Young not ready for Primetime

You have to wonder whether Vince Young knows what job he's applying for, or if he even realizes that he is "applying" for a job.

The NFL doesn't recruit starting quarterbacks. It's not the Marines out looking for a few good men. When it comes to picking its quarterbacks, The League is Halle Berry on Oscar night. She can pick any designer she pleases, and the world's most renowned designers are just grateful for the opportunity to be considered.

Vince Young doesn't get this. He thinks joining the NFL will be similar to joining the NCAA. He mistakenly believes he's holding all (or most of) the cards, and that come April's draft some lucky GM is going to feel like a lottery winner when Vince Young stands next to Paul Tagliabue and pulls on a Saints or Texans or Titans cap.

Vince Young is clueless. And I'm not talking about his score on the Wonderlic test. I'm talking about his understanding of what it takes to make it in the NFL as a quarterback.

Humility is the No. 1 ingredient.

The most prestigious and most difficult job in all of sports -- NFL quarterback -- is played at a high level by the men willing to humble themselves and prepare like each Sunday is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

This isn't the NBA, and Young isn't Shaquille O'Neal. You don't get the first half of the season to play your way into shape. It's not Major League Baseball, and Young isn't Roger Clemens. You don't get to stay at home with your family on certain road trips.

This isn't the University of Texas, and Young is no longer able to rely on his superior athleticism and instincts to outduel his competitors.

Young's success in the NFL will hinge almost exclusively on his willingness to prepare. And that's exactly what Young's Wonderlic score and other curious decisions call into question -- his will to prepare and his level of humility.

The fact that Young had to take the Wonderlic twice in order to score a 16 is an indication to me that Young did not prepare for the test, particularly the first time. That speaks to Young's arrogance. So does his choice in representation and his decision to visit the president and the White House sans sports coat and tie.

Are you following me?

When you have a chance at being the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, securing a $25 million signing bonus and landing one of the 32 most important jobs in professional sports, you don't pick a family friend and local criminal defense attorney (Major Adams) to head up your campaign.

That's not keeping it real. It's foolish and arrogant. It raises questions about your decision-making and maturity.

Now, had Young wanted to give Major Adams a break, Young could've easily stipulated to any experienced potential agent that Adams work as co-counsel. A deal such as this would've provided Adams with a tremendous learning experience and protected Young's interest.

It would've given Team Vince, the loosely formed management posse representing Young, some much-needed professionalism. A seasoned agent might be able to explain to Young the difference between being an NFL quarterback and an NBA small forward.

Small forwards travel with posses decked out in white T's, bling bling and agents in sweat suits. NFL quarterbacks don't.

When Young hit radio row at Super Bowl XL with posse and Major Adams in tow, that was the first time I sensed that Young might not grasp that the rules are different for QBs and DBs. When I learned that the leader of Young's posse (and the man calling the real shots for Team Vince) is a longtime friend and Houston nightclub owner who goes by the nickname "Black," that's when I told a friend to keep an eye on Young's draft stock.

"It's gonna dip."

A starting NFL quarterback is the face of a billion-dollar corporation. He is one of the three or four highest-profile individuals in his city and perhaps in his state. His every move is cussed, discussed and analyzed by millions of people who don't have a clue about playing the position.

It's impossible to exaggerate just how much more important the NFL is than every other sport in this country. Vince Young foolishly thinks that the Texas Longhorns and Mack Brown are more important than the Houston Texans and Gary Kubiak. Young thinks playing USC for the national championship was real pressure.

Playing quarterback in the NFL is the equivalent of getting in the sack with Jenna Jameson. Oh, everybody wants to do it, but it can be an incredibly humbling and "short" experience.

Just ask Ryan Leaf or countless other can't-miss prospects. Michael Vick is in the process of getting humbled. He was supposed to reinvent the position. I don't believe the position will ever be reinvented. The guys who have consistent success will always be the guys who prepare the hardest.

Before any NFL owner gives Young a bunch of guaranteed dollars, the general manager better make sure Young is going to hit the film room and practice field just as hard as Peyton Manning, Donovan McNabb and Tom Brady. The GM also should make sure that the head coach and offensive coordinator -- not some let's-hit-the-strip-clubs posse member -- have the ear of the quarterback.

Playing QB in The League is a different animal.

It's an honor. So far, Vince Young isn't treating it like an honor. He's treating it like it's his right, granted to him by an MVP performance in the Rose Bowl. You can be a fool and argue that Young proved all he needed to prove in Texas' upset of USC. Hmm. Didn't Redskins running back Tim Smith and Cowboys cornerback Larry Brown have big games on football's biggest stage and later prove to be frauds? And what don't people understand about the concept that NFL quarterbacks have to prove themselves week to week?

Right now Young is proving that he doesn't have the necessary intangibles to thrive as a starting QB. He carries himself like a wide receiver.

I agree that having his friend as his only agent is a bad idea. The rest...I think is a part of growing up. Not all good QB's comming out of college were groomed for the position like the Mannings were.

[cashpath]

Maybe he wants his stock to drop so he can be like Big Ben and goto a good team...

[bfy222]

That article is stupid if you ask me. Since when is humility a key trait to be an NFL player. Eli Manning is off to a good start to his career and his draft day showed how much humility he had. Joe Namath and Jim McMahon won Super Bowls and i dont think anybody would tell you they were humble. The guy clearly has amazing ability and great football instincts and i would put him #3 on my draft board after R Bush and D Ferguson.

[Dlove]

What a bunch of horse poop. The guy is a great talent. Of course he's having himself a great time. He's being playing football his whole life. Brown says he's one of the most coachable players he's ever coached. To me that means his NFL coach will have his ear and he'll listen. I'm not saying it's going to be easy but nothing in the NFL is. No one here can predict how he is going to play.

[Ghs]

This is just Vince Young being Vince Young. We're talking about the kid who got Mack Brown to change his ways. You really think he's going to stop being that person because of the stereotypical NFL QB.

And since when are NFL QB's always humble? Culpepper thought he was the man last year, Peyton put the blame on his own O-Line, Eli demanded a trade. Hmmm sounds real humble.

Sounds to me the person who wrote the article doesn't really know football. Here's the 4 things ya need.

1. Football smarts, who cares about the wonderlic? I'd like to see how that helps a recognize 4-3 front that shifts to a 3-4 and blitzes the backside backer while rolling to cover 2.

2. Physical Talent- If you have the physical gifts you can go a long way on that alone.

3. Confidence - If you know you can, you can. And we all know one thing Vince doesn't lack is a confidence in his abilities.

4. You don't have to have this one, but ya do if you wanna win. A decent cast of players around you. See Big Ben having the worst passer rating in SB history and still winning.

[Chaos6]

While the guy writing the artical clearly does not like Young, he does have some good points.

First off, I dont know if I want a guy that has to take the Wonderlick test twice, and then still scores a pitiful score, running my offense and trying to lead my team.

Next, Quarterbacks are supposed to be leaders. I dont know many people willing to follow an imature kid who thinks he is "Gods Gift" but hasnt proven a damn thing yet.

So I do see where the artical is going.

[smelly J]

Totally, vince young is (was?) a god at the Quarterback position. I think if he gets drafted to the saints, he is going to pull a micheal Vick and be a really high rushing yard QB for like 2 years then hes gonna get beter at passing.. lol but whos gonna be his best reciever? Joe horn will like get doubled cuz no other recievers are any good

[Buckeye!]

honestly people are still just stabbing this issue too much if you ask me

i mean
if you watch highlights, those awesome passes weren't just luck.. but being a run first quarterback works in NCAA, not that much in the NFL.

Michael vick can get stuff done by running when the defense doesnt expect it, but they adjust.
Vince Young can be a prodigy or a burnout

i just want time to tell

In college, you can be a great athlete without being a great player, and still outclass everyone on the field.

In the NFL, most players are great athletes. It's those that become great players that make a difference.

By humility, I think the guy is talking about realizing that the game is greater than him. Peyton has an ego, yes, but he studies game film. He puts in the work.

If I had a pick, I wouldn't pick Young unless he somehow were to show me he's willing and able to put forth that kind of effort and dedication.

[RHCP]

If Young can show that he has dedication then he shouldnt have any reason not to be a successful NFL Qb, but its that dedication that he needs and i dont knwo if he has it, maybe he does? but he needs to prove it first, it cant just be assumed...

[titansrule]

Titans should take him at 3...

[steve0-42]

Vince Young is a little over rated to me... but he shouldnt be talking just yet. he should wait till he earns a name for himself on the team he is gonna be drafted to.then we can all judge him but i think it would be nice if the Packers picked him up!!
Go Packers!!

Vince Young is overhyped. Where have I heard all the speil before...

hmm...

Kordell Stewart...
Akili Smith...
Michael Vick...

...great just wht the NFL needs, another quarterback with career averages of 120 passing ypg; 80 rush ypg, 1.1 tdpg; 1.5 int pg.

eventually everyone will realize that the "athlete quarterback" is overblown, and want their quarterbacks to...gasp...throw.

[cashpath]

I want my QB to 'gasp' WIN So i can agree on the Stewart and Smith thing.. but go check out Vicks winning pct sometime.

Although Kordell Stewart wasn't drafted till the 60th pick overall, so not sure how overhyped he was...