Does Peter King Think Bud Adams Is The Only Reason Vince Young Is Still A Titan?

by August West on Jan 13, 2009 12:17 PM CST Comment 35 comments

With a lead in like this from Peter King's MMQ column, there's no way you're getting a glowing review:

Vince Young gives off about the worst body language of any backup quarterback I've ever seen...

Then comes a list of times VY wasn't hanging around Kerry Collins or Chris Simms during Saturday's warm-up. These kinds of pieces have been par for the course all year so it's not like PK's breaking any new ground, but tucked into the last few paragraphs are some interesting - though some will say misguided - thoughts about VY's future with the Titans:

Salary cap-wise, the Titans are under no immediate pressure to move Young. The third-year quarterback's 2009 cap number is a very palatable $4.6 million, but it jumps to $14.2 million in 2010. And if they either cut him or trade him in 2009, he would count as $7.74 million on their cap in 2009 because of the pro-rated signing bonuses and guarantees that would come due immediately. The Titans haven't reached the point of no return with Young the way they did with Pacman Jones a year ago; it's not even close. But they might figure that a $7.74-million cap hit would be a small price to pay to be rid of the Young distraction if they can re-sign Collins.

One big factor in Young's future: Owner Bud Adams, a Texan through and through, loved the pick of Young in the 2006 draft. I doubt he'd be happy with giving up on Young after three star-crossed years. Would he draw a line in the sand and say to Jeff Fisher and GM Mike Reinfeldt, "You can't trade or release Young?'' He might.

So is PK just babbling off of the top of his head, or did he hear enough chatter in the Titans locker room this weekend to think that Bud Adams is the only real ally Vince Young has in the organization?

Either way we can add this account to a long list of national writers, bloggers and comment thread mouth-breathers who are salivating at the prospect of VY failing to revive his career next year.

With VY finally having a full year under a professional coordinator, and (we assume) full involvement in the off-season program, it's definitely looking like 2009 will be the make-or-break year for Vince Young and the Titans.

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I'm not salivating at the chance VY is cut or traded

it’s the idea of Young starting for the Titans again that makes my pants tight. I know some of you here have the same thing, but for the opposite reason. I’m convinced he’ll fail.

Shonn Greene for Heisman
Doak Walker award winner
144 yards per game
6.2 yards per carry
08 TDs per game > 06 GPA

by shake n bake on Jan 13, 2009 12:47 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

UP IN THE AIR.......

According to the Tennessean, Kerry wants to START or else. In my most honest opinion, I think we SHOULD START Kerry next year and DUMP Vince. Yes Vince showed alot of promise and is definitely a great QB but, should look elsewhere for another job. Bud Adams is all about VY which is good but not good enough for me. I really don’t care for Vince’s attitude and what he has do while sitting on the bench the entire season. START KERRY AND GET RID OF VINCE. IT’S THE ONLY WAY NOW……..

Titans ARE the truth!!

by Jerry Garcia plays for the Titans : ) on Jan 13, 2009 12:55 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

i agree with you 110%

of course vince doesn’t have any allies on this team – he quit in week 1! Kerry played well enough for us to win the superbowl this year – the loss can’t be blamed on him. Vince is great athlete, but not a competent nfl quarterback. kerry can stick around for another season or two and break in whoever we draft this year….

by vancouverTITAN on Jan 13, 2009 1:23 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I disagree

You don’t get rid of Vince this year because it’s cheaper to keep him, so you might as well give him another year to get his stuff together.

Another interesting wrinkle in all of this is the supposed uncapped year in 2010 if an new labor agreement is not reached.

by theologic on Jan 13, 2009 1:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with you

While I think Collins should go into the season as the starter is resigned… I think its too early to cut a guy that may well be a good QB at some point. Its not like Kerry is 27.

Jerry Garcia: How can you say Vince is definitely a great QB? What has he done to prove that?

by Big Bad Bulluck on Jan 13, 2009 2:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm with Theo here

It makes no sense to cut Vince next year even if you have no intentions of starting him.

Kerry isn’t the answer. As I said elsewhere, he’s just a band aid at the position. Vince’s problem last year was turnovers. That is something that is easily corrected. I’m still not sold on the idea that Vince can’t be a better pure passer than Kerry. I need to see more.

Now, the truth of the matter may be that all of the above is irrelevant. More and more, I’m starting to think that maybe Fish just doesn’t like the guy. Because, to me at least, it doesn’t make sense to say Vince is going to be the starter at some point out of one side of your mouth, and to say you want Kerry back as the starter out of the other. If the coaches/FO/team has faith in Vince, he needs to be starting by his fourth year. Period. If Vince doesn’t start next year, this franchise has written him off and I wouldn’t expect him to ever return as the starter in two toned blue.

by SuperHorn on Jan 13, 2009 2:54 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It may be true that Fisher doesn't like Vince

If that is the case, what does that say about Vince? I doubt Fisher doesn’t like him because they don’t listen to the same type of music. Obviously I am purely speculating here, but if Fisher doesn’t like Vince, it is probably because of the way he has carried himself the last couple of years.

Titans Blogger at Music City Miracles even though gramsey hates it.

by Jimmy on Jan 13, 2009 3:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Agree

Completely.

Some may remember that during the offseason two years ago I brought up a story that a friend of a friend played golf with Fisher and he complained that Vince was a real problem for him in the locker room, being on time, etc. Most wrote it off as far fetched, or blown out proportion, but in hindsight it makes sense.

Vince is used to being in the spotlight and being the golden boy. He starts to struggle and faces adversity that is not the norm for him and a new attitude shows up in the locker room. Fisher is upset, but his hands are tied because of Vince’s success. Then, Vince gets injured and he has an excuse to bench him.

Again, if Kerry’s brought back, I think Vince is done here.

by SuperHorn on Jan 13, 2009 3:12 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

While I don't want

to see him go… If Fisher thinks thats whats best for the team and it will help us win games I can’t be against it.

by Big Bad Bulluck on Jan 13, 2009 3:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm with you

Fisher is going to do what’s right for the team.

I don’t have all the facts to make any kind of informed opinion. All I can go by is performance on the field, but I’m sure a lot more goes on those 6 other days of the week.

I hope Vince and Fish are on good terms and VY has a future here. But, if Vince and the Titans have to part ways, I have confidence that it’s for the right reasons…

by SuperHorn on Jan 13, 2009 3:50 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Something else to add here

That PK hinted to. There may be a rift between Fish and VY, but there is still a chance Vince gets the nod because he’s Bud’s guy.

Performance aside, Vince puts butts in the seats and gives the Titans a ton of media exposure they wouldn’t have otherwise. On top of that, Bud has a lot invested in Vince already. If he doesn’t start his fourth year, would they really roll the dice and start him his fifth considering how huge the contract is the last two years?

by SuperHorn on Jan 13, 2009 4:15 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

the 'butts in the seats argument' doesn't hold much water

when you’re talking about a frachise that’s sold out every game ever played at LP Field… even the ones Billy Volek and Neil O’Donell started.

He does sell the merch though, no doubt.

Where I was raised 2 + 2 = 3rd and 6.

by August West on Jan 14, 2009 9:57 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

But can you count merchandise when all the TJ Maxxs and Marshalls in Nashville have #10 jerseys for 9.99?

Where were you when Alge fumbled? I was in 339, hatin' Music City Miracles!

by gramsey712 on Jan 14, 2009 10:03 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I guess I should have said

Butts on the couch. Check out www.the506.com for NFL coverage maps. In particular, compare 2005 and 2006 coverage in Texas.

by SuperHorn on Jan 14, 2009 11:23 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I live in Phoenix. It’s the same type of thing with Leinart. These guys get paid all this money before they step out on the field and think that because they were stars in college and drafted so high, that all they have to do is show up and the starting job is theirs. These rookie QB’s suffer, and their teams and fans suffer because of the way things are these days. Years ago, most guys had to siit and watch and learn and study before they get on the field.

Now, they start almost immediately, they’re usually not ready and more than anything else, they don’t work their asses off because they think their new teams are lucky to have them.

Bad attitudes, lazy work ethic and a rush to play before they’re really ready combine for talented guys whose talent is almost being wasted.

by GeoMak on Jan 13, 2009 11:57 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Hey, August is an official "Author!"

Stompin' your Terrible Towel and still hatin' Music City Miracles!

by gramsey712 on Jan 13, 2009 1:05 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

That's right

I finally figured out how to add him to the main page.

Man, nothing gets past you.

Titans Blogger at Music City Miracles even though gramsey hates it.

by Jimmy on Jan 13, 2009 1:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm verklempt...

Where I was raised 2 + 2 = 3rd and 6.

by August West on Jan 13, 2009 1:09 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I have to do a thorough job of hatin'. It is definitely a full-time job.

Stompin' your Terrible Towel and still hatin' Music City Miracles!

by gramsey712 on Jan 13, 2009 1:15 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

ha!`

thanks for pointing that out… I hadn’t noticed!

Where I was raised 2 + 2 = 3rd and 6.

by August West on Jan 13, 2009 1:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

1 vote for babbling off the top of his head

“But they might figure that a $7.74-million cap hit would be a small price to pay to be rid of the Young distraction if they can re-sign Collins.”

$7.74 million out of a $115 million salary cap a small price to pay??? It’s almost 7% of your salary cap!! Ridiculous, he should know better. Why do so many people around the league talk to this retard?

by joshuaboone on Jan 13, 2009 5:43 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

lol. good point!

it’s a small price when it ain’t your money

Where I was raised 2 + 2 = 3rd and 6.

by August West on Jan 14, 2009 9:58 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The 49ers carried Joe Montana and Steve Young on the same roster

Collins can play 2 or 3 years and in the mean time VY could learn a lot and will be just coming into his prime. Sounds like an ideal situation to me.

by Titanfan on Jan 13, 2009 5:59 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Excellent point

Mainly because I think the way Steve played has some serious similarities to Vince’s game.

The tough thing with Vince is the huge number on his contract in two years. They aren’t going to keep him on the team at that salary unless he starts next year and excels.

by SuperHorn on Jan 13, 2009 6:27 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You can

Only learn IF you are willing to learn. So far as demonstrated by VY attitude and reported actions he is not willing to put in the effort and commitment to do so.

by Oden1 on Jan 13, 2009 10:20 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

that was before the salary cap though...

Where I was raised 2 + 2 = 3rd and 6.

by August West on Jan 14, 2009 9:59 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

hell

word around beantown is that cassel is getting the franchise tag. that will give them 2 of the top5 qb contracts in the league next year if they go through with it

The Official Enforcer of MCM

by hal41605 on Jan 14, 2009 11:48 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

They kind of have to.

Word up here is that Brady’s knee won’t be ready for Training Camp.

DannoE

"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."

by DannoE on Jan 14, 2009 3:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I kinda think

Bud Adams is the main and maybe only reason VY became a Titan, but I don’t think he’s the only reason he’s still a Titan. Once you’ve invested in the guy by drafting him high and paying him the bucks, there are more reasons not to give up on the investment too soon than just “he’s the big bosses dude, we can’t touch him”.

Now, when they can release him without any cap hit at all, then I suspect if everybody else is yelling at Bud that they don’t think he’s going to be the guy at that point, Bud will give (if he’s still ticking, that is). I think Bud would like to win a superbowl before he kicks the bucket, and ultimately I think it’s Fisher he’s invested in to do that for him rather than any single player, even VY.

by numbertenox on Jan 13, 2009 8:17 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Pity thy

You play him because he is a game breaker. Chris Johnson and Vince Young in the same backfield. Are you kidding me? You come up short (again) and seem to blame VY for this. Fisher has gotten you one lousy AFC championship and countless disappoints later your still backing this guy. Better yet just release Vince or get a freakin wide reciever and at least attempt to incorporate a pass offense.

by ambit10ns on Jan 14, 2009 3:50 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Who blamed VY?

And we had a wide receiver go for 150 against the Ravens and still lost. It wasn’t the passing game.

Where were you when Alge fumbled? I was in 339, hatin' Music City Miracles!

by gramsey712 on Jan 14, 2009 4:06 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Nobody...

I haven’t seen anyone blame him.

Sounds like a non-Titan fan that just made an account to come bust our chops.

I really don’t feel that anyone that dislikes Fisher or doesn’t at least give him respect as a coach is either not smart or not a Titan fan… Maybe just a VY fan?

by Big Bad Bulluck on Jan 14, 2009 4:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs