Fisher: I believe Young can win in this league

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.)

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Redskins the front-runners for Vince Young?

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

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

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

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.

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