – I still wouldn’t touch him if it cost me draft picks and $8.5 million next year in order to acquire him from Tennessee. (Not to mention a $4.25 million roster bonus that he’s due this offseason as soon as the lockout lifts.) Sorry, but he’s just not worth it – especially when you consider that Tennessee is going to part with him at some point no matter what.
It would be a different story if/when he’s released. That’s when you take a flier on a guy with Young’s talent. Obviously he has the skill to play in the league or else he wouldn’t have had the success that he’s found to this point. But it’s clear to anyone who isn’t sucking down glasses of Vince Young Kool-Aid that this guy has some major maturity issues.
Granted, if you don’t trade for him, you take the risk that he signs with someone else. But in my eyes, he’s just not worth the compensation that a team would have to part with in order to acquire him via trade. Most of the quarterback-needy teams addressed the position in last week’s draft, save for the Skins, Seahawks, Cardinals and Dolphins. Considering Donovan McNabb and Kevin Kolb could/should also become available once the lockout lifts, I like my chances of acquiring Young if I’m Washington. Therefore, I’m waiting until he’s released before I make my move.
Vince Young isn’t drawing much interest around the league
Posted by Anthony Stalter (03/19/2011 @ 12:00 pm)
Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young passes against the New York Giants during the first quarter of their NFL football game in East Rutherford, New Jersey September 26, 2010. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL)
Matt Bowen of the National Football Post writes that quarterback-needy teams aren’t discussing Vince Young as a potential option for next season.
From the scouts and coaches I talk to in the NFL, he isn’t looked at an as option, an upgrade in the current landscape of the QB position in the league. There are questions that surround his game, starting with leadership skills. Can you see him as the leader of your locker room, your huddle? How will he handle adversity on—and off—the field? Can he take hard coaching? Realistic questions after the situations we saw down in Tennessee.
Plus, there are general concerns about his game on the field. Some in the league see a QB that has taken steps backwards in terms of the position. Footwork, mechanics, etc. Areas that haven’t improved. And anytime you hear the words “worth ethic” with an NFL QB in a negative manner, you start to wonder who is going to take a chance on this guy.
Considering the CBA mess, it’s not surprising that we’re not hearing more Young rumors. Then again, none of what Bowen wrote is surprising. Teams have to be scared about bringing this guy in, especially as a starter. He clearly has maturity issues and whether or not you believe Jeff Fisher was mostly at fault for Young’s downfall in Tennessee, you have to admit that VY didn’t help matters with his poor attitude.
That said, I wonder if someone like the Bills would be interested in bringing Young in to compete with Ryan Fitzpatrick. I’d personally rather have Fitzpatrick under center than Young, but Chan Gailey has a track record of working with mobile quarterbacks and maybe Young can reinvent himself in a low-key city like Buffalo.
Young will raise red flags for potential suitors
Posted by Anthony Stalter (01/28/2011 @ 4:45 pm)
Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young (10) signs autographs for fans after a 24-10 victory over the Arizona Cardinals of an NFL pre-season game at LP Field in Nashville, Tennessee on August 23, 2010. (UPI Photo/Frederick Breedon IV)
As it stands right now, not even the Dos Equis guy could convince Mike Reinfeldt to keep Vince Young. The Titans’ GM confirmed on Friday that he plans to trade or release the 27-year-old quarterback this offseason, which signals the inevitable end of Young’s tenure in Tennessee.
According to Rotoworld (via Terry McCormick of TitanInsider), two undisclosed teams have joined Minnesota as potential destinations for Young. The Redskins, Bills, Dolphins, Cardinals, 49ers, Raiders, Panthers and Jaguars could all be interested in a quarterback this offseason, but at this point who knows where Young will wind up?
What we do know is that the Titans will have a tough time trading him. Teams know that Tennessee wants to release him, so why not wait until then to acquire him? The Titans are hoping that some team will put a trade package together (even if it’s a couple of PEZ dispensers and a pack of double-A batteries), but that’s highly doubtful considering he’s owed $8.5 million in base salary next season.
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Potential Landing Spots for Vince Young
Posted by Anthony Stalter (01/06/2011 @ 12:00 pm)
Tennessee Titans Quarterback Vince Young (10) looks on as his Tennessee Titans fall to the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium, in Miami Florida.November 14, 2010. The Miami Dolphins beat the Tennessee Titans 29-19. . UPI/Susan Knowles…
Vince Young will not be a member of the Tennessee Titans next season, as owner Bud Adams has “chosen” Jeff Fisher over his once-beloved quarterback.
The Titans can’t cut Young until February 7 when waivers start for next season and they can’t trade him until early March (when the new season officially begins). But that doesn’t mean we can’t speculate about his future.
So let’s speculate the crap out of this thing. Below are some potential landing spots for VY.
Miami: For some reason, I see Young as being a Miami guy. That doesn’t make a bit of sense seeing as how he’s from Texas. But I keep getting the image of him on South Beach, sipping one of those colorful drinks with the umbrella hanging out. (Wow, I think the long football season is starting to get to me.) Chad Henne is a dead man walking in Miami, as former (Ricky Williams) and current (Brandon Marshall) teammates continue to throw him under the bus for the Dolphins’ failures this season. With Tony Sparano likely heading out the door with him, Miami’s next head coach will look to add a quarterback in the offseason. Seeing as how we don’t know who the next coach for the Dolphins will be, we don’t know if Young would be a fit. But this marriage makes sense based on need.
Arizona: I’m sure Ken Whisenhunt will want to see more out of John Skelton next summer in order to better evaluate his potential. But if he hasn’t seen enough of Derek Anderson to know the guy can’t play, then Whisenhunt isn’t long for the NFL. I don’t see Young being a fit for Whisenhunt’s offense, but the Cards are desperate and still scrambling to fill Kurt Warner’s shoes.
Buffalo: Ryan Fitzpatrick is more than serviceable but the Bills could bring in Young to provide competition. Any kind of talent that Buffalo can add to the roster would be a good thing.
Oakland: When there’s a high-profile free agent about to become available, I think it’s almost automatic that you have to list the Raiders as a potential suitor. You know Al Davis just put Texas’ Rose Bowl win over USC into his VCR (what, you think the Crypt Keeper has a Blu-ray player?) and is drooling over Young right now. Jason Campbell who? I need Vince, baby!
San Francisco: Same as Miami: We don’t know who the head coach will be so we don’t know if Young would be a fit. But there’s no doubt the Niners have a need at quarterback.
Houston: Young is from Houston and the Texans could use a backup for Matt Schaub, but I’m sure VY wants a crack at being a starter. Still, it makes sense.
Dallas: Same thing as above with Houston, although Young definitely isn’t a fit for Jason Garrett’s offense.
Maybe Titans’ owner Adams should part with both Fisher and Young
Posted by Anthony Stalter (01/04/2011 @ 11:37 am)
Tennessee Titans head coach Jeff Fisher watches his team take on the Houston Texans in the second half at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas on November 28, 2010. The Texans defeated the Titans 20-0. UPI/Aaron M. Sprecher
The overwhelming consensus among fans and the media is that Titans owner Bud Adams will choose between head coach Jeff Fisher or quarterback Vince Young.
One will stay, one will go.
My question is: Why not let them both walk?
Young may have a winning record as a starter but that doesn’t mean he’s a winning quarterback. This latest incident in which he threw his shoulder pads into the stands after one of Tennessee’s games this year once again proves that he lacks maturity. While there’s no doubt the guy has talent, he refuses to put in the work necessary to become a great player. Michael Vick had the same issue in Atlanta before he was hauled off to prison for two years and realized he actually had to work for what he wanted. Meanwhile, JaMarcus Russell never honed his craft and now he’s out of the league.
If Adams sides with Young, it would be a foolish decision. Word has it that even his trusted executives have told him to move on from the former third overall pick. Maybe Young would change his ways if Fisher was let go, but does Adams really want a player that will only work hard if he likes his authority figures? What kind of message is that sending to the rest of the team?
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Tags: 2011 NFL Black Monday, 2011 NFL Wildcard Round, Anthony Stalter, Bud Adams, Fire Jeff Fisher, Headlines, Jeff Fisher, Jeff Fisher rumors, Vince Young, Vince Young Jeff Fisher, Vince Young rumors
Vince Young unlikely to be suspended
Posted by Anthony Stalter (06/28/2010 @ 2:30 pm)
While speaking at the NFL’s Rookie Symposium over the weekend, commissioner Roger Goodell said that Titans’ quarterback Vince Young is unlikely to be suspended following an incident in which he punched a man in a strip club earlier this month.
From FOX Sports.com:
Goodell acknowledged that a first-time legal offender like Young is unlikely to face an NFL suspension. Young, though, is guilty of embarrassing the NFL with a physical confrontation that was caught on the strip club’s security camera.
When announcing a six-game suspension for Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in April, Goodell said one of the reasons for the punishment stemmed from behavior that “undermines or puts at risk the integrity and reputation of the NFL, NFL clubs or players.”
Asked whether Young did the same and if that would factor into his final decision, Goodell said, “I think you have to look at these cases individually and understand them in a way of what are the issues going on with any individual. The intent of the (personal conduct) policy is to intervene so you help some individuals make a better decision and avoid these troubles. So when I sit down and look at all the facts around Vince or any other player, you want to make sure they understand that and what the policy was designed to do and more importantly understand the responsibility (of being an NFL player).”
Some think that Goodell is too harsh on players and maybe he is. But the thing he does well is look at each situation separately when it comes to making a decision about whether or not to punish a player. If he needs to compare two separate incidents in order to determine the appropriate punishment for a player he will, but he’s not going to suspend Young for six games just because he served Big Ben for that amount. Nor should he.
Young made a mistake, but this was also the first time he’s been in any sort of trouble. Goodell recognizes that and while he can’t be pleased that the incident occurred, I think it’s fair that Young goes without punishment.
Photo from fOTOGLIF
Whitlock: It’s way too early to suggest Young will be successful
Posted by Anthony Stalter (11/25/2009 @ 4:03 pm)
Jason Whitlock writes that the book is still out on Vince Young, even though the Titans have won four straight since his return to the starting lineup.
Young needed to be benched. He needed to be humiliated and humbled. It was the only way to get his attention.
Vince Young did one thing Monday night that I did not like. In his immediate postgame interview on the field with Suzy Kolber, Young did not credit his teammates for his and the Titans’ success. This was a small error. But it’s an indication of where his mind is.
Vince Young believes he was done wrong by his critics and perhaps Jeff Fisher. He’s wallowing in victimhood and looking for an I-told-you-so moment.
I hope I’m wrong. I hope Young understands the mistakes he made and what he has to do to build on the success he’s enjoying now. He’s never going to be a guy who puts up huge passing numbers. That’s fine. If he avoids turnovers and moves the chains two or three times a game with a scramble, he’s a winning quarterback. He threw for 116 yards and rushed for 73.
What I liked best about Young on Monday was his comfort in the pocket. He has accepted the challenge of being a pocket quarterback. His body language was good, too. A teammate dropped a beautiful downfield throw and Young did not react negatively. He stayed positive and moved to the next play. That’s leadership.
The intangibles — leadership, courage against the pass rush, timely scrambles and avoidance of turnovers — are what can make Young a long-term winner in Tennessee. If he can get and keep his mind in the right state, he’ll prove his critics wrong and make us all eat crow without having to say a word.
Oh, and he needs Chris Johnson to stay healthy and continue to carry the team.
Young is succeeding because the expectations were low when he re-entered the lineup. Heading into his second season after his rookie year, the expectations were extremely high and he crumbled. It’ll be interesting to see whether or not he’ll continue to perform well if the Titans win and the stakes get higher.
Some players perform better when they have a chip on their shoulder, although that kind of motivation is usually short lived. Eventually, Young will need to become a leader and a consistent performer if he’s going to succeed in the NFL. Time will tell if he has finally turned the corner.
Photo from fOTOGLIF
Titans to stick with Collins for now
Posted by Anthony Stalter (10/12/2009 @ 5:10 pm)
Titans head coach Jeff Fisher stated on Sunday night following Tennessee’s loss to the Colts that Kerry Collins will remain his starting quarterback for the time being.
From Rotoworld.com:
Collins was pulled for Vince Young late in the game, prompting cheers from the home crowd. “We were three and a half, four scores down,” Fisher said. “The game was a little out of hand, and when games get out of hand, either way, you play your backup.” Fisher may reconsider during the Week 7 bye. Downgrade Titans receivers for the rest of the season.
There’s nothing about this decision that I like. The Titans are 0-5 with little hope of turning around their season and yet Fisher refuses to make a change in efforts to light a fire under his lifeless team.
Young isn’t the answer, but Collins can’t move the chains right now and that was once again evident last night. He continues to struggle to with the intermediate to deep throws and while his decision-making hasn’t been good, his accuracy has been his because issue.
I understand if Fisher didn’t want to give up on the season, but Kerry Collins doesn’t seem like the horse you want to throw your life savings on when you need one big score. Young isn’t that player either, but if I’m the Titans I’d rather see what I have with him because I already know what I have in Collins.
Agent: Young hasn’t requested a trade from Titans
Posted by Anthony Stalter (06/03/2009 @ 9:29 am)

After telling WMAR-TV in Baltimore on Monday that he wanted a chance to play or be traded, the agent for Vince Young is now saying that his client wants to stay in Tennessee and has not requested a trade.
Young, who told Baltimore television station WMAR earlier this week that he is focused on winning back the starting job in Tennessee, but that if that doesn’t happen, that he would be ready to move on.
“Definitely I want to be in there playing ball and picking up where I left off, winning games and having a good time with my teammates and fans. But at the same time if them guys don’t want me in there, it’s time for me to make a career change for myself. The fact is I’m ready to play ball, and if they’re not ready for me to play ball, somebody is.”
Major Adams, who represents Young, said his client has not asked for a trade, nor does he have any desire to be moved away from the Titans.
“Vince’s desire has always been to compete for the starting quarterback job in Tennessee,” Adams said. “Even before they drafted him, they asked him if he thought he could compete for the starting role, and he said yes. He has always been a starter and that is his mindset.
“He has not asked to be traded, and in fact, is going to an event at Bud Adams’ ranch this weekend. Plus, he was in there working out [Monday. If he didn’t have a desire to stay there, he wouldn’t be doing any of that.”
This sounds like an agent trying to do damage control after his client opened his mouth a little too wide during an interview.
To be fair, Young never said that he wanted or asked to be traded. But he did hint that if the Titans don’t “want him to play” then he’d move on and find someone who will. Either way, he needs to worry more about competing with Kerry Collins and let the rest take care of itself.
He proved to be a little bit of a mental midget last season and now would be a great time for him to prove everybody that he can still be a starter by beating Collins out this summer. It would behoove him not to cry about the fact that he’s not a starter anymore and instead, go out and earn his job back.
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