Young likely won’t sit for long in Nashville

By Connor Byrne  |   Tuesday, August 01, 2006  |  Comments( 0 )

Tennessee Titans
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Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young's recent contract reveals one thing: He won't sit on the bench for long in the upcoming season. The Titans and Young reached a five-year deal that could be worth up to $58 million with $25.7 million in guarantees last week. The No. 3 overall selection from the University of Texas is currently slated as the team's backup to Billy Volek.

The 30-year-old Volek has been a dependable backup to former Titan signalcaller Steve McNair in the past, but it would take a miraculous situation to see him hold the reins in Tennessee for the entire 2006 season.

Although the franchise does have some decent talent, there's almost no way it will be a playoff contender this year. Thus, don't expect a 2004 San Diego Charger-esque breakout from Jeff Fisher's squad.

Rather than having the 23-year-old Young ride the bench, the team will likely install him a month or two into the season. Having the Heisman runner-up take few in-game snaps this season would be absolutely senseless, and the wily Fisher certainly isn't lacking sense.

McNair sat for most of his first two seasons before taking the helm for the Titans in 1997, but his circumstances were different than Young's. The now Baltimore Raven and Young were both third overall selections, which is, of course, eerily similar; however, the money McNair acquired in his rookie contract was far less than the cash Young is raking in, and that puts the onus on the Titans to get him on the field quicker.

Recent rumblings the Titans are interested in journeyman quarterback Kerry Collins don't make much sense for the Young situation at this point. Collins proved for the two last years as an Oakland Raider that he simply doesn't have what it takes to be a competent QB anymore. The 11-year veteran's best days are long behind him, so it's obvious he won't help Tennessee. And if anyone thinks the Titans' fans want to watch the statue-esque Collins play and Young sit, they're badly misinformed.

Ultimately, the best solution the Tennessee Titans can come up with in '06 is to throw Young to the proverbial defensive wolves. He'll have some difficulty learning the complexities of coordinator Norm Chow's offense, but once he comprehends it, he should see the field. No quarterback in the history of football has ever benefited more from sitting on the bench than playing. Certainly, Fisher, Chow and the rest of the coaching staff are aware of that.

--Connor J. Byrne can be reached at cbyrne@realfootball365.com

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