This has been a great year for the draft class of 2006. Reggie Bush loses his Heisman. Matt Leinart loses his job to Derek Anderson. Derek Flipping Anderson. Santonio Holmes is exiled from Pittsburgh. And now, Vince Young…
In the battle Fisher v. Young, advantage Fisher.
No matter what Titans owner Bud Adams said while the season was going on and no matter what lies could be told about how Fisher and Young could put aside their differences (whatever they may be), hold hands and sing Kumbaya, one or the other had to go. And knock me over with a feather but I would have bet good money that the decision would have gone in Young’s direction rather than Fisher’s. Honestly, I could not be more happy.
Why, you ask? Because in a very small way this means that the NFL, at least for the moment, will not become the NBA. We’ve seen it and seen it: star player A doesn’t like the way coach B is (choose one of the following) not getting him shots, putting talent around him, running practices, making him practice, breathing (ah, the days of Latrell Sprewell) and complains to owner C, media D, twitter followers E, and generally anyone who will listen F. Coach fired, on with the new coach, the beat goes on. Now, bear in mind that these circumstances don’t happen that often; very few NFL players ever achieve the lionized status that NBA stars receive. Peyton Manning, for instance, might be able to get Jim Caldwell fired if it ever came down to it, but you and I both know if LeBron or D-Wade wanted to get rid of that 7-year old boy who serves as their coach, you know it would get done.
If the decision had gone the other way and Vince Young had been the starting quarterback of the Titans next year, that would have set a dangerous precedent. Young put himself in Fisher’s doghouse early and often and no matter how talented Young was and is, the coach is still the coach. Ultimately, if Young had won out, he would have learned nothing and would have continued to not live up to his potential.
Ultimately, this means Young is looking for work and the Titans will be in the market for another quarterback. They have the number 8 pick overall, which at the moment looks like prime Ryan Mallett/Jake Locker territory. Personally, after all the time and trouble they took to develop Vince Young, I think they may take a deep breath and go the veteran route.
Hey! Maybe they could pick up Matt Leinart!
Or Derek Flipping Anderson.
