Sunday, 08/12/07
Young sits in loss
Quarterback punished after breaking curfew
By JIM WYATT
Staff Writer
Vince Young has talked about being more of a leader in his second NFL season, yet when the Titans opened their preseason Saturday night, their quarterback wasn't in uniform.
Sidelined for violating a team rule, Young watched as the Washington Redskins beat the Titans 14-6 at LP Field.
Young broke curfew by spending Friday night at home instead of at the hotel where the team stays during camp. Players with less than four years experience are required to stay at the hotel.
As Young suffered the consequences of breaking a rule, so did the LP Field crowd that watched four quarters of dull football.
"I made a decision to not allow Vince to play in the ball game for violating a team rule, period. End of story,'' Coach Jeff Fisher said. "He will be back practicing Monday with his teammates. He is our starting quarterback and we like him. He is going to be a good quarterback. … I am done talking about it.''
Fisher said Young will start Friday's game at New England.
Young wouldn't discuss the situation. Leaving the locker room, he shook his head as he walked past a group of reporters.
"Vince wanted to be out there with us,'' running back LenDale White said. "But Jeff did what he felt he had to do.''
"He took it really hard, and not just when guys were around," defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth said. "But he has a lot on his shoulders. He has more on his shoulders than 52 other guys on this team. He made a mistake. He'll bounce back and be totally fine.''
Wearing a ball cap and holding a towel around his neck, Young chatted occasionally with teammates while watching quarterbacks Kerry Collins and Tim Rattay. Collins completed 10-of-17 passes for 79 yards in the first half. Rattay played the entire second half and went 13-of-21 for 123 yards.
The Titans got their only points from their kickers — a 41-yard field goal by Rob Bironas in the first half and a 39-yarder by John Vaughn in the second half.
The Redskins scored two touchdowns in the game's final 1:14, first on a 1-yard run by Marcus Mason and then 30 seconds later on a defensive fumble recovery in the end zone by Byron Westbrook.
'Has to be on the field'
Some Titans didn't want to discuss Young's situation, but those who did defended him. Most players said his absence likely had a lot to do with the early struggles on offense.
"For us to be successful he has to be on the field and I think he realizes that,'' veteran receiver Eric Moulds said.
Last season Young started a regular-season game against the Eagles after missing the team flight. He caught a later flight and made it to Philadelphia the night before the game.
Haynesworth was asked if the Titans were fortunate Young didn't break curfew before a regular-season game.
"I don't know if he would be sitting out in the regular season, to be honest,'' he said with a smile. "Those games are a little more important.''
And he showed quite a bit of leadership when he took it to USC...you know...that Pac-10 school
