View Full Version : Man I am glad we didn't take Vince Young!
Joshaaronb
09-10-2008, 12:32 PM
What is it with UT players?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080910/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_titans_young_30
Tb-Cain
09-10-2008, 12:40 PM
What is it with UT players?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080910/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_titans_young_30
wow. more and more it looks like history will prove that the texans made the right choice.
pgabriel
09-10-2008, 12:46 PM
note to athletes
do not, i repeat do not have mom speak for you when you are struggling
I never supported taking VY, and I'm glad MW is turning out to be such a good selection...
...but I seriously don't like using this story to pile on. It may make the Texans' pick that much more fortunate, but this isn't "I told you so!" material. This is just sad.
macalu
09-10-2008, 12:56 PM
I never supported taking VY, and I'm glad MW is turning out to be such a good selection...
...but I seriously don't like using this story to pile on. It may make the Texans' pick that much more fortunate, but this isn't "I told you so!" material. This is just sad.
VY, the person... :(
VY, the player...
HAHA!
DieHard Rocket
09-10-2008, 12:56 PM
"But we're not talking about football right now. We're talking about what would make him happy, and that is the most important thing.''
This quote from mom is so far from reality it's funny. He has a professional contract to play football. A lot of people who make a lot less money are unhappy with their job, but have no choice but to go to work to pay the bills. The reality is in most occupations you can't just quit because you're unhappy, unless you find another job.
If he does indeed have a diagnosed depression that he can't help then that's a different story. But it seems to me like he isn't grown up and can't handle the duties and responsibilities of being an NFL player, which include being booed if you perform poorly. I've heard a lot of stories of guys who came to the NFL and took it for granted, thinking talent alone would carry them. You really have to work physically and mentally to make it in this league.
ima_drummer2k
09-10-2008, 01:00 PM
I'm glad too, but I wish we wouldn't have passed on Adrian Peterson. :mad:
gucci888
09-10-2008, 01:09 PM
"But we're not talking about football right now. We're talking about what would make him happy, and that is the most important thing.''
This quote from mom is so far from reality it's funny. He has a professional contract to play football. A lot of people who make a lot less money are unhappy with their job, but have no choice but to go to work to pay the bills. The reality is in most occupations you can't just quit because you're unhappy, unless you find another job.
How is that far from reality? If you're concerned about someone's mental health, being happy is the most important thing no matter how much you make. You're right in that a lot of people are unhappy with their job but there is no doubt that he is probably under more pressure than any of us have to handle.
Ya he makes a crapload but I don't think that should necessarily keep you from doing something that you don't enjoy. I think we tend to look at athletes and think that just because they're making a ton of money that everything else takes a backseat to that.
yc324
09-10-2008, 01:57 PM
I'm glad too, but I wish we wouldn't have passed on Adrian Peterson. :mad:
IIRC, Adrian Peterson was drafted #7 in 2007, the year that we had the #8 pick?
pgabriel
09-10-2008, 01:58 PM
IIRC, Adrian Peterson was drafted #7 in 2007, the year that we had the #8 pick?
that's the joke brother, a thread from last season
thacabbage
09-10-2008, 02:02 PM
note to athletes
do not, i repeat do not have mom speak for you when you are struggling
quoted for truth.
Rox_fan_here
09-10-2008, 03:06 PM
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/5992935.html
Commentary: UT version of Young disappears in Nashville
Vince's problems could include more than just knee injury
By RICHARD JUSTICE Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle
Sept. 10, 2008, 7:25AM
Is Vince Young a spoiled brat?
Vince Young is either a spoiled brat, a troubled young man or some combination of the two.
That’s the problem with screaming at him to grow up and deal with things virtually every other NFL quarterback has to deal with.
There could be something more serious going on. Those of us on the outside simply don’t know what’s going on inside his head. But what we do know — or what we think we know — is troubling.
The Tennessean is reporting that Young “spent time with a psychologist” before disappearing for more than four hours Monday evening. The psychologist told the Titans that Young was extremely depressed and there was reason to be concerned about him, the newspaper reported.
“Given the totality of the situation, coach (Jeff) Fisher was concerned about Young’s emotional well-being,” a Nashville police spokesman said.
Forget the spin the Titans and Young’s inner-circle are putting on Monday’s events. It stretches the imagination to see it all as a case of Young forgetting his cell phone and hanging out at a friend’s house watching football.
What the Titans have said is that Young apparently left his home abruptly Monday evening. We may never know the full story there.
But someone from his home telephoned Fisher with information that alarmed Fisher enough to call police. Clearly someone thought Young was capable of harming himself.
Once Young was found, he met with Fisher and convinced his coach everything was fine. But for a few minutes Monday, everything clearly wasn’t fine.
Young’s agent, Major Adams, called it a misunderstanding. That’s also what the Titans said about Young’s behavior during Sunday’s game. He was booed after throwing his second interception.
When he got to the sideline, he threw his helmet to the ground and blew off teammates who attempted to console him. He sat on the bench and buried his face in his hands.
When the Titans got the ball back, Young refused to take the field. Fisher said Young was worried about a sore leg.
He lasted four plays before suffering a knee injury that will sideline him for awhile.
He seems to need this time off to gather himself, to figure out where he’s at both in his life and his career.
Those of us that knew him at the University of Texas are having trouble believing this is the same guy that was so tough, so mature and so fiercely competitive.
He wasn’t simply the best college football player on earth those last two years at Texas. He was the guy that made everything go. Teammates and coaches alike looked to him to lead.
He led the Longhorns in the locker room and on the field. I thought the Texans were fools for not drafting him because I couldn’t comprehend him failing. Now it’s getting harder and harder to believe in him.
In three seasons, he has missed a team flight, sulked when things have gone badly and gotten steadily worse as a player.
That’s not the Vince Young that Longhorn Nation loved. That Vince Young didn’t pout when people doubted him. He fed off it, used it to drive himself to do more and more.
I saw him misbehave just once. That was the night he lost the Heisman Trophy to Reggie Bush.
He was less than gracious in his concession speech, and when he was done, an Austin columnist whispered, “USC is in trouble.”
Young used the Heisman snub to drive him. The Titans might not recognize that Vince Young because it doesn’t resemble the sulky, withdrawn young man they now have.
One thought in Nashville is that Young has surrounded himself with people that tell him only what he wants to hear. They blame the media for almost everything, including the fans that boo.
Young has never failed the way he’s failing now. At anything. When he played poorly at Texas, he still had Mack Brown’s cocoon to protect him.
He also knew he was always going to be the best athlete on the field, and that he was usually going to have enough raw skills to do whatever he wanted to do.
Now he’s playing against opponents as big and fast as he is and defensive coordinators drawing up schemes far more complex than anything he dealt with in college.
Maybe Young is having a hard time adjusting to a world in which hours of study are required and fans are unforgiving.
They don’t want to hear that he’s beginning his third year. They see those throws sail over a receiver’s head and want something else.
Nor do they care what he did at the University of Texas. He’ll always be a legend in Austin, but at the moment, he’s a $50-million NFL flop.
Here’s hoping it’s nothing more than that.
Zacatecas
09-10-2008, 04:00 PM
Wow!!!
I kept hearing how Vince Young was going to transform the NFL! I was on board, but you've got to be fricken "Flash" from the comic books to do it with your speed. I yelled and was ecstatic when he led his Texas longhorns to the National title!!!
I was too caught up with not wanting to admit the David Carr mistake, that Vince Young wasn't even an after thought in my mind. I was still of the opinion that a good quarterback's coach could fix Carr.
That's my excuse for never wanting Vince Young.
But, the Texans keep looking better and better with their decision.
Wow, a 2nd #1 draft pick flop would have been disastorous. Carr messing up was one thing, but having Bush or Young on this team with their current production would have been too much to handle.
You can't flop with #1 picks!! Especially in the NFL.
Major
09-10-2008, 04:08 PM
"But we're not talking about football right now. We're talking about what would make him happy, and that is the most important thing.''
This quote from mom is so far from reality it's funny. He has a professional contract to play football. A lot of people who make a lot less money are unhappy with their job, but have no choice but to go to work to pay the bills. The reality is in most occupations you can't just quit because you're unhappy, unless you find another job.
How is it far from reality? You point out what most people have to do - but the reality is that he's not most people. He's made probably $20+MM at this point, and if he invested it properly, he should be set for life. So he doesn't necessarily have to work to pay the bills, and he could quit if he's unhappy. So for him, the reality is that finding what makes him happy is probably the most important thing - especially from his mom's perspective.
Ill-Skillz
09-10-2008, 04:13 PM
Dude's mom is taking up for him getting his feelings hurt, that quit being acceptable for a guy around the age of 10....
Smokey
09-10-2008, 04:50 PM
I would have taken Vince # 1 but in hindsight I admit the Texans made the right decision for their team.
conquistador#11
09-10-2008, 05:54 PM
Looking back, the comparisons to Jesus may have been a little off. I don't think vince would last a day in the desert, let alone 40.
Uprising
09-10-2008, 06:07 PM
wow. this just keeps getting better and better. I forone never wanted vy, but i'll admiti wanted bush just becase of the hype by bspn and I had no idea who mario was but when they made the pick I had bo problem with mario. they know more than us fans. btw im on my gf's phone and don't know how to capitalize etc lol.
baller4life315
09-10-2008, 06:12 PM
He's probably just struggling to deal with the reality that he's just not a very good football player. Well, at least by the NFL's standards and the expectations that come with playing QB.
DieHard Rocket
09-10-2008, 06:16 PM
How is it far from reality? You point out what most people have to do - but the reality is that he's not most people. He's made probably $20+MM at this point, and if he invested it properly, he should be set for life. So he doesn't necessarily have to work to pay the bills, and he could quit if he's unhappy. So for him, the reality is that finding what makes him happy is probably the most important thing - especially from his mom's perspective.
So you're advocating that athletes should get their payday, and if they're not happy playing anymore they should quit? Imagine if Yao suddenly decided he didn't want to play basketball anymore, how we'd all think of him. At the very least Vince should honor his contract, especially after the Titans have invested millions in him.
Also, I know everything gets taken out of context through print, but my perception on this is that the NFL has gotten too hard for him, not really that he doesn't like playing football anymore. One thing that was obvious for Vince coming into the NFL is that he wasn't the brightest individual (ie wonderlic score)...and being a QB in the NFL requires a solid mind and a good work ethic. I'm just getting the feeling that he thought talent was going to carry him, and now it's all catching up with him how hard it is to play quarterback. I don't think he's clinically depressed, I think he's just realizing that he can't just coast along in the NFL and that's what's making him unhappy.
(And obviously his mom is worried about her child's well-being, just like anyone's mother would. For all we know this could be his mom overreacting and Vince is just a little down about his performance)
Major
09-10-2008, 06:23 PM
So you're advocating that athletes should get their payday, and if they're not happy playing anymore they should quit? Imagine if Yao suddenly decided he didn't want to play basketball anymore, how we'd all think of him. At the very least Vince should honor his contract, especially after the Titans have invested millions in him.
No, I'm suggesting that for him (or more directly, his mother), the idea that happiness comes first is not an idea at all divorced from reality, as you suggested. It's a perfectly viable option for him.
ROXRAN
09-10-2008, 06:28 PM
You should hear the sports talk in Nashville...Amazing how they turned on him..
macalu
09-10-2008, 07:23 PM
for all of David Carr's shortcomings, at least he could take criticism (unlike Vince) and a hit (unlike Schaub).
HillBoy
09-10-2008, 07:28 PM
The problem with being anointed as the Chosen One is that once you stop walking on water, the sharks all come out and bite your a** off.
Bogey
09-10-2008, 08:20 PM
This doesn't sound the the team first winner that everyone thought he was coming out of college.
Roc Paint
09-10-2008, 09:37 PM
Turn his *** into a punt returner instead of a pout returner.
Grandpappy
09-11-2008, 12:16 AM
How is that far from reality? If you're concerned about someone's mental health, being happy is the most important thing no matter how much you make. You're right in that a lot of people are unhappy with their job but there is no doubt that he is probably under more pressure than any of us have to handle.
Ya he makes a crapload but I don't think that should necessarily keep you from doing something that you don't enjoy. I think we tend to look at athletes and think that just because they're making a ton of money that everything else takes a backseat to that.
So you actually think playing football in the NFL has more pressure than one that has to worry about putting food on the table for their family? there are thousands of people that would give an arm and a leg to be where VY is right now. He needs to grow up and take what comes with being a professional athlete. We all have bad stretches at our jobs and none of us make even a measurable fraction of what he does so grow up quit being a baby Vince!! be glad you dont have to worry about where your next months rent or your next meal is gonna come from
threedigithomy
09-11-2008, 12:46 AM
Wait! He is loosing interest because people are booing him at the game and stopped liking him? How do you think Mario Williams felt after being taken #1 and was constantly criticized for it for 2 YEARS? He is a Quarterback, the leader of offense, and if he is worried about things like this then he need to grow a pair. All he got ever since he got in the league was support from fans, media and was even given the cover of madden, but just when things turn slightly the other way he gives up? Jeez what a fruit cake.
wreck
09-11-2008, 12:56 AM
reading the latest news really makes me angry. he wants all the success of a starting quarterback. he wants the popularity and the money that goes with it. he doesnt mind being worshiped at ut for his skills. yet he doesnt want to sacrifice. get your head on straight!
how many ppl like their job right now? how many have a dream job that pays them millions? do your job! be a man and own up to your contract. so what if people boo you? are you five years old suck it up and man up.
his legacy is cemented in college but as far as the nfl, this guy is turning into the biggest brat of them all.
Bogey
09-11-2008, 03:50 AM
What happens if a radio station in Tenn starts a pettition to get him out of town like 790 did to Carr? You can say what you want about Carr, but at least his mom did have to come out in the media defending him (that I know of).
While I do think his situation is quite embarrassing and silly, he's not obligated to honor his contract in the NFL imo. NFL contracts do not have to be honored by the team so there is no reverse obligation, no moral obligation, no duty what so ever. If it was the NBA, then I'd agree with the honoring of contracts argument, but not in the NFL where a team can cut you any time for any reason.
Colt45
09-11-2008, 05:32 AM
No, I'm suggesting that for him (or more directly, his mother), the idea that happiness comes first is not an idea at all divorced from reality, as you suggested. It's a perfectly viable option for him.
I think the divorce from reality occurs when you take into account what, apparently, it takes to make baby vince happy...unconditional adoration and a complete abscence of any criticism whatsoever. People don't like you cuz you suck at your job? Boo f***in' hoo.
Vince Young is an immature crybaby. Period. End of story.
If there's any blame for his current situation (setting aside for the moment the fact that the ONLY person he has to blame is HIMSELF) it's the ignorant douchebags that worship him and ran around here like morons crowing about what a god he is.
Suck it, losers.
I'd throw in the old line about Mario off somewhere laughing his a$$ off over this, but Mario has more class than that. Hey, look at that! ANOTHER facet of life that Mario Williams is currently kicking Vince Young's a$$ at!
BetterThanI
09-11-2008, 07:14 AM
It is quite possible that VY in Houston would be quite a different player and person than VY in Tenessee, so I can't say for 100% certain we were right. Having said that, I'm 99% certain we were right in taking Mario Williams and passing on both VY and Reggie Bush. MW is going to be a monster in this league.
Meanwhile, AM1300 in Austin was on the air yesterday admitting that VY was a borderline bust, and that the Texans made the right choice. In Austin. To Longhorn fans. Yikes. :eek:
Uprising
09-11-2008, 11:09 AM
Meanwhile, AM1300 in Austin was on the air yesterday admitting that VY was a borderline bust, and that the Texans made the right choice. In Austin. To Longhorn fans. Yikes. :eek:
LOL....now that's funny.
bobrek
09-11-2008, 11:57 AM
While I do think his situation is quite embarrassing and silly, he's not obligated to honor his contract in the NFL imo. NFL contracts do not have to be honored by the team so there is no reverse obligation, no moral obligation, no duty what so ever. If it was the NBA, then I'd agree with the honoring of contracts argument, but not in the NFL where a team can cut you any time for any reason.
NFL contracts are definitely honored. They are NOT guaranteed, so they can legally be terminated by the team. If Vince Young chooses to walk away from his contract, he should be prepared to return some of his signing bonus money.
NFL contracts are definitely honored. They are NOT guaranteed, so they can legally be terminated by the team. If Vince Young chooses to walk away from his contract, he should be prepared to return some of his signing bonus money.
But then isn't he allowed to legally retire then? If it's like a Vick thing or getting convicted of some crime that doesn't let him play, then I get it then. But players retire before the end of their contracts all the time right? And that is legal according to their CBA right?
bobrek
09-11-2008, 12:50 PM
But then isn't he allowed to legally retire then? If it's like a Vick thing or getting convicted of some crime that doesn't let him play, then I get it then. But players retire before the end of their contracts all the time right? And that is legal according to their CBA right?
He can retire any time he likes, but he may be required to pay back some of his bonus money.
Assume a player signs a 4 year, $12 million dollar contract and receives $10 million of it as a signing bonus. He will then essentially receive $500,000 salary per year. If a team cuts him after year 3 because of performance issues, he is out $500,000 from year 4 salary but is entitled to his entire bonus, thus his contract may not be guaranteed, but his bonus money is.
On the other hand, if the player decides to retire after year 3 (assuming no injury), then he may be required to return a percentage of his bonus money.
HAYJON02
09-11-2008, 01:11 PM
I doubt he asked his mother defend him in the media. Mothers are the most objective people when it comes to their kids, right?
Man, some of you guys really hate him. If he won a National Championship for whatever team you cheer for, in the fashion that he did... hoo boy you'd have Kool Aid mouth.
I hope he pulls it together. His career is still pretty young. It'd be sad if somehow he remains depressed for the rest of his career and never grows. I think he'll use this and come back stronger. It's not like he's Ryan Leaf or David Carr.
Uprising
09-11-2008, 01:16 PM
I doubt he asked his mother defend him in the media. Mothers are the most objective people when it comes to their kids, right?
Man, some of you guys really hate him. If he won a National Championship for whatever team you cheer for, in the fashion that he did... hoo boy you'd have Kool Aid mouth.
I hope he pulls it together. His career is still pretty young. It'd be sad if somehow he remains depressed for the rest of his career and never grows. I think he'll use this and come back stronger. It's not like he's Ryan Leaf or David Carr.
At least Carr could take a hit, and the criticism. (although he did suck donkey balls like VY)
pgabriel
09-11-2008, 01:19 PM
At least Carr could take a hit, and the criticism.
vince had his knee rolled up like brady, could have been a lot worse
it wasn't so much carr could take a hit, he was hit so much he knew how to take a hit, seriously
HAYJON02
09-11-2008, 01:46 PM
At least Carr could take a hit, and the criticism. (although he did suck donkey balls like VY)
As if the ability to get hit a bajillion times and not explode is a good thing. That was a fractured psyche if ever I saw one.
If this were politics, we'd just say he's upset bc he loves winning. He needs it. VY fascists aren't born, people, they're created. :D
He should use his superior speed to run around his problems. Heil Vince!
chow_yun_fat
09-11-2008, 01:46 PM
I'm not a big football fan, but maybe we can snag him (assuming we'll want him here?) after he "retires"?
khimmatramka16
09-11-2008, 03:49 PM
Young took questions from reporters for 16 minutes after watching his teammates practice. His message? Don’t question his commitment.
“Football, this is my life. This is my dream. All I did all these years growing up to get to this point and never had an injury like this before in my life,” he said.
“It’s a hard time because I’m a competitor, and I definitely want to be out on the football field with my teammates.”
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=Av.ZiZv0YzJOSqjt39Pzyns5nYcB?slug=ap-titans-young&prov=ap&type=lgns
HAYJON02
09-11-2008, 03:59 PM
Young took questions from reporters for 16 minutes after watching his teammates practice. His message? Don’t question his commitment.
“Football, this is my life. This is my dream. All I did all these years growing up to get to this point and never had an injury like this before in my life,” he said.
“It’s a hard time because I’m a competitor, and I definitely want to be out on the football field with my teammates.”
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=Av.ZiZv0YzJOSqjt39Pzyns5nYcB?slug=ap-titans-young&prov=ap&type=lgns
^The best quote...
"All that concern over his mental state? He says he was upset as he dealt with his first serious injury, and he didn’t realize he had to tell his mother where he was going anymore.
Then the media went overboard."
Right?
mateo
09-11-2008, 04:13 PM
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/8550254/Sad-to-say,-but-Young's-problems-were-predictable
Sad to say, but Young's problems were predictable
by Jason Whitlock
Updated: September 11, 2008, 3:39 PM EST add this RSS blog email print I'm going to do my best to avoid turning this into an I-told-you-so column.
But the truth is, I told you before the 2006 draft that Vince Young was primed for NFL failure. He entered the league with an attitude, mindset and supporting cast totally unprepared to survive the pressure, challenge and responsibility that goes along with the most prestigious and difficult job in all of sports.
When I explained all of this in 2006, my naive and misguided critics called me an Uncle Tom. Yeah, they ripped me for attempting to issue a young black kid a warning about what awaited him in The League and the attitude he would need to cope and excel.
Some people foolishly think it's every black media member's job to assist in the mental and emotional crippling of black youth. We're supposed to blow rainbows up the asses of every black athlete who "makes it" and assure him/her that anyone who utters a word of criticism is a jealous bigot or irrational sellout.
So, no, I'm not surprised Vince Young tried to quit in the middle of Sunday's game after throwing a second interception and hearing boos from Titans fans frustrated by his inability to read a defense or throw accurately. I'm not all that shocked that two days later Jeff Fisher called the police and asked them to hunt down his inconsistent quarterback. I'm not surprised the Titans team psychologist is apparently worried that Vince Young is suffering depression.
And I'm really not surprised that Vince Young's mother told The Tennessean that her baby boy needs a little space and a lot of love and support.
The question is, when Young rebounds from his emotional abyss and recovers from his knee injury, what kind of love and support are we going to give him? Are the people who already love Young going to replant their heads in Young's rear end and their hands in his wallet? Or will a few people within Team Vince do the right thing and level with him about what he needs to do to make it in the NFL as a quarterback?
Vince Young, like a lot of young African-American men, desperately needs to hear the truth from the people who love him. Too often we pave the road to failure for black boys by believing the cure for bigotry — and there is still plenty of bigotry in America — is the ability to recognize it in (and blame it for) everything. That cure has more negative side effects than most of the drugs trumpeted by the pharmaceutical companies in television commercials. That cure serves as a convenient crutch, and turns a talent such as Vince Young into a quitter the moment adversity strikes. That cure helped land Michael Vick in jail.
It just doesn't work. Not for Young or Vick. Not for Matt Leinart. Not for anyone who wants to star at the position and avoid the boo-birds.
No one revolutionizes the starting quarterback position. The position revolutionizes the person playing it. Just ask Donovan McNabb. He figured it out and changed his game. Over the objection of idiots, McNabb developed his skills as a pocket passer. He concentrated on becoming a student of the game. If he can stay healthy over the next three or four years, McNabb will surpass Warren Moon as the best black quarterback ever to play the game.
Unfortunately, there are still people, especially black people, who don't appreciate McNabb. They think he let "us" down by de-emphasizing his athleticism, and they criticize him for being cozy with his organization the way Peyton Manning is with the Colts and Brady is with the Patriots.
McNabb doesn't get to enjoy the luxury of being a company man the way other franchise QBs in their prime do.
But McNabb has never threatened to quit or asked out of a game because the Philly fans were too rough. McNabb understands that in some instances the scrutiny of a black quarterback might be a tad more intense than that of a white one. He also understands that the best way to combat it isn't whining. It's performance. It's work ethic. It's professionalism.
It's not a coincidence that McNabb comes from a supportive, two-parent household.
I bring that up not to castigate Vince Young and his mother. I don't even know the story of Young's upbringing.
I raise the issue to point out that in modern professional sports — with the astronomical players' salaries — ownership and management examine the upbringing of the athletes and factor that into their decision-making.
Vick's failure, Young's potential failure and the guaranteed money they were given will make ownership more reluctant to anoint another kid from the 'hood a franchise quarterback straight out of college.
It's not about color. It's about fitting the profile of someone who can handle all that goes along with being an NFL quarterback. If I'm an owner, I spend my quarterback dollars on young men who were raised by strong fathers. It wouldn't be an infallible system, but on average I bet I'd hit more winners than if I turned over the leadership of my team to a kid who isn't used to having a strong male authority figure.
As black people, we need to ask ourselves whether we are doing a good job preparing our boys for positions of immense leadership, responsibility and scrutiny.
As black people, we need to ask ourselves whether we are doing a good job preparing our boys for positions of immense leadership, responsibility and scrutiny.
You are going to get criticized playing quarterback. If your instinct is to dismiss the criticism as racist, maybe you shouldn't play the position. If you are surrounded by people who spend every waking minute telling you that you can do no wrong and that everyone who criticizes you is a bigot, then maybe you shouldn't play quarterback.
The position requires thick skin and genuine self-confidence. If you need four or five male groupies with you at all times, a half million dollars of jewelry around your neck and wrists and a dozen tattoos to feel confident, then maybe you should play wide receiver or start rapping.
The average NFL fan has no idea how much time a franchise spends working on self-esteem issues with a typical player. You think these guys are self-assured. Many of them are not. They self-medicate with booze, drugs, steroids, bling, women and attention-getting stunts such as name changes.
Remember when Terrell Owens' assistant claimed he had 25 million reasons to live? It was an accidental moment of clarity and honesty. Too many players have their whole sense of self-worth tied up in their contracts.
It doesn't take much to crack a man with no real identity, especially if he's grown accustomed to having all of his shortcomings rationalized.
You can e-mail Jason Whitlock at Ballstate68@aol.com.
Uprising
09-11-2008, 04:24 PM
So did shares of the Wonderlick (sp?!) ...(whatever it was called) test shoot through the roof? :D
That was a tremendous article. Wow.
And I *rarely* agree with Whitlock.
khimmatramka16
09-11-2008, 04:34 PM
Young took questions from reporters for 16 minutes after watching his teammates practice. His message? Don’t question his commitment.
“Football, this is my life. This is my dream. All I did all these years growing up to get to this point and never had an injury like this before in my life,” he said.
“It’s a hard time because I’m a competitor, and I definitely want to be out on the football field with my teammates.”
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=Av.ZiZv0YzJOSqjt39Pzyns5nYcB?slug=ap-titans-young&prov=ap&type=lgns
pgabriel
09-11-2008, 04:53 PM
That was a tremendous article. Wow.
And I *rarely* agree with Whitlock.
i hate to make this comment and then evacuate, but you are the only person agreeing with this article, look in the d&d
it has no direction. mike vick and vince young are two separate cases
why is alex smith failing, why is leinart failing. why did ryan leaf fail, this article is stupid trying to bring too many issues together
i hate to make this comment and then evacuate, but you are the only person agreeing with this article, look in the d&d
it has no direction. mike vick and vince young are two separate cases
why is alex smith failing, why is leinart failing. why did ryan leaf fail, this article is stupid trying to bring too many issues together
Those are fair questions; I admittedly gave it only a casual read.
Major
09-11-2008, 07:20 PM
You are going to get criticized playing quarterback. If your instinct is to dismiss the criticism as racist, maybe you shouldn't play the position. If you are surrounded by people who spend every waking minute telling you that you can do no wrong and that everyone who criticizes you is a bigot, then maybe you shouldn't play quarterback.
What black quarterback has blamed his failure on racism? :confused:
flipmode
09-11-2008, 09:48 PM
what does vy's lack of success have to do with racism? :confused: whitlock is way off base, trying to make a story.
bottlerocket
09-11-2008, 09:57 PM
I'm not a VY or TITans fan but they should have ease him into the offense rather than have him start most of the games his rookie year. The Philly Eagles are doing that with UH's Kevin Kolb which will have a better career than VY.
Highsight is 20/20 but who cares they are not my team any more. Screw you Bud Adams!
steddinotayto
09-11-2008, 10:24 PM
Like I said in the thread in the Hangout, Young just had a big dose of reality smacked right into his face.
National College Champion? It's over. They retired your number in Austin. It's time to stop sitting on this one accomplishment
Offensive Rookie of the Year? Who else that year was going to challenge you? And Caddy Williams won this award too.
Pro-Bowl Selection? You were selected as an alternate along with another young QB that year because Rivers was injured. Get over yourself.
The only part of Whitlock's article that I 100% agree on is the part where Young needs to start thinking like McNabb did a few years back. Granted, Young's arm and accuracy isn't as great as McNabb's BUT that doesn't mean he shouldn't try to improve staying inside the pocket.
SwoLy-D
09-11-2008, 10:54 PM
*WRONG FORUM* :rolleyes: NOT a Texans, Astros, Comets, or even Houston current athlete.
"Texans, Astros, Comets
Other Houston sports besides the Rockets? Talk about the NFL's Houston Texans, the MLB's Houston Astros, the WNBA' Houston Comets or the MLS' Houston Dynamo"
;)
MacFu
09-17-2008, 02:37 PM
note to athletes
do not, i repeat do not have mom speak for you when you are struggling
Do you honestly believe that Vince Young wanted his mom to talk to the media? His mom was 'trapped' by the reporters to say something controversial. A better advice would be: "Tell your mom not to speak to the media when you are struggling".
pgabriel
09-17-2008, 02:50 PM
Do you honestly believe that Vince Young wanted his mom to talk to the media? His mom was 'trapped' by the reporters to say something controversial. A better advice would be: "Tell your mom not to speak to the media when you are struggling".
I agree
and also right now, the debate is cutler/williams. the broncos stole him
and also right now, the debate is cutler/williams. the broncos stole him
The debate never was and never will be cutler/williams. No team--not one--had Cutler even in its top five. Surprises come in the draft *every* year; it's disingenuous, three years later, to suddenly shift the debate to some other lower-drafted guy because he's turning out better than all of them.
Bush/Williams
no, wait: VY/Williams
No, no, no: CUTLER/Williams!!
If you ask me, the *real* debate is Demeco Ryans/Williams.
This "debate" is soooo 2006. Move the hell on already.
pgabriel
09-18-2008, 10:29 AM
The debate never was and never will be cutler/williams. No team--not one--had Cutler even in its top five. Surprises come in the draft *every* year; it's disingenuous, three years later, to suddenly shift the debate to some other lower-drafted guy because he's turning out better than all of them.
so i can't say the real debate may be cutler/williams (quit taking things so personally)
but you can say this
If you ask me, the *real* debate is Demeco Ryans/Williams.
This "debate" is soooo 2006. Move the hell on already.
again, no reason to be upset, several points, alot of people thought cutler was the best qb in the draft and secondly, he was taken 11, demeco ryans was a second rounder so you killed your own point.
pgabriel
09-18-2008, 10:30 AM
^^^^
I know you assume I hate mario but that's far from the case, I'm just not a homer, chill out, seriously, you get your panties in a wad everytime I join in this dicussion
TMac640
09-18-2008, 10:54 AM
^^^^
I know you assume I hate mario but that's far from the case, I'm just not a homer, chill out, seriously, you get your panties in a wad everytime I join in this dicussion
Lol, replying to yourself pgabriel?
pgabriel
09-18-2008, 10:57 AM
Lol, replying to yourself pgabriel?
my bad, after 20K posts I still don't know how to accurately use the symbols and lingo
(quit taking things so personally)
Genuinely sorry my post came across that way. I was grinning when I typed, it and generally just cutting up.
so i can't say the real debate may be cutler/williams, but you can say this [the real debate is demeco/williams]
I was attempting to point out that we could take anyone from that draft who looks good and insert his name there.
again, no reason to be upset
Seriously wasn't upset. I wasn't even trying to push your buttons. Just cutting up. My bad.
alot of people thought cutler was the best qb in the draft
Yes, but no one had him in their top 5.
he was taken 11, demeco ryans was a second rounder so you killed your own point.
No, my point was you can put *any* name from that draft that looks good now into the "the debate is now _____/williams" statement and they're all disingenuous. And I picked a second rounder just to be silly.
I know you assume I hate mario but that's far from the case, I'm just not a homer, chill out, seriously, you get your panties in a wad everytime I join in this dicussion
I'm not a "homer", either; I've predicted a manhandling by the Tits this weekend. And no, your joining the discussion doesn't "wad my panties"; you're just not that important to me.
pgabriel
09-18-2008, 11:54 AM
No, my point was you can put *any* name from that draft that looks good now into the "the debate is now _____/williams" statement and they're all disingenuous. And I picked a second rounder just to be silly.
again, jay cutler was projected by some as the best qb in the draft, considering what we gave up the very next year to sign one, he's very relevant.
again, jay cutler was projected by some as the best qb in the draft, considering what we gave up the very next year to sign one, he's very relevant.
The entire discussion is irrelevant. Again, I can point to any number of players who weren't drafted #1 and who turned out great. Three years later, to arbitrarily shift the "Texans should've drafted ______ instead of MW" debate to some other player because everybody's first two darlings haven't quite panned out is the very definition of disingenuous.
pgabriel
09-18-2008, 12:06 PM
first two darlings haven't quite panned out is the very definition of disingenuous.
and again, we have your real issue, chill out. i am acknowledging that mario is one of the top two if not top player out that draft. panties, wad
edit: i guess since you've made all kind of assumptions about my comment, you were thinking about me
and again, we have your real issue, chill out. i am acknowledging that mario is one of the top two if not top player out that draft. panties, wad
edit: i guess since you've made all kind of assumptions about my comment, you were thinking about me
I've said nothing uncalm whatsoever. Look, if you want a fight go look in a mirror or hit the restroom. I'm not game for it. Have fun arguing with yourself.
pgabriel
09-18-2008, 12:52 PM
I've said nothing uncalm whatsoever. Look, if you want a fight go look in a mirror or hit the restroom. I'm not game for it. Have fun arguing with yourself.
You've called my post disingenous, and you told me to move the hell on already and then you accuse of trying to pump up my darling.
but you aren't looking to argue or fight LOL
I love when posters used this tactic, hey I replyed in a confrontational manner, but I'm above this and not looking to fight
ummkay
edit: and btw, I was just giving Jay cutler some props as one of the best players out of that draft because he had a great first two weeks. no hidden agenda
rhino17
09-18-2008, 12:53 PM
Vince Young = Quarterback
Raven Lunatic
09-18-2008, 03:56 PM
I love when posters used this tactic, hey I replyed in a confrontational manner, but I'm above this and not looking to fight
Kind of like when posters use the "panties in a wad" tactic and accuse people of being overly upset when in reality they have no real concrete evidence whatsoever as to what state of mind a person was in when they posted an argument.
pgabriel
09-18-2008, 04:00 PM
Kind of like when posters use the "panties in a wad" tactic and accuse people of being overly upset when in reality they have no real concrete evidence whatsoever as to what state of mind a person was in when they posted an argument.
whatever,
comments like "move the hell on already" don't have any bearing on state of mind.
ummmkay
and lastly, if he was so upset about the retread topic, why didn't he tell the threadstarter to "move the hell on"
whatever,
comments like "move the hell on already" don't have any bearing on state of mind.
ummmkay
and lastly, if he was so upset about the retread topic, why didn't he tell the threadstarter to "move the hell on"
How many apologies do you want, pgabriel?
Genuinely sorry my post came across that way. I was grinning when I typed, it and generally just cutting up.
Seriously wasn't upset. I wasn't even trying to push your buttons. Just cutting up. My bad.
That first reply of mine *did* come across confrontational--when it was not meant to be. I apologized. Do you want flowers, too?
pgabriel
09-19-2008, 08:58 AM
no, i would just like you to stop accusing me of having an anti mario agenda, which you did after you apologized. that's my only point, you don't have to apologize or send me flowers, just stop reading so much into my posts. like I said, i was just giving cutler some respect since he was pretty much the player of the week and he was in that draft. that's all.
no, i would just like you to stop accusing me of having an anti mario agenda, which you did after you apologized.
I did no such thing. "because everybody's first two darlings haven't quite panned out" was a reference to the entire nation's droolfest over two other players--it was in no wise a personal cut against you. I was responding to your statement that the debate is now Cutler vs. Williams, and that is all.
If you read anything else into that statement, I'm sorry. It wasn't there. Seriously, I'm too tired this week to be picking fights with strangers on the Internet.
I know I've given you a hard time about VY before, but that just wasn't the intent this time. If I remember correctly, you've given Mario props before for his good performance, so it would be silly of me to accuse you of some agenda.
DaDakota
09-19-2008, 09:33 AM
Vince will come around, you will see....I still believe in you VY....but ya gotta kick your gravy training mom to the curb.
DD
macalu
09-19-2008, 10:29 AM
Vince will come around, you will see....I still believe in you VY....but ya gotta kick your gravy training mom to the curb.
DD
Let it go...DD. :)
ima_drummer2k
09-19-2008, 10:50 AM
Vince will come around, you will see....I still believe in you VY....but ya gotta kick your gravy training mom to the curb.
DD
Seriously, the delusional UT fans are the only fans in the world who still think Vince wasn't a complete bust. Even tit fans have figured it out.
Yes, I know he was an alternate for the Pro Bowl 2 years ago who got lucky when someone else got injured.
pgabriel
09-19-2008, 11:28 AM
Seriously, the delusional UT fans are the only fans in the world who still think Vince wasn't a complete bust. Even tit fans have figured it out.
wow, one rookie season with rookie of the year, one bad season, and one game, and he's a complete bust. yeah, i'm delusional
i'm bout as delusional as the guys who predict texan wins every week^^^^
A_3PO
09-19-2008, 12:12 PM
wow, one rookie season with rookie of the year, one bad season, and one game, and he's a complete bust. yeah, i'm delusional
i'm bout as delusional as the guys who predict texan wins every week^^^^
You said it. :D
On VY, if he doesn't bounce back and show some serious snap THIS season, people who feel he's a bust have a legitimate point. I loved him at UT and wanted Vince to succeed in the NFL, but it doesn't look good right now.
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