Vince Young's Fit Against Redskins Shows He Can't Be Trusted in Tennessee

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- It was due to blow up for Donovan McNabb or Vince Young here on Sunday. One of these quarterbacks under fire and scrambling for cover was bound to experience a loss, a meltdown, another finger pointed their way in two separate seasons spiraling toward disarray.

Young proved to be that guy. He lost the game. He lost his job. He left the Titans little choice. And Titans coach Jeff Fisher correctly punctuated the situation.

Vince Young showed during and after this game that as much as he has grown in five NFL seasons, he remains too immature and too reactionary. Too undependable and too childish.

He injured his thumb on his right-throwing hand, a tendon tear so severe that Titans coach Jeff Fisher said "I could see it'' as Young exited the field late in the third quarter.

---

---

What Fisher can also see is that Young is no longer his starting quarterback, whether the injury sidelines him or not. The Titans lost the game 19-16 but Young lost "it'' well before that. He was reacting to the LP Field's crowd boos by waving to them in sarcastic fashion. He was heard by his teammates cussing while roaming the Titans sidelines during the overtime.

Fisher said that Young never came to him and told him that he was OK and wanted to go back in. Fisher said he was told that Young was upset.

Fisher said he was told that Young threw half of his jersey into the stands before exiting. And Young bolted from the locker room without discussing what happened.

"You know, there is going to be frustration in losses. There is going to be, you know, there are times when you have to dig deep and fight and turn to one another. I don't think you run and so I am disappointed.''
-- Jeff Fisher on Vince Young Fisher said he did speak with Young after the game. Fisher refused to divulge what was said. Obviously, it did not go well.

"I am very disappointed,'' Fisher said. "I think his teammates are disappointed. You know, there is going to be frustration in losses. There is going to be, you know, there are times when you have to dig deep and fight and turn to one another. I don't think you run and so I am disappointed.''

Translation: Fisher is livid. He should be.

Young will not be his starter now regardless of whether the injury requires surgery, Fisher said. Fisher is going with rookie Rusty Smith, just like he did late in this overtime loss. Backup Kerry Collins is still recovering from injury, so, it's Smith next Sunday at Houston.

It is another blown chance for Young, another in-the-moment dull decision by this 27-year-old quarterback who may have been despondent about the likelihood that his injury is so severe his season could be over. But he handled it like a bum.

The Titans fell to 5-5. They have lost three straight games. But they have so much ahead, with five of their final six games against AFC South divisional opponents. Tennessee is at Houston, home against Jacksonville, Indianapolis and Houston and then finish at Kansas City and at Indianapolis.

That is plenty of time and opportunity to make its season special.

But Young checked out.

And now the Titans will check out on him.

"Whoever the quarterback is going to be or however it turns out, I'm pretty sure I'll believe in Rusty,'' Titans running back Chris Johnson said in what was not a ringing endorsement but an honest one.


The Titans followed Young's hot head in this game. During Washington's overtime-winning drive, the Titans were penalized 15 yards for unnecessary roughness, 15 yards for roughing the passer and 5 yards for pass interference. Tennessee had several chances late in regulation to win and had the ball first in overtime. They drove to near midfield in overtime before stalling.

And McNabb and the Redskins took the ball and answered with the winning kick.

This for the Redskins, fresh from allowing 59 points in that loss to the Eagles on last Monday night. This, two games after McNabb was benched late in that game at Detroit.

The Titans had won 12 straight games against the NFC. They had beaten Dallas, Philadelphia and the Giants this season and were looking to sweep the NFC East.

McNabb (376 passing yards and a touchdown) found receiver Santana Moss early and tight end Chris Cooley late. The Redskins have been awful on third-down conversions this season but nailed 8 of 16 in this game.

"It was a short week of work for us and a time when you wanted to have a short memory,'' McNabb said. "We got ourselves into some good third down situations. Cooley and Santana, those guys were good security blankets. As a quarterback, you have to find one. It was a time to keep fighting for each other.''

Just what Vince Young did not do. Not just this season, but his entire future is up for grabs with the Titans.

It sure looks like Fisher has decided that Young is not a quarterback he can count on and wants to move on. Maybe for good.

No one can blame Fisher, though. Young is a costly, recurring reclamation project who keeps getting the ending wrong.

---

More from NFL.com: