Titans take Young at No. 3
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Vince Young will succeed Steve McNair, the man who has mentored him on and off the field in recent years. That relationship may not continue as teammates with the Titans though because the team wants to rework McNair?s pricey contract for relief from his $23.46 million salary cap number.
The Titans, with the third pick, had three outstanding quarterbacks to choose among. Matt Leinart had worked under Titans offensive coordinator Norm Chow at Southern California, and Jay Cutler of Vanderbilt was the sentimental pick locally.
General manager Floyd Reese said Young?s upside was the deciding factor.
?Last night at 2:30, I was on my knees praying … he will rewrite the position. This guy physically is such a combination of arms and legs. People want to make him out to be a Michael Vick. He?s not that. He?s different,? Reese said.
?This guy, he led the nation in college as a junior in passing efficiency. This guy is special. Now we have to get him special in the NFL, and that?s why it?s going to take a little bit of time. And we realize that. It?s a big jump.?
But the Titans have experience gambling on athletic ability ? they made McNair the No. 3 pick overall in 1995, then watched him take the franchise to its only Super Bowl and two AFC championship games.
That helped lead them to make the 6-foot-4, 229-pound Young the choice.
He is faster than Leinart or Cutler, running the 40-yard dash in 4.57 seconds. The crowning moment of his Longhorns career came Jan. 4 in the Rose Bowl when he passed for 267 yards and ran for 200 more, including an 8-yard scramble on fourth down for the winning touchdown and the national championship.
Reese said he doubts Young?s close relationship with McNair will help negotiations. The NFL Players Association is taking a grievance against the Titans to an arbitrator charging the team breached McNair?s contract by not allowing him to work out on their property.
Young said in a conference call from New York that he learned the NFL is a business from McNair.
?I just know that he?s behind me, just like my father figure, and he?s going to protect me if he?s there or if he?s not there. We?re still going to be very close and still going to be the best of friends,? Young said.
The Titans had studied each of the three top quarterbacks extensively, putting each through private workouts with their own receivers. Coach Jeff Fisher said Young?s workout was ?truly impressive.?
?I haven?t seen anything like that before. We?re going to be facing the temptation to play him a lot sooner than we should. We?ll keep things in perspective and bring things along at a good pace,? Fisher said.