Titans’ Young will not be suspended
Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young will not be disciplined by the NFL for his involvement in an altercation on 13 June at a Dallas-area strip club.
The NFL is expected to officially make the announcement as early as Thursday, according to The Tennessean, which first reported the news.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell had said in late June that Young was unlikely to be suspended because he was a first-time legal offender who received a misdemeanor citation for assault.
Young later apologized to the Titans organization, his teammates, his family and his loyal fans that have stuck by him through his ups and downs in the pros. He also said he hoped Goodell wouldn’t come down hard on him with a suspension, because he owned up to his mistake.
"I prayed to God that Roger Goodell wouldn’t come down hard on me, because I definitely want to be here for my teammates," an apologetic Young said.
Surveillance video footage released by the Dallas police revealed Young accompanied by several people talking in a small room before the quarterback attacked the man in the room. Young has apologized and said he hoped he wouldn't receive a suspension.
"Just made a mistake, made a mistake even being there and let that guy provoke me into doing what I did," Young said. "Fell into his hands, what he wanted me to do so he could do what he's doing now. At the same time, let my lawyers take care of it."
Young, who played his college football at The University of Texas, led his team to a BCS National Championship against the defending champions, University of Southern California, in the 2006 during the Rose Bowl, was provoked when the man he attacked made a downward Longhorns sign.
Young wouldn't go into any further details after the altercations, but admitted that he pushed the victim and no punches were traded.
"Vince is walking on his own on this one," Fisher told the Tennessean. This is a decision he made. It's not a good decision.” But Young is now on a short leash. If he gets into trouble again, he could suffer the same fate as Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger.
The Steelers’ quarterback was suspended as a repeat offender after an incident in which he allegedly sexually assaulted a young woman.
Young, the long-term answer at quarterback for the Titans, understands how close he came to being suspended and will make smarter decisions moving forward.
"Vince has taken responsibility for it. I would think he has learned a lesson," Fisher told the Tennessean. "This may be a setback. But in the long run, I don't think it's going to affect him."
Young, the third overall pick in 2006, is a legend in Texas but has yet to cement the same legacy in the pros that he did during his collegiate career. Young got his starting job back last fall when Tennessee started 0-6. Head coach Jeff Fisher replaced the gray bearded Kerry Collins and put the 27-year-old back in the lineup.
Young helped Tennessee win eight of their final 10 and heads into his fifth NFL season with a 26-13 record as a starter.
While the Titans have dodged one bullet, they are not out of the woods just yet. Chris Johnson, who rushed for 2,006 yards last season, is unhappy with his salary.
Johnson is going to make $550,000 next year, the third year of his contract. . "I can't play for $550,000" he said. "The money that I am playing for, I am getting paid less than the starting 11 [on offence] and I'm one of the lowest-paid starting running back. Fisher did not try to downplay the situation and said this is "clearly an issue.”
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