Vince Young Says He Almost Retired After Rookie Season

Posted May 23, 2008 11:01PM By Ryan Wilson (RSS feed)

I like Vince Young and not just because he loves hanging out at male-only topless bars. His National Championship Game performance against USC two years ago was legendary, and if he never throws another NFL touchdowns, he'll always have that.

Curiously, it almost happened -- the never throwing another NFL pass bit. After winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year award following the 2006 season, Young says he almost retired.

"I really thought long and hard about it," Young said on Thursday after practice. "There was so much going on with my family. It was crazy being an NFL quarterback. It wasn't fun anymore. All of the fun was out of it. All of the excitement was gone. All I was doing was worrying about things.

"My teammates helped lift me out of it. I prayed really hard. And I began to focus on God's calling for me. Play football. Be a role model."

I don't think it wouldn't gotten to the point where Young actually retired, although nobody thought Ricky Williams would up and move to India, so who knows. Young followed an 8-8 rookie season with a 10-win campaign last year. Despite two more wins, he struggled to throw the ball, which may or may not have had something to do with offensive coordinator Norm Chow getting axed earlier this spring.

In terms of being a role model, well, these are probably the first things that come to mind for most people. Young addressed the photos, which were apparently taken at a private party hosted by former Longhorns safety Michael Huff:

"First of all, it happened in early April, not last week, and there were a bunch of my former Texas teammates there and several other NFL guys," Young said. "It got kind of hot in there and several of us took our shirts off. Somebody snaps a picture. Here we go. It was young people, me included, having a good time, but I realize my mistake. It was not the model, the image I want to give to the kids. My teammates here have so much love and respect for me just as I have for them. They have barely said a word about it."

Thankfully, Young apologized to the children for drinking in public. But, you know, he's in his mid-20s. The dude should be able to drink in public -- chug even -- without having to ask for forgiveness. That said, a shirt wouldn't kill him, would it?

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

5-23-2008 @ 11:23PM

George B Vieto said...

I don't blame Vince for wanting to quit playing football after his former offensive coordinator got terminated. But Vince has to learn that the NFL is the top league in football and that he isn't playing Mickey Mouse colleges anymore.

5-24-2008 @ 8:11AM

Dave said...

The maturity of a 12 year old will prove his downfall in the NFL.

5-24-2008 @ 12:08PM

steve said...

Copy, Forward, Blog, get this message out!

The NFL is not listening and now it’s time to storm the gates. What can the average father do? He can instruct his children not to follow professional sports because of the obvious lack of integrity. Will this solve the underlying problem? Not quickly enough, that’s for sure. So organizing protests during games and boycotting advertisers products is ultimately more effective and timely. The NFL needs to take action now, before the season starts. It is not acceptable for the New England Patriots to retain the Super Bowl Trophies and the games simply must be awarded to there opponents in those games. Sadly, "cheating" and "sport" have become synonymous within the NFL. If the Patriots have any integrity, they'll fire Belichick. If the NFL has any integrity, it will ban Bill Belichick from the league for life.
Anything less renders sportsmanship meaningless.
Now we have a plan…

5-26-2008 @ 11:18AM

Big Sam said...

Tatoos, gold chains, baggy pants, big rims, crooked hats, gold teeth and illigitemate children do not make the man nor the successful NFL player. Unfortunately for Vince, he is learning this the hard way...

5-26-2008 @ 11:37PM

August West said...

Big Sam, another uncreative, bitter hater ...

oh yeah: scoreboard.

5-28-2008 @ 10:27AM

beef said...

Man, retards can say the craziest things sometimes. Can't blame a mutt for being a mutt, though.

5-28-2008 @ 10:29AM

Oh, and by "retard" I'm referring to Vince, or "Radio" as he's called around my way.

5-29-2008 @ 9:41AM

@ beef: I'm assuming you're a Texans fan? I figured you guys call Vince 'the superhuman who stomps our worthless team into the ground so badly on the regular that he gets STANDING OVATIONS IN HOUSTON AFTER BEATING THE TEXANS' or something catchy like that.

5-30-2008 @ 3:37PM

No, we don't call him that. We do, however, applaud your defense, kicker, special teams, and kicker (oh, can't forget that damn Bironas) for their role in winning those games. All VY did was hold those people back. They won those games (and many others) despite him. Congrats to them.

6-02-2008 @ 11:32AM

So that was Bironas who torched your weak-ass D for a game winning jog in overtime?

DIdn't think so.

6-02-2008 @ 5:03PM

Does beating a weak ass D in overtime make him more or less of a retard?
Keep sticking up for him, buddy. I'm sure the future is nothing but bright, which is something your QB will never be called. Good luck with that.

6-02-2008 @ 5:52PM

If it was a spelling contest I'd see your point, but it ain't, so I don't. And yes, I do have fun shutting up you Texas boys when I have a few moments to kill.

/tips hat.

6-03-2008 @ 1:51PM

Actually, to a point, it was.
You see, I called him a moron, and you were trying to argue that point with me?
If there were only some way to go back and see what my original case was....
Hmph.