NASHVILLE, Tenn. — If Vince Young isn’t sure he wants to play football anymore, he didn’t show it Wednesday.
He reported to work, watched part of practice with a wrap around his sprained left knee and avoided reporters wanting to talk about his mother’s comments indicating he doesn’t want to play because of the negativity he’s faced since being booed heavily during a season- opening 17-10 victory over the Jaguars.
His coach and teammates are sticking with their quarterback and the official story that whatever happened that prompted coach Jeff Fisher to alert police to help locate Young and check on his emotional well-being was just a misunderstanding. And that it was blown out of proportion by the media.
And no, Young doesn’t have to prove his commitment to either Fisher or his Titans teammates.
“He led us to the playoffs last year. We just want him to get healthy and back on the field,” Fisher said.
Young stood with linebacker Keith Bulluck and former college teammate Michael Griffin for part of practice. Bulluck said he knows Young is fine after speaking with him. The best way they can help the quarterback? Go beat Cincinnati on Sunday.
Bulluck said he’s seen Donovan McNabb and Steve McNair get down after losses, something that goes with the pressures of being the quarterback. He expressed his confidence Young will take the good and the bad of his position.
“That’s just things quarterbacks go through. They probably wear red shirts for a reason. They’re a little more sensitive than any position on the field,” Bulluck said joking before becoming serious. “. . . Being his third year I’m sure he has a lot on his plate like we all do. I know he’ll rebound, and we’ll be all right. That’s why I’m saying that the situation will take care of itself.”
Center Kevin Mawae called Young a leader still whose teammates trust and believe in him.
“Anything that happens outside the locker room will be outside the realm of football, that’s something that’s between him and his family and whoever’s handling that with him,” Mawae said.
The quarterback didn’t talk to reporters, but Fisher did promise Young will speak “at some point.”
For now, veteran Kerry Collins will start. Tennessee signed Chris Simms as insurance Wednesday and will not project when Young will be healthy enough to play. Fisher said the starter’s job remains Young’s, but admitted the quarterback has some work to do.
“He has to put some things back in perspective, and first and foremost has to get healthy,” Fisher said.
