Titans' struggles begs question of Young's status
Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher was forced to call upon Kerry Collins(notes) early last season and decided shortly after to stick with the veteran all season. By default, he may have no choice but to sit Collins in favor of Vince Young(notes) – the team's opening-day starter last year and the NFL offensive rookie of the year in 2006.
Collins was 29-of-48 passing for 284 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions as the Titans dropped to 0-4 with a 37-17 loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. The Titans, who started 10-0 last season before finishing 13-3 to earn the AFC's top seed, have scored more than 17 points just once this season (31 during a Week 2 loss against the Houston Texans). Even still, Fisher is not ready to make a move.
Young has been relegated to spectator status.
(Jason Miller/US Presswire)
Collins gives the Titans the "best chance to win," Fisher said following Sunday's game.
Young has only attempted 14 passes since being replaced during Week 1 last year, including none this year. However, he was the franchise's first-round pick in the 2006 NFL draft and it's believed owner Bud Adams will eventually nudge Fisher to play Young.
"We all know how [Adams] feels about Vince," an unnamed Titans player said after Sunday's game.
Another team source believes the $26.1 million that Young was guaranteed by the Titans when he was the No. 3 overall pick would have an influence on Adams.
"He's not called Bottom Line Bud for no reason," the source said.
Adams, who still lives in Houston even after moving the Titans from there to Tennessee, played a strong role in the decision to draft Young, who is also from Houston and starred at the University of Texas.
One potential road block in Young's return to the starting lineup is that he might have left a bad impression on Fisher and numerous teammates last season. He refused to go back in the season opener at home against Jacksonville after being booed by Titans fans following two interceptions and overthrowing several open receivers. Several players said Young lost a lot of respect for not being mentally tougher. The day after that game, police were called to check on Young when some of his friends feared he was going to harm himself. Young maintained that the incident was overblown.
Early in training camp this year, Young raised eyebrows when he declared in an interview that he would one day be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and would be the next black quarterback to win a Super Bowl.
