Titans quarterback Vince Young has lost his hold on the starting job, coach Jeff Fisher said following Tennessee's 19-16 overtime loss to the Washington Redskins on Sunday.
Fisher's comments followed an emotional day for Young in which the fifth-year signal-caller was booed, injured his thumb, threw his shoulder pads into the stands, stormed out of LP Field without talking to the media and reportedly verbally sparred with his coach following the game. “I'm not running out on my teammates, I'm running out on you.” -- Vince Young to Jeff Fisher, according to The Tennessean
Young, who tore the flexor tendon in his right thumb late in the third quarter and was replaced by rookie Rusty Smith, left for the locker room after being hurt but returned to the sideline and had the thumb taped and re-taped in an effort to return. He even tried a glove, but Fisher stuck with Smith.
After the game, Young walked toward the tunnel and suddenly tossed his shoulder pads and jersey into the stands.
When the team gathered in the locker room following the loss, Young began muttering and cursing under his breath as Fisher addressed the team, the Tennessean reported Sunday night.
After Fisher asked Young to be quiet, the paper said, the quarterback finished dressing and prepared to leave the room. Fisher told Young to stop and not to "run out on your teammates," sources told The Tennessean. Young told Fisher, "I'm not running out on my teammates, I'm running out on you," the paper said.
Young then left the locker room and ignored media members as Titans safety and former University of Texas teammate Michael Griffin chased after him. The Tennessean reported that Griffin was seen confronting Young in the players' parking lot.
Griffin reportedly pleaded with Young, "You can't leave, you can't do this," before Young shrugged and left.
Griffin denied chasing after Young, but multiple media outlets reported witnessing the incident. Griffin did say that he hoped people can set aside their egos and personal feelings so they could stick together as a team. Told that Young's injury could end his season, Griffin said he didn't know that.
"Whatever happens, that's between them two," Griffin said of Fisher and Young. "I'm just trying to be a loyal teammate and a supporter."
VY is tremendously talented but he has got to grow up. Egging on the fans as they boo will not make things better. Throwing your shoulder pads into the seats as you walk off will not make things better. Take your lumps and grow from them. It reminds me of Tim Couch (who wasn't nearly as talented as VY) and when the fans booed him. In the locker room after the game, he started crying in interviews saying the fans were being mean. That does not make things better.
VY is a captain and the way he acts does not exemplify what it means to be a captain. Jeff Fisher is one of the longest tenured and most respected coaches in the league and VY should pay attention to that and just follow Fisher. I'm sure Fisher wants nothing more than for VY to fulfill his talent. The guy just needs to grow up.
Monday 22 November 2010
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
0 comments:
Post a Comment