The Vince Young Saga
Vince Young in Philly: Is there still a chance for VY to be great?
The demise of Vince Young been greatly exaggerated. Yes, the former Houston high school star and University of Texas legend is something of a self-entitled knucklehead with hot-headed tendencies.
But he's no Ryan Leaf. He's not that much of an idiot.
And VY still wins. That's one thing that has remained constant through the silly strip club fracases and pad flingings. Vince Young always finds ways to win games.
He recorded another win of sorts — albeit a modest one — in agreeing to a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles Friday one day after finally being cut like the Tennessee Titans had promised for months. Worst case: Young gets to sit behind Michael Vick for a year and learn about developing into a respected pro quarterback late in his athletic life from the ultimate late-bloomer, reformed MVP candidate.
And VY still wins. That's one thing that has remained constant through the silly strip club fracases and pad flingings. Vince Young always finds ways to win games.
Possible case: Vick gets hurt (he's never a sure bet to play a full season unscathed) and Young gets to remind everyone of his talent, while playing with more offensive weapons than he's ever had in his career.
Either way by the time the 2011 season is over, the 28-year-old Young will likely be set to get another chance as a starter — and all those teams who passed on him because he couldn't get along with the strangely-sainted Jeff Fisher (Minnesota Vikings, Miami Dolphins, Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers) are left kicking themselves.
Vince Young will never be the best quarterback in the NFL, but he'll be a star again. He'll be in the top third of the NFL's signal callers within a few seasons.
Young just needs to learn how to play nice with the NFL's more rigid mentality. Mack Brown won't be around to ask him his input on when the team should practice. Young already knows how to pull out pro wins — he's 30-18 as a starter, a number that shouldn't be ignored in a world where seldom starter Kevin Kolb can land a $63-million contract from a new team just based on .... well, he looked really good in these two games two years ago.
It's funny that the idea of Michael Vick being a good mentor is more accepted than the notion that Yince Young will be a star again. Just wait. The Rose Bowl hero is just getting started.