And the Vince Young news gets weirder/sadder. This morning I pointed out that Titans head coach Jeff Fisher took issue with some of the reports surrounding Young's behavior following the Titans-Jaguars game, and he refuted many of the allegations through ESPN's Chris Mortensen.
Still, no one disputes that Young was depressed -- or, at the very least, very upset -- following his performance last Sunday, one that included two picks, an MCL strain and plenty of boos from the home crowd. Today, the NFL Network's Adam Schefter reports that this isn't the first time the Titans have had to deal with a dispirited, depressed and oversensitive Vince Young:
"There's a lot we don't know about Vince Young, but now there's more and more that we do know. We do know that in last season's wild-card loss to the Chargers, Young had a similar circumstance to the one he experienced during the opener.In-studio analyst Marshall Faulk makes a good point: Young has never had to face criticism in his high school and college career, and this is something entirely new for him. I can't argue with that, but there are 31 other starting NFL quarterbacks (okay, 30, I'm pretty sure J.T. O'Sullivan has been getting razzed most of his professional life) who've had to deal with the same adversity.
He went in at halftime and basically had to be persuaded to go back out onto the field to play again against San Diego in the second half of that game -- very similar to the opener when he wanted to take himself out of the game.
You go back to his rookie year, they were scheduled to play the Philadelphia Eagles, and he missed a flight to Philadelphia. At that time, he acted as if it was the Titans fault that they left him behind, rather than it being his fault that he was late for the flight. He had to be persuaded to come to Philadelphia. He wanted the Titans to go on without him.
I think we have seen that Vince Young is really very vulnerable to criticism; he doesn't take to it very well like other NFL players ... I think there are some people who still think he's going to quit, others who think he will bounce back from this. But there are big questions about Vince Young moving forward.
Who knows what the future holds for Young, but, first things first: here's to hoping he gets help, gets his life together, and then decide whether he really wants to play football.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-14-2008 @ 12:23PM
brother b said...
Marshall Faulk is a ----. The fact of the matter is that Vince Young faced extreme criticism both at the HS and College due to the fact that he was a black player playing the quintessential white players position which is QB. He was extremely successful at both of those levels but I fear that might have come at the expense of his mental health.
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9-14-2008 @ 3:33PM
sajid said...
way to play the race card. I guess he won the rookie of the year (totally undeserved, but beside the point) and got the cover of madden because of the honkie media and fans. They hate black quarterback so much that they decided to honor him. That makes perfect sense. Fact is that this guy has been told all his life that he was the greatest thing since sliced bread and now that he's facing some adversity, he is folding like a lawn chair. Race has nothing to do with this. I shudder to think what would happen to young if he got the eli treatment in new york. He would've hung himself by now. Get over yourself al sharpton
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9-14-2008 @ 6:11PM
KC stuck in NYC said...
Amen, Sajid...This has nothing to do with race/color. This is a MAN who can't handle criticism. I don't care if it were Tom Brady having this problem. The fact is, an NFL QB who is paid handsomely for his services, can't hack it when things are not going his way. Grow up. Life is a heck of a lot harder than football. What is he going to do, when and if, life takes a much more difficult turn for him? Suck it up and be a man, Vince.
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9-14-2008 @ 7:47PM
Dark Gable said...
Nothing to do with being black. I've been black my whole life. Vince has to man up and stop trippin! Period! No one pays you that much scratch withought also having great expectations! Period!
Want to talk about pressure? Can you say Arron Rogers?
Man up and stop trippin!
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9-15-2008 @ 12:41PM
rn4ever24 said...
I think you are right. Vince needs to grow some balls and grow up. While at Texas and in high school, he was put on a pedestal and almost worshipped and now he is getting put in his place. I think it is extremely selfish for him to act so helpless when there are people in the South without homes due to the hurricane at this time. He needs to get a new perspective on life. No not about race but about who can handle the pressure. I give all respect to Eli Manning who got over all the criticism and got himself a ring...Vince needs to do the same.
9-15-2008 @ 9:08AM
Bronco Nation said...
brother b, it's guys like you that keep race an issue. People like you need to dump their racist views and move on man. As for Vince, wow get a good shrink and get back in there.
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9-15-2008 @ 6:34PM
KTMJOE said...
Baby baby baby... Grow up he gets paid to do a job just like all of us... I am so sorry he is hurt, because I belive he (if ok) will be in a few years --- one, if not the BEST QB in the sport... He is super smart and talented. Just needs to grow up and do the best of his ability... Jeff Fisher will take care of him... Hey Vince don't let the uneducated stupid jerks that boo ys get to ya... you are great and you are smart, just grow up dude and JUST WIN BABY!!!!!
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9-15-2008 @ 3:13PM
Sydney said...
AMEN SIJID, Brother B doesnt know his ass from a spoon. And he def doesn't know what in the hell he's talking about. IT's alright people, he's not very bright as you can tell by his comments so you have to let dumb people's comments slide. (they dont know any better) Brother B happens to be one of those people. He's going on about something totally irrelavent to the situation at hand, and this is the FIRST time i heard about race. I guess Marshall Faulk hates blacks too!
lol brother B, its alright man, I know you dont know any better and your brain isnt capable of expanding so you can learn stuff.. Hopefully you cant have kids so we dont have to see your kind in the future. We are trying to get rid of racism, not stir the shit up... The fact is, racism is stupid, and only dumb people blame other races for their problems. and I dont care WHAT race you are, EVERYONE experiences prejudice. That's a part of life.
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9-15-2008 @ 3:13PM
William said...
Anyone who thinks this has to do with race and if you think "the white man is holding vince down" you are a straight up IDIOT, and no wonder you work at burger king. Vince Young is a grown man getting paid MILLIONS of dollars to do a job, and he is crying that the fans have expectations of him? The people who are paying hs damn salary?? if it wasnt for the fans, Vince wouldnt be making shit. This is the NFL, and if he feels he honestly can't stand the heat, then he needs to really GET OUT THE KITCHEN. It's as simple as that. Stop crying, you put up, or you Shut up.
And im sorry, but whoevre said Vince will be the best Qb in a few years is sadly mistaken.
Vince Young is a piss-poor passer. He will have around the same type of career as Vick. (hopefully he wont get locked up thought) He is the typical Run-n-Gun QB.. He is looking to make plays with his feet 1st, and throws 2nd. I dont think Young will ever get a ring, sorry Vince.
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9-18-2008 @ 12:10PM
E. J. Bermudez said...
"The fact of the matter is that Vince Young faced extreme criticism both at the HS and College due to the fact that he was a black player playing the quintessential white players position which is QB"
VY was worshipped at UT. I am a UT Alumn and I will tell you he was never subjected to criticism there to my recollection. At high school he was a QB at a mostly black Madison High School. I don't think race was ever an issue, nor would one expect to see a white QB in a mostly black high school. Who cares, it is not about race.
He excelled at his position in both college and high school and truely played like a man amongst boys. Now he needs to excell against men.
He is young enough that he has time to improve. He just needs to mature and play the game.
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