Jul 30, 2013; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans fans endure the rain to watch their team practice during training camp at Saint Thomas Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
It appears as though that I’m not the only Tennessee Titans enthusiast who’ll maintain an interest in the Green Bay Packers—at least through August.
For Vince Young, 2013 has been an eventful year. This past May, Young became the first member of his family to graduate when he completed a Youth and Community Studies Degree from the University of Texas. Young was 30-plus credit hours short of a degree when he declared for the 2006 NFL Draft.
Let’s fast forward to August 5. At age 30, many critics believed that Young had played his last down in the NFL. How many people would’ve predicted that Young would sign a one-year deal to possibly serve as the No. 2 quarterback behind Aaron Rodgers? According to ESPN Bureau reporter Josina Anderson:
I'm told Vince Young has signed his deal with the #Packers.
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) August 5, 2013
Young has always been an incredibly talented athlete. That athleticism helped him compile a 30-17 starting record with the Titans, 31-19 overall. Two things that kept him from becoming a top-tier professional quarterback: behavior and intelligence. He didn’t demonstrate the ability to handle himself as a team leader.
There’s a zero-percent chance that Young competes for a starting job. Of course, if Rodgers continues to get sacked as often as he did last season (team allowed 51 sacks in 2012), Young could see some action. Packers left tackle Bryan Bulaga was lost for the season after he reportedly tore his ACL. That leaves concerns at both offensive tackle positions. Graham Harrell and B.J. Coleman have done little to show that they’re capable of handling the backup quarterback duties.
Or maybe the Packers are just bringing him so they can emulate Colin Kaepernick and Robert Griffin III—the opposing quarterbacks in their first two regular-season matchups. Regardless, Young couldn’t ask for a finer opportunity than to spend one season behind Rodgers and learning from Mike McCarthy, the Packers head coach who’s considered as a quarterback guru.
What do our readers think? Would you like to see Young’s career take an unexpected turn to stardom during his 30s? Or would that just make you think, “what could’ve been had he remained in Nashville?”
Simply put—are you rooting for or against him? Answer in the poll below.