Wouldn’t say this is shocking or controversial or anything, but am I the only person noticing something of a racial divide in the nation’s reaction to Vince Young’s recent behavior.
On the NFL Network, Michael Irvin and Deion Sanders were 100 percent in Young’s corner, while Steve Mariucci seemed to only support Jeff Fisher, the Titans’ coach. In the media, the mostly white columnist of America have slayed Young left and right. Meanwhile my good friend Jemele Hill, ESPN.com columnist and all-around excellent human being, used a recent piece to note that Young (as well as Oakland’s Jason Campbell and Washington’s Donovan McNabb) might be the victims of racism. (The best Young-related piece was written by Jason Whitlock, who makes the case that Young’s half-assed approach is to blame).
What do I think?
I think Vince Young is an idiot—an idiot who has been a pretty mediocre NFL quarterback. Based upon one fantastic game against USC, Young was annointed Quarterback of the Future, even though he was an erratic thrower with a so-so approach to work. Then he arrived in Tennessee and, well, meh. Just a middle-of-the-pack player with otherworldly gifts and nary a clue how to use them. Has Fisher been wrong not to approach Young more directly? Probably. But this guy is supposed to lead an NFL team, not spend two hours per day in the play gym while mommy shops. You work hard. You study. You dedicate yourself to winning. Period.
Maybe I should be a wee-bit less harsh, but when it came out today that Young texted Fisher an apology, eh, that was it. As far as I’m concerned, it’s over for Vince Young. He’s a baby, not a man.
Just a baby.
