Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young arguably made the most exciting play in a college football National Championship game when he nearly single-handedly knocked off the “unbeatable” USC Trojans.  Life was great; he was on the top of the world and was soon drafted as the Titans top pick in the ’06 Draft. 

Quickly after the tickertape parades and glowing compliments about his elusiveness, the harsh criticisms that come with being a starting quarterback in the NFL came down upon Young.  Before he even threw his first pass in the league, many questioned his unorthodox side-armed throwing motion, and many USC Trojans like me couldn’t wait to see the speed of pro linebackers and the complicated nature of professional defenses slow him down. 

With 2 NFL seasons now under his belt, Young has seemingly begun to crumble under the extreme pressure of the league.  After not making the playoffs his first season and a 1st round loss to the Chargers in last year’s playoffs, where the Titans only put up 6 points, the insane impatience of football fans with Young’s lack of magic has bogged the 25 year-old down.  Where’s the guy that ran all over and around USC? 

His opening day knee injury that could keep him out for up to 4 weeks sent Young on a disappearing act Monday night that had his family, friends, and head coach so worried, the police were sent to search for him.  Some say that he’s emotionally troubled and has grown weary of all the negativity he faces as an NFL star.  Others were worried that when he sped off without his cell phone he had plans of harming himself since he keeps a handgun in the glove compartment.  Now that the team, along with its psychologist, know he had thoughts of quitting football, Young and head coach Jeff Fisher are saying the dramatic conclusion to his “disappearance” has been blown out of proportion. 

Good, because now that I know this whole thing really wasn’t a possible suicide and that he was only eating chicken wings and watching Monday Night Football with his friend, I can speak on this with a free conscience.   I’m not an animal.

Vince’s mother, Felicia Young got involved from the beginning, worried that her son wasn’t alright.  “Vince has gone through a whole lot as a young person, “'Felicia Young said to The Tennessean newspaper.  “And I think he has done pretty well up to this point. But it is hard, all he is going through right now. He's hurting inside and out.  But he will be fine if people are prayerful and help my baby boy out.”  BABY BOY??

Aww, nothing’s more touching than a mother’s love for her little boy.  After all these years of playing the rough, rugged sport of football, Vince hasn’t had that talk with his mother where he makes sure she doesn’t swing her purse at the ‘bullies’ pushing her son around?  Now that this is out, his teammates have ammunition to fire at him for fun, opposing fans have new material for signs to make fun of him with, and his opponents have a new goal of deflating and burying his fragile spirits.  If she thought he was having a hard time before, wait until he returns.

When will mothers learn that they will always have their little “Sugar Bear,” but they have to keep that stuff under wraps?  During my freshman year at college, one student’s mother left a message on his answering machine that the entire floor of smart asses heard.  She began with the devastating words of “Heeey Boo Bear!”  After 10 years of ridicule and trash talking that questioned his manhood, this man’s life was only salvaged because he’s not famous. 

Felicia Young may have thought she was helping her baby boy out.  She may think the reporters at the Tennessean she gave these exclusive words to were concerned about her Puddin’ Pop, but in reality, they were laughing.  Sure, the reports were serious and concerned about his safety, but when it all comes down to it, I’m not the only ass that’s going to have fun at the expense of Vulnerable Vince…he just needs some space, his teddy bear, and a warm glass of milk. 

--JJJ

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