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Vince Young could be retiring (1 Viewer)

gbill2004

Footballguy
The Nashville Tennessean reports Vince Young on Monday "indicated to those around him he didn't want to play football any more." The Titans may be planning to move on without him.This isn't the first time we've heard this from Young. And "there are indications" the team is ready to move forward with Kerry Collins, even when Young gets healthy. And that assumes Young even wants his job back. Young's mother, rightly concerned, pleaded for people to give her son "space" and "love." But it won't be so simple. A psychologist reported Young was "extremely depressed" and one wonders when he'll see the field again. Sep. 9 - 10:43 pm etSource: Nashville Tennessean
Here is the full article:
Felicia Young has seen her son experience the ups and downs that go with being a football star.On Monday night, she saw 25-year-old Vince Young sink to his lowest point. It ended with Coach Jeff Fisher calling Metro Police to search for her son for over four hours, and opened the biggest window yet into the emotional and troubled side of the Titans quarterback.A psychologist was among those who met with Young at his Brentwood home on Monday, and what she concluded and told team officials led to a bizarre, 24-hour period that ended just after midnight Tuesday morning. That’s when Fisher met with Young and police at Baptist Sports Park.Felicia Young said her son has grown weary of all the negativity he faces as an NFL star. On Monday, he indicated to those around him he didn’t want to play football any more.“Vince has gone through a whole lot as a young person,’’ Felicia Young said. “And I think he has done pretty well up to this point. But it is hard, all he is going through right now. He’s hurting inside and out.“But he will be fine if people are prayerful and help my baby boy out. He is a young man. He just needs a lot of love and support.’’When the frantic search for Young ended, Fisher and the Titans said the incident had been blown out of proportion. So did some of Young’s friends and family.But the events that led up to it all — and the fact Fisher called police — showed just how much concern the team has regarding the mental state of Young, who suffered a left knee injury in Sunday’s season opening win over the Jaguars. Young opted not to get an MRI of the knee on Monday; an MRI on Tuesday revealed he has a sprained MCL that could keep him out anywhere from 2-4 weeks.The Titans, meanwhile, were making plans to go on without him.“In a major city police department we have calls like this all the time about people who fear for their loved ones … the difference here being Vince Young’s notoriety,’’ Metro Police spokesman Don Aaron said. “When the police department gets such calls, you have to take them seriously. You never know how these issues will ultimately turn out. The concerns of (Monday) night appear to be unfounded.’’Call for helpThe Titans had concerns about Young even before late Monday night.After Young balked at having the MRI on Monday, Fisher went out and talked to him at his Brentwood home, spending over an hour with him. The Titans also sent a psychologist, Dr. Sheila Peters, and Tina Tuggle, the team’s Director of Player Development, to meet with Young to try and encourage him.The psychologist said Young was extremely depressed and expressed concerns to the team about Young’s safety. Later, Young left the house and sped off in his Mercedes Benz without his cell phone. He couldn’t be found for some time, which prompted a phone call to Fisher.Fisher then called police, who began searching for Young. When Young was finally tracked down, he met with Fisher and police at Baptist Sports Park and eventually went home.“The people that are closest to Vince inform(ed) us that he had left his house in a state of mind that had them concerned; and that he was unreachable, having left his cell phone at the house,’’ Fisher said in a statement. “(Later) it was determined that those initial concerns by his friends and family were unfounded and he returned home without incident.’’ According to police, Young had a handgun in the glove compartment of his vehicle, but it was not loaded and Aaron said officers had no concerns about Young trying to harm himself. Young was not charged with any crime because it’s not a violation of the law in Tennessee to transport an unloaded firearm with no ammunition in a motor vehicle.“The fact the gun was in the glove compartment and was unloaded did not present an issue for the officers,’’ Aaron said. “There was no ammunition in the car. The gun was unloaded. The slide was back in a safe position, and it was in the glove box.’’Young’s whereaboutsA friend of Young’s said on Tuesday the quarterback was with him watching Monday Night Football in Steve McNair’s office in Nashville when police were searching for Young, and neither had any idea anyone was looking for him. Earlier, the two had stopped by Nuttin’ but Wings on Jefferson Street and exchanged autographs for free wings, Raymond White said. “We sat around watching football and eating chicken wings,’’ said White “Everything was fine. There was no problem.’’Agent Major Adams, who represents Young, said on Tuesday the quarterback was shocked at all the attention the story generated on Tuesday.“He understands that people care about him and all that; that is the good part of it,’’ Adams said. “But to have it all blow up like it was … Vince feels like he can’t go anywhere without people knowing where he is 24 hours a day. That’s the only negative part of it. He’s fine.’’Point of no return?The events of the last 48 hours, however, have clearly left a lasting mark on both Young and the Titans.On Sunday, before Young was injured against the Jaguars, he initially refused to re-enter the game after throwing an interception and getting booed by fans. His decision to ignore the team’s request for him to have the MRI created even more friction between the player and the team, and indications last night were the Titans have turned the team over to back-up quarterback Kerry Collins.Even when Young returns from his injury, he might not get his job back.The Titans believe Young’s injury is one that will keep him out anywhere from 2-4 weeks.Then there’s the question about whether Young is interested in returning, something he mentioned to those who were with him on Monday.“What would you think, if you were tired of being ridiculed and persecuted and talked about and not being treated very well, what would you do? What kind of decision would you make?’’ Felecia Young asked. “He may not want to deal with it (all), but you have to get to that point before you make that decision first. “But we’re not talking about football right now. We’re talking about what would make him happy, and that is the most important thing.“… You don’t want people to be hurting like he is. But it is a growing-up process, and he will eventually come out like gold no matter what. But Vince is going to be OK. We are just going to try and give him some space.”
 
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2nd time in 2 yrs that we'd heard this.....

maybe getting injuried and getting sometime off will help.

 
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I don't quite understand it but I do know that depression is a powerful thing. I know what he's doing and how he's behaving doesn't make sense but the guy needs help.

At this point, if this is all true then Vince Young needs to get healthy mentally and only then could he actually even attempt to lead a group of men on the football field.

There is more to life than football and money and I hope Vince Young finds some happiness and peace and if one day that place lands him on the football field, then great.

He was the best college football player I've ever seen and it's obvious that there has been and is something wrong on the inside with Vince Young.

 
2nd time in 2 yrs that we'd heard this.....maybe getting injuried and getting sometime off will help.
All the more reason to think that this is more than just VY pouting or having a bad week. This is a trend. His heart doesn't seem to be in it, kind of like Ricky a few years ago, but obviously for different reasons. Who knows, maybe he'll take some time off and come back ready to play and get better, but I wouldn't be counting on it. And it seems the Titans aren't either.
 
I don't quite understand it but I do know that depression is a powerful thing. I know what he's doing and how he's behaving doesn't make sense but the guy needs help. At this point, if this is all true then Vince Young needs to get healthy mentally and only then could he actually even attempt to lead a group of men on the football field.There is more to life than football and money and I hope Vince Young finds some happiness and peace and if one day that place lands him on the football field, then great.He was the best college football player I've ever seen and it's obvious that there has been and is something wrong on the inside with Vince Young.
Michael Bishop was on par with Vince Young. They both didn't score well on the wonderlic.
 
Qb is a postion that takes supreme confidence--you can't play that position if you are depressed. Young is looking like the next Ricky Williams of sort. The Vikings drafted a talented DE in the first round who ended up not being able to play at all because he couldn't get his head on straight. This sounds serious.

 
Horrible.

I'm not trying to play psychologist from across the internet and it's premature to come to any conclusions about his state of mind but what I can tell you, from personal experience, is that if Young is clinically depressed things can spiral out of control quickly as everything in your life can seem precariously balanced on a pin and it can just suck the life, passion and desire to do anything right out of you.

If this is the case, hopefully he can get the help he needs and perhaps regain a passion for life, and perhaps football, once again.

I lack the desire to put in my waiver bids at the moment for that just seems so inconsequential.

 
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This news makes me sad. I was really hoping he could turn it around. I really enjoyed watching the guy play the game of football.

 
Its kind of ironic that VY is being replaced by a guy who about 10 years ago said the exact same thing, that he didn't want to do this anymore, and ended up being released when he was with the panthers.

 
Wow. FF is so crazy and unpredictable. I was never high on Young, but two years ago he was a trendy dynasty pick. No one saw this coming back then.

 
Qb is a postion that takes supreme confidence--you can't play that position if you are depressed. Young is looking like the next Ricky Williams of sort.
ie a spoiled putz. Exactly.Sorry not buying the "severe depression" or any other trendy chronic-syndrome-of-the-day bit a la Williams (but hardly surprised given his celeb status that people are quick to boo-hoo for him). Those kind of things don't exactly tend to just pop up suddenly. Agree it's hard to say definitely, but IMO sounds like someone who needs to realize he can't get by on mostly athleticism anymore, step out of mommy's shadow already, buckle down, own up to his responsibilities and simply grow the hell up. Speaking of which. someone needs to tell her to shut up already. lol @ "help my baby boy." He is supposedly long past being a baby now. He should act like it and own up to his responsibilities to his teammates, the fans, and oh btw the organization that is paying him truckloads of money. Oh and I suspect any "retirement" talk will end quickly when he sees what kind of money he'd have to pay back. Then he'd REALLY be depressed.
 
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I'm sorry for him; he seems like a nice enough person; but that's a heavy load to carry.

Professional Sport rewards people hugely for their performance; but it is a hard taskmaster. The physical, mental and emotional strain can be devastating to some.

I was also thinking that we cut a lot of slack for someone who is clinically depressed. But sometimes we can be real ######## towards those who are not quite at that level of impairment; but might be close.

 
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I feel bad for the guy. Even before he put on an NFL uniform people were calling him stupid and saying he couldn't play. He has a good rookie season and people start to warm up, and the second he starts to struggle people turn on him and start back with the he's stupid, he can't play, etc. People can be pretty ugly someitmes.

That's got to be tough to deal with even under normal circumstances, and if he's dealing with some kind of depression (which I have dealt with myself) then maybe it would be best for him to give up football and find something else where he isn't going to have a target on his back all the time.

 
He needs help that is quite obvious to see here with this news and the past for this guy. I think its for the better of himself and those around him that he is gone, if he can get help and come back thats awesome but if not at least he is getting help.

 
Qb is a postion that takes supreme confidence--you can't play that position if you are depressed. Young is looking like the next Ricky Williams of sort.
ie a spoiled putz. Exactly.Sorry not buying the "severe depression" or any other trendy chronic-syndrome-of-the-day bit a la Williams (but hardly surprised given his celeb status that people are quick to boo-hoo for him). Those kind of things don't exactly tend to just pop up suddenly. Agree it's hard to say definitely, but IMO sounds like someone who needs to realize he can't get by on mostly athleticism anymore, step out of mommy's shadow already, buckle down, own up to his responsibilities and simply grow the hell up. Speaking of which. someone needs to tell her to shut up already. lol @ "help my baby boy." He is supposedly long past being a baby now. He should act like it and own up to his responsibilities to his teammates, the fans, and oh btw the organization that is paying him truckloads of money. Oh and I suspect any "retirement" talk will end quickly when he sees what kind of money he'd have to pay back. Then he'd REALLY be depressed.
:thumbup:
 
This has been a strange soap opera.

At first, I was thinking...damn...can't a guy get away for a few hours for some alone time and not have to worry about the cops being called? I mean...he is a grown man living a very stressful life. I am sure that he would love to "escape" for a few hours and gather his thoughts or simply be normal for a time.

Now, we are hearing the retirement talk again.

I have never thought that VY would be a great NFL quarterback. But, hats off to the guy. He was a pleasure to watch and simply put, a stud on the college football field.

I sincerely hope he is able to right the ship so to speak personally and if that means giving up football. God bless him.

 
All the more reason to think that this is more than just VY pouting or having a bad week. This is a trend. His heart doesn't seem to be in it, kind of like Ricky a few years ago, but obviously for different reasons. Who knows, maybe he'll take some time off and come back ready to play and get better, but I wouldn't be counting on it. And it seems the Titans aren't either.
Ricky Williams.Vince Young.Cedric Benson.Strange coincidence that they are all Longhorns. What is Mack Brown putting in the Koolaid here in Austin?
 
I don't quite understand it but I do know that depression is a powerful thing. I know what he's doing and how he's behaving doesn't make sense but the guy needs help. At this point, if this is all true then Vince Young needs to get healthy mentally and only then could he actually even attempt to lead a group of men on the football field.There is more to life than football and money and I hope Vince Young finds some happiness and peace and if one day that place lands him on the football field, then great.He was the best college football player I've ever seen and it's obvious that there has been and is something wrong on the inside with Vince Young.
Michael Bishop was on par with Vince Young. They both didn't score well on the wonderlic.
Michael Bishop was nowhere near the caliber that VY was in college.
 
I'd be depressed too if I couldn't run zone reads in the NFL.

On a serious note I do hope he works this out. He still has potential in the NFL.

Worst case Vince has graced me with being able to watch one of the best games ever when he upset USC.

 
If I was to lay a guess (which I guess I am) I would venture that VY has an undiagnosed learning disorder. These can cause anxiety, frustration and depression as there are times when hurdles seem impossible to overcome. Couple the Wonderlic with reports that he didn't learn the playbook and his reaction to failure and I would say its worth looking into if your VY (or the Titans).

 
I don't quite understand it but I do know that depression is a powerful thing. I know what he's doing and how he's behaving doesn't make sense but the guy needs help. At this point, if this is all true then Vince Young needs to get healthy mentally and only then could he actually even attempt to lead a group of men on the football field.There is more to life than football and money and I hope Vince Young finds some happiness and peace and if one day that place lands him on the football field, then great.He was the best college football player I've ever seen and it's obvious that there has been and is something wrong on the inside with Vince Young.
Michael Bishop was on par with Vince Young. They both didn't score well on the wonderlic.
Michael Bishop was nowhere near the caliber that VY was in college.
Your right Michael Bishop was better. Texas players are soft and always will be soft.
 
I don't quite understand it but I do know that depression is a powerful thing. I know what he's doing and how he's behaving doesn't make sense but the guy needs help.

At this point, if this is all true then Vince Young needs to get healthy mentally and only then could he actually even attempt to lead a group of men on the football field.

There is more to life than football and money and I hope Vince Young finds some happiness and peace and if one day that place lands him on the football field, then great.

He was the best college football player I've ever seen and it's obvious that there has been and is something wrong on the inside with Vince Young.
Michael Bishop was on par with Vince Young. They both didn't score well on the wonderlic.
Michael Bishop was had nowhere near the caliber of talent around him that VY was had in college.
Fixed.
 
I feel bad for the guy. Even before he put on an NFL uniform people were calling him stupid and saying he couldn't play. He has a good rookie season and people start to warm up, and the second he starts to struggle people turn on him and start back with the he's stupid, he can't play, etc. People can be pretty ugly someitmes.

That's got to be tough to deal with even under normal circumstances, and if he's dealing with some kind of depression (which I have dealt with myself) then maybe it would be best for him to give up football and find something else where he isn't going to have a target on his back all the time.
Good post, but (just from what I can tell from reading and listening to news stories) I think he really needs to get help and get well, then see this through. Then if football doesn't work out, he'll have given it his best shot with a clear head.
Ricky Williams.

Vince Young.

Cedric Benson.

Strange coincidence that they are all Longhorns. What is Mack Brown putting in the Koolaid here in Austin?
Benson...I got nothin' to defend him. Ricky has a psychological disorder that he seems to have under control. He also gave up the ganja. Good for him.

VY also seems to be suffering psychologically (although I don't know that), and may have been (although I don't know that, either), even going back to last season.

I guess the other 36 Horns on NFL rosters didn't drink the KoolAid?

Sorry not buying the "severe depression" or any other trendy chronic-syndrome-of-the-day bit a la Williams (but hardly surprised given his celeb status that people are quick to boo-hoo for him). Those kind of things don't exactly tend to just pop up suddenly.
What makes you think this popped up suddenly?
 
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If I was to lay a guess (which I guess I am) I would venture that VY has an undiagnosed learning disorder. These can cause anxiety, frustration and depression as there are times when hurdles seem impossible to overcome. Couple the Wonderlic with reports that he didn't learn the playbook and his reaction to failure and I would say its worth looking into if your VY (or the Titans).
:jawdrop: I think you may be onto something there, bacon.
 
If I was to lay a guess (which I guess I am) I would venture that VY has an undiagnosed learning disorder. These can cause anxiety, frustration and depression as there are times when hurdles seem impossible to overcome. Couple the Wonderlic with reports that he didn't learn the playbook and his reaction to failure and I would say its worth looking into if your VY (or the Titans).
:unsure: I think you may be onto something there, bacon.
Bacon? Bacon? I smell bacon!
 
Just wishing Vince Young the best. Tough, tough situation that most can't comprehend. Hope he is able to pull through and find his happiness.

Life is too short.

 
If I was to lay a guess (which I guess I am) I would venture that VY has an undiagnosed learning disorder. These can cause anxiety, frustration and depression as there are times when hurdles seem impossible to overcome. Couple the Wonderlic with reports that he didn't learn the playbook and his reaction to failure and I would say its worth looking into if your VY (or the Titans).
:unsure: I think you may be onto something there, bacon.
All the more reason the Wonderlic test is still given to this day. It can be viewed to be just as significant as an injury history.Not to say they are related or one-in-the-same, but I do know that Norm Chow, among others, had a great amount of frustration in trying to teach Vince Young. Mack Brown coddled Young at Texas, and that only hurt him. He was nowhere near prepared for the NFL, as is evident.It's a sad case. I hope he can get it together. Maybe he can do something in the CFL.
 
If I was to lay a guess (which I guess I am) I would venture that VY has an undiagnosed learning disorder. These can cause anxiety, frustration and depression as there are times when hurdles seem impossible to overcome. Couple the Wonderlic with reports that he didn't learn the playbook and his reaction to failure and I would say its worth looking into if your VY (or the Titans).
:lmao: I think you may be onto something there, bacon.
All the more reason the Wonderlic test is still given to this day. It can be viewed to be just as significant as an injury history.Not to say they are related or one-in-the-same, but I do know that Norm Chow, among others, had a great amount of frustration in trying to teach Vince Young. Mack Brown coddled Young at Texas, and that only hurt him. He was nowhere near prepared for the NFL, as is evident.It's a sad case. I hope he can get it together. Maybe he can do something in the CFL.
Well, the point here is that if you have an undiagnosed learning disorder that gets diagnosed, it can open up the whole world for you. I'm not saying that's what this is, but it could be. People who have learning disorders aren't stupid. They have a learning disability. They just process information differently than most people. Take Dyslexia, for example. My wife and one of my best friends are both dyslexic. Niether can spell well and both are poor readers. Things that come easy to me are difficult to them. They are also two of the most intelligent and effective people I've ever known. The turning point for them was when their disorders were diagnosed. Then they were introduced to special teaching techniques and learning became much easier for them. Doors were opened for them that were closed before, and frustrations were eased. IF this is a root of VY's problems, a diagnosis could be the beginning of the solution for him, not the beginning of the end.EDIT:You know, being in the midst of learning his second offense in 3 years, if he did have a learning disorder, this might all seem to make a little more sense.
 
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He really has skills that capture the imagination... that Rose Bowl game was unlike any performance I'd seen since maybe Michael Jordan...

I just hope he takes care of himself... sometimes we forget how young and human these larger-than-life sports figures really are... life in the spotlight can't be easy.

 
Personally, I think it's continually raised year over year expectations coupled with the ULTRA-demanding Mike Heimerdinger that could be part of the reason VY is having issues at this juncture. I hope Steve McNair is willing and available as VY could really use a strong mentor right now...

 
Personally, I think it's continually raised year over year expectations coupled with the ULTRA-demanding Mike Heimerdinger that could be part of the reason VY is having issues at this juncture. I hope Steve McNair is willing and available as VY could really use a strong mentor right now...
Yes. I hope so, too.You know, you talk about the expectations aspect, and I've talked about this a lot for years, well before VY. Used to be that rookie qbs knew automatically that they'd be carrying a clipboard and playing the role of willing apprentice for at least one or two years before getting any significant pt. I was hoping VY would get to do this under McNair, but he was shown the door.

These days, the game in general and the qb position in particular are more complex than ever before. They bring these guys into the hardest position in football, a leadership position, one of the hardest in all of sport. They heap praise and expectation on them and say "Here's the starting job. Don't f it up." Then when the vast majority of these guys end up mediocre or just downright awful, they and many fans can't seem to grasp why.

Now, look at Aaron Rodgers. I'll admit I never thought much of him. I could be wrong, but I don't recall most people thinking much of him as a potential NFL qb. He got to sit for 3 years and learn. Now look at the guy. He looked like a vet in his first start. I mean, he looked good. I was surprised, but maybe I shouldn't have been. Granted, it was only one game, but it looks like that apprenticeship served him well, and I think almost all young qbs would benefit tremendously from this type of treatment, on many levels.

As for the demanding nature of Dinger and the pressure from him and the fans, I think that's probably valid, but it's only part of it, imho.

The Tennesseean beat writer today talked at length about this. In addition to the effect of Young being intensely aware of how much he's under the microscope and being scrutinized in every aspect of his game, he added how much pressure he's been putting on himself to succeed, how much every wrong move or bad throw is weighing on him, how when he makes a mistake he really takes it hard and carries it with him, really beating himself up over it as if he's really let the team down in a big way. To say he's not having any fun out there right now would be a massive understatement. He seems to be literally walking on eggshells, dreading his next false move. Some of that may come from Fish's & Dinger's style as well, where they are so conservative and so intensely beat into the qb not to make mistakes.

Abraham had a great point on this in the other thread:

QUOTE (Abraham @ Sep 9 2008, 09:39 AM)

He had a bad day, but let's not get carried away. Steve McNair is not un-retiring. Kerry Collins isn't the QB of the future. The Titans didn't go add another QB (they passed on Henne and Brohm, among others) to shore up the position. Vince is the starter when healthy - deal.

I think the 2-4 weeks off will be very good for him. It's been a while since he had a prolonged chance to watch from the sidelines and take things in. In camp, he referenced the fact that the "fun" and "excitement" were not present like they were in his first year, and I think that a lot of that had to do with him trying so hard to be the leader and the star, etc. I think that standing on the sidelines in a T-shirt and shorts for 2-4 weeks will let him loosen up, which is what is most needed. He's making good decisions with the ball, really. His last 3 interceptions (going back to ATL preseason) were not awful throws. But he's bound to know that's what people are focusing on. Everything done wrong is a big deal, and every thing done right is "lucky". He throws a TD to Chris Johnson - a good decision, a good read - and all people can talk about is how the throw was low and behind him. Contrast that with Aaron Rodgers, who throws a TD last night across his body off one foot and all you hear far and wide is about how much like Brett Favre he is.

The break will do him good, and he'll return as a better qb.
 
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You either have it or you don't. Sitting Ryan Leaf or David Carr for 3 years wouldn't have suddenly turned them into effective QBs. Busts are mostly attributable to the difficulties in scouting/analyzing QB prospects.

 
Vince Young; Matt Leinart; Jason Campbell; Joey Harrington; Chris Simms; Ryan Leaf; Akili Smith; David Carr etc

All these young QBs have flamed out or seem to be on the path to flameout. Yet I am amazed at how many people gave #### to Rex Grossman. Grossman is the only one out of these to take his team to the SB; have 7 100+ Qb rated games and have a winning % overall. Oh, and except for Campbell, he was drafted later than any of these prima donnas who were given huge signing bonuses. Yet all he got was ridicule from the media and the national and Bears fans. Amazing. Considering the league is full of crappy young Qbs. I wish more teams would just allow their young QBs to sit on the bench for 3 years or so and then let them start when they have a team around them.

 
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