Hurt knee, perceptions about his maturity dog Titans quarterback
By JIM WYATT • Staff Writer • September 9, 2008
Since selecting Vince Young with their first pick of the 2006 NFL Draft, the Titans have needed patience in dealing with the talented yet emotional quarterback. Just a few days into the 2008 season, that patience continues to be tested.
Young frustrated fans again Sunday with his shaky play and questionable sideline demeanor. Then he scared them when he went down with a knee injury late in the season-opening victory over the Jaguars.
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The Titans probably will have to wait to see Young on the field again, although exactly how long isn't certain. An MRI on his left knee had to be postponed until today, the team said Monday. Early indications were that Young suffered some damage to his medial collateral ligament, an injury that could sideline him two to four weeks.
Coach Jeff Fisher spoke as much Monday about Young's maturity issues as his injury.
The quarterback appeared reluctant to re-enter the game after throwing a second interception and being booed by the home crowd. He sat on the bench alone at one point and brushed off teammates and coaches attempting to console him. When he went back in, he suffered the knee injury a few plays later.
"He definitely needs to work through some things, there is no doubt about that,'' Fisher said. "This is not the first time he has been frustrated or he has shown frustration outwardly on the sideline. But he tends to bounce back. He is very competitive.
"He has a tremendous sense of pride and he doesn't like to make mistakes. … I don't necessarily want to see the other side of it, where you have this false chatter and false enthusiasm on the sideline either.''
X-rays on Young's knee showed no significant damage and Fisher said he didn't think the injury was serious: "If it was potentially season-ending, we would have known" Sunday night.
The Titans play the Bengals in Cincinnati this Sunday.
Fisher explains his anger
Young suffered a thigh injury last season and had some trouble bouncing back. He missed only one game, but one of his strengths — the ability to escape pass rushers and gain yards on the run — was limited the rest of the season.
He was healthy when he reported to training camp in July, but concerns about his progress as an NFL quarterback were raised again during a lackluster preseason.
Then came Sunday's performance against the Jaguars — an unimpressive 12-of-22 passing for 110 yards and two interceptions — and the incident in which it appeared Young didn't want to go back on the field.
Fisher reiterated that the issue was a result of miscommunication about whether Young, who complained of a tight hamstring, could keep playing. The coach said the reason he looked angry when gesturing to Young had nothing to do with a quarterback who didn't want to play.
"I had an offensive group on the field and the referee is getting ready to wind the play clock and I had a quarterback on the sideline,'' Fisher said. "If I appeared upset it's because I wanted to get the quarterback on the field so we could go. That is the long of it.
"I think we are making an awful lot out of the fact that there was some miscommunication on the sideline. I think the bigger issue right now is his knee.''
Veteran quarterback Kerry Collins will start against the Bengals if, as expected, Young is ruled out. The Titans haven't decided whether they will sign another quarterback or elevate Ingle Martin to back up Collins, Fisher said. Chris Simms, Tim Rattay and Daunte Culpepper are among the available free-agent quarterbacks.
Dealing with adversity
As the Titans awaited word on Young's status Monday afternoon, some of his teammates said he needed to do a better job of handling his emotions on the sideline.
"Things happen in a game — bad things and good things — and as soon as you forget about every one of them and get on to the next play the better off you are," veteran center Kevin Mawae said. "That is a process you have to learn to deal with as a young player.
"As a quarterback, you have to know things are going to happen, fans are going to boo you. But as long as the 10 other guys in the huddle believe in you, it's all that matters.''
Linebacker Keith Bulluck said he doesn't think the quarterback quit on his team. He buys Fisher's theory that Young was dealing with an injury, not a bruised ego.
"When I was a younger player I used to throw my helmet and all that stuff, but it is different as a defensive player," Bulluck said. "As a quarterback you almost feel like the weight of the world can be on your shoulders at times. … I am sure it is something he has to work through. He is an emotional player, good or bad. He'll work on that, I'm sure.''
Reach Jim Wyatt at 615-259-8015 or
jwyatt@tennessean.com.
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