Vince Young Gets Pro Bowl Nod

With the news that Philip Rivers is joining legions of other players in getting out of the Pro Bowl -- the NFL's attempted version of an All-Star game -- there needed to be a replacement quarterback named to the AFC squad, and that man will be Vince Young.

If you went back to the beginning of the season and were presented with a list of the Pro Bowlers, Young has to qualify as the most shocking entrant. Sure, he's been to a Pro Bowl before (in his rookie year, 2006), but he also watched nearly the entire season from the sidelines last year when his Titans went 13-3 and entered as the backup to Kerry Collins.

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Young got another crack at the starting gig when the Titans began the season with six straight losses. He finished the season starting Tennessee's final 10 games -- helping them win eight of those 10.

"I was very excited to find out that I'm getting a chance to go play in the Pro Bowl. Thanks to all my teammates, coaches and fans that have supported me. I can't wait to represent the Tennessee Titans and join C.J. in the game. Hopefully we'll get a few more players in there, too. I've been working out the last two weeks, so I'll be ready to go."

Young's passing numbers weren't spectacular by any stretch. He sported an 82.8 quarterback rating and averaged just 156.6 yards per game through the air. He threw 10 touchdown passes and seven interceptions.

Those numbers aren't what Young's game is about, though. He brought the offense together with his skills as a double-threat. His legs made him enough of a threat to open up the passing game, which, in turn, left enough running lanes for Chris Johnson to become the sixth 2,000-yard rusher in NFL history. Johnson rushed for 100 yards in 11 games this season. He did so just once until Young took over but did so in every single game Young started.

And, again, the Titans were 8-2 with Young at the helm and 0-6 without. It's pretty clear, no matter how you slice it, he was a valuable enough player to warrant his selection to the Pro Bowl.