NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher said though he had an assistant tell Vince Young not to attend a team meeting, the quarterback has not been banned from the team's headquarters.
Fisher said Tuesday night on his weekly radio show that he looked for Young in the locker room before the team meeting. Fisher said he couldn't find Young, so he sent an assistant coach to tell Young he was not welcome in the meeting for "obvious reasons."
Fisher said he didn't want Young in Monday's meeting because he had to update the Titans (5-5) on the quarterback's situation. Young, who had tossed his pads into the stands on Sunday, had a heated exchange with Fisher before Young stormed out of the stadium.
The Tennessee Titans had earlier issued a statement on Tuesday saying quarterback Vince Young was told not to attend a team meeting a day after storming out of the stadium.
The Titans issued the statement Tuesday after news reports that claimed an assistant coach told Young to leave the facility Monday morning. The team said the reports were "incorrect," but admitted some kind of conversation took place.
According to the statement, Young "was informed by a coach at the facility not to attend Monday's team meeting and was free to leave."
The meeting was to talk "about Young's situation and how the team would move forward."
The statement also stated that "players that are on injured reserve are not required to attend team meetings. As of today (Tuesday), he has been placed on injured reserve and all the same rules apply to him as to any other player in that category."
The Titans put Young on injured reserve after he tore the flexor tendon in the thumb of his throwing hand during the third quarter of Sunday's 19-16 overtime loss to the Washington Redskins.
Young had a heated exchange with head coach Jeff Fisher after Young reportedly tossed his jersey and shoulder pads into the stands at LP Field following Sunday's loss.
ESPN.com reported Fisher told Titans players that the 5-year veteran would not be allowed to join the rest of the team for the Monday meeting.
During his weekly news conference, Fisher said rookie quarterback Rusty Smith would start for the Titans until back-up Kerry Collins recovered from a calf injury suffered during the loss to Miami last week.
Fisher said the Titans would sign former Titans reserve quarterback Chris Simms as Smith's back-up until Collins' return.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
QB Vince Young throws during the second quarter of the Titans 19-16 overtime loss to the Washington Redskins at LP Field. (AP Photo)
