VY - In"vince"ible?

Following the Titans embarrassing overtime loss to the Washington Redskins, there was an apparent locker room exchange in which QB Vince Young disrespected Head Coach Jeff Fisher in front of the entire team. The Titans are reeling, sitting at 5-5 in the ultra-competitive AFC South. They essentially have the opportunity to control their own destiny, playing 5 of their remaining 6 games against AFC South opponents (including the Colts twice). However, they have major issues that need to be settled.

Vince inappropriately was making comments and laughing as Fisher was addressing the team at halftime of the Redskins game, and then proceeded to walk out. When told by Fisher to not walk out on his teammates, Young replied that he was walking out on Fisher, not his teammates. In the fallout since:

• VY has been placed on injured reserve with a thumb injury.
• Jeff Fisher has stated that even if Vince had not gone on IR, he would be benched for his conduct.
• Bud Adams (owner) has stated that VY and Fisher needed to "learn to get along".....neither condemning Vince's behavior nor supporting Fisher's decision.
• Vince sent a text message to Fisher attempting an apology.
• Fisher publicly questioned the genuity of the apology, claiming that he isn't big on texting, and that face-to-face is a "man thing".

Below is a breakdown of each side in this brewing feud:

Jeff Fisher

There is no coach in the NFL more respected than Jeff Fisher. In today's NFL, it is unusual for a coach to last longer than 5 years with a team. Fisher has been there so long, he actually coached the franchise for 2 1/2 years as the Houston Oilers before they moved to Tennessee. Overall, he has coached 17 seasons, compiling a record of 141-115.

Jeff Fisher has been coaching Bud Adams team since 1994 when they were the Houston Oilers. He has rebuilt the team numerous times, around players like Steve McNair (pictured).

The knock on Fisher is that the Titans never seem to be able to get it done in the playoffs. They were within a 1/2 yard of winning a Super Bowl in 1999 (Fisher's first winning season). In Fisher's 16 years prior to this season, the team made the playoffs only 6 times. His playoff record is 5-6, and his record includes 2 seasons in which the Titans entered the playoffs at 13-3 and lost at home in the divisional round (one and done).

Bud Adams, the Titans owner, has shown both loyalty to and patience with Fisher:

• It was not until Fisher's FIFTH full season that the Titans had their first winning record under him.
• The team has undergone three separate rebuilding phases under Fisher, without once winning a Super Bowl (1994-2000....2001-2003....2004-2008). The argument could be made that they are in the midst of their fourth.

Titans owner Bud Adams sends a message to Bills fans in 2009. Will he send a similar message to Jeff Fisher?


Perhaps Bud Adams is merely growing tired of waiting for Fisher to deliver a Super Bowl and is considering going in a different direction after the season.

Vince Young

Young's stock and popularity was at an all-time high coming out of Texas. He had led the Longhorns to a thrilling Rose Bowl victory over the USC Trojans in one of the greatest college football games ever played. He was rumored to be in the mix to be drafted #1 overall by his hometown Texans, before being taken third by the Titans.

In one of the greatest college football games ever played, Vince Young led the Longhorns to the 2006 Rose Bowl and the national championship. He was subsequently drafted #3 overall in the 2006 draft by the Titans.

He burst onto the NFL scene in his rookie season, taking over as the Titans starter and guiding the team to a win in 6 of their last 7 games. He was selected to the Pro Bowl as he threw for 2,200 yards and ran for 550.

The following season, he led the Titans to a 10-6 record and a berth in the AFC playoffs. Although unspectacular statistically (9 TD, 17INT), VY showed leadership ability and led the team to 3 straight wins to close the regular season and make the playoffs. His reward, a place on the cover of Madden 2008.



Vince graced the cover of Madden '08. Is the Madden curse alive and well?

 Since that time, Vince's career has taken a sharp nosedive. In 2008, he was replaced due to injury in the season's first game, and Kerry Collins stepped in and took over the team. Collins remained the starter after Young became healthy, and Young went through a series of off-the-field personal problems (suicide, weapon allegations, etc.). He watched as Collins led the Titans to a 13-3 record and a Pro Bowl selection. The Titans were now Kerry Collins' team.

Going into 2009, Collins was the unquestioned starter, but Fisher publicly asserted that he believed in Vince Young. Collins stumbled as the starter, as the Titans opened up with an 0-6 start. Fisher turned to Vince, and he led the team to an 8-2 record over the final 10 games. Vince had reclaimed the Titans as his team going into 2010. As described in the introduction, the 2010 season has been up and down for both the team and for Vince.

The Titans have a lot of money invested in Vince, and seem as though they would like to see the VY era through to its (some would say "bitter") end.

Pep's Vibe

It's impossible to defend Vince Young's conduct in the locker room. Anyone who has played on a team with a coach like Fisher understands how out of line VY was in his behavior. Fisher has been able to sustain an unusual balance as a head coach. He expects and demands the best from his players (and they do not see the field if it doesn't happen), and at the same time, he is a player's coach. His team loves him. The fans love him.

Some players just are not used to being told that they aren't doing the right things, or that they need to adjust what they are doing. Some players just want to do their own thing. Some players can only handle being told positive things when all is well, but not "hearing it like it is" when things are not going so well. This is Vince Young.



Is Vince heading down the path of former NFL Draft "busts" Akili Smith (pictured on top) and Ryan Leaf (pictured on bottom)? He cannot return to Tennessee and be successful. As it stands now, he has been villified by the fans for this incident. Imagine what it will be like next year if he runs out onto the field as the guy who forced Jeff Fisher out. Multiply the disdain for him by 50. If Bud Adams fires Jeff Fisher, he will be putting Vince in an even more impossible situation. And Fisher will be unemployed for about 5 minutes.

There are two possible solutions for the Titans that would enable them to avoid looking ridiculous:
1) Cut Vince Young after the season, and retain Fisher.
2) Vince apologizes to Fisher man-to-man, addresses the team and apologizes to the team, addresses the fans and apologizes to the fans, and takes full responsibility for his actions.

Scenario #2 is the only way in which Fisher and Young can co-exist in Tennessee. Sorry for my pessimism, but I'll believe that when I see it. I'll gladly blog about being incorrect if it does happen.

I'm betting that Bud Adams feels a different vibe and Fisher will be out in Tennessee.