By Terry McCormick, sports@timesfreepress.com
NASHVILLE — Vince Young made a point Wednesday to dispute speculation that he has not taken advantage of learning from veteran starter Kerry Collins since being demoted, and that he has learned from the situation and circumstances that surrounded him in the aftermath of his knee injury in the season opener.
Young, speaking in a full media setting for the first time since Sept. 11, disagreed with a report on SI.com that said he was not seeking out or accepting advice from Collins, who was named the starter after coming off the bench for Young against Jacksonville on Sept. 7.
“I definitely want to get this by, while I’m doing this media (interview),” Young said. “A lot of people say I’m not supportive of Kerry and that I’m not asking him for advice. I don’t know why that’s going around, but that’s my man. That’s my guy. We have a lot of respect for each other, and he helps me out — not just football, but he helps me out with accounting, money, all those types of things.”
Titans coach Jeff Fisher handed the reins to Collins indefinitely after Young’s knee sprain and the bizarre incidents that occurred the following day surrounding the star quarterback. Those events included police searching for him and concern over Young’s well being.
Young referred any questions over when he might return to the starting lineup to Titans coach Jeff Fisher.
“I haven’t the slightest idea. You’ve got to ask Coach Fish that. I’m just sitting back playing my part and my position that he has me at,” Young said.
Asked whether he had had any doubts as to if he would be the starter again, Young replied, “Somewhat. I don’t have the slightest idea. All I can do is what I’m doing right now, rehabbing my knee, lifting weights, staying focused, staying into the offense, just asking questions to Coach (Mike) Heimerdinger and the guys, and that’s basically all I can really do. If my number is called, all I can do is just wait. But right now, all I can do is just stay focused and ready.”
Young, who moved from No. 3 on the depth chart to No. 2 against Baltimore, did say he is close to fully recovered from the sprained MCL and that he is ready if called up on.
“I’m almost there. I wouldn’t say 100 but I’m in my 90s, so I would say I’m good,” Young said.
Young said he has learned from how things have unfolded surrounding everything from being booed against Jacksonville, to his apparent reluctance to return to the game after an interception, through the injury and the following day’s incidents.
“I had a lot of adversity, just being a Texas quarterback period,” Young said. “The whole world knows now. The whole world knows who I am as a person. This is the whole world. I’m not just dealing with Austin, like I was. Now, I’m dealing with everybody. It’s a learning process for me, but at the same time, I’m over that. It’s out the window. It’s made me the stronger black man that I am and a more stronger competitor when I do get a chance to get back out on the football field, there’s going to be a whole other Vince Young.”
Linebacker Derrick Johnson, whom the Titans will face Sunday in Kansas City, said his former college teammate should be able to cope with his issues and be fine.
“He’s been having some problems, but I mean he sounds OK when I talk to him so I don’t think it’s a big deal,” Johnson said. “It’s been blown out of proportion a little bit, but hopefully he can handle it because he’s a great guy and I know what type of player he is. I don’t think he’ll start on Sunday, but you’ll see more of Vince Young in the future, I mean he’s one of those players that will always bounce back.”
In the meantime, Young will simply have to wait for the next opportunity, whenever that might be.
“Ain’t nothing changed. Just because of the change of quarterbacks, that doesn’t mean they’re going to stop being my friend, or something like that,” Young said. “At the same time, we’re just being supportive of whoever is being the quarterback. All I know is we’re 5-0 and I’m happy about that. That’s all I can do, just continue to keep playing and keep working and keep getting my knee right and keep paying attention to the offense. So if my number is to be called, I know what’s going on and I’m ready for it.”
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