NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A large poster of Vince Young has been removed from LP Field just weeks after the announcement that the Tennessee Titans were parting ways with their former first round draft pick after a rocky 5-year relationship.
Young's larger than life vinyl sign had greeted fans on the east side of the stadium, facing Interstate 24, covering the ticket office near the east main concourse.
By Monday afternoon, crews had pulled down the image.
Owner Bud Adams released a statement on January 5 that said the team's plans going forward did not include the quarterback. On Thursday, Titans general manager Mike Reinfeldt said the team would either trade Young, who still had one year remaining on his contract, or release him from the team.
League rules keep Young from being released until February 7, and he cannot be traded until the first day of the league year. Reinfeldt said Young was welcome to rehab his season-ending thumb injury at the team facility.
Young was drafted to the team after taking the University of Texas to the 2006 Rose Bowl, following an 11-0 regular season record.
After his first season with the team, he was named the NFL Offensive Rookie Of The Year and selected to the Pro Bowl.
In 2008, things went downhill for Young after being booed by the crowds in the season opener and suffering a knee injury in the fourth quarter. Later that week, Metro police were put on alert to look for Young after he left his home upset. Coach Jeff Fisher and a team psychologist were called in to locate the third year quarterback. With Young's fragile emotional state, Fisher was forced to move forward and put in Kerry Collins as the starting quarterback.
Young was relegated to a backup role as Collins led the Titans to a franchise record of 13 wins and to capture the AFC South title.
After a 0-6 loss in 2009, Young was put back in as starting quarterback and helped lead the team to win eight of their final 10 games. He also garnered another trip to Hawaii for the Pro Bowl.
Young injured his thumb in week 11 of the 2010 season and was replaced by rookie QB Rusty Smith. After returning to the sidelines, Young tried to throw the football but had limited control due to the injury.
Coach Fisher elected to leave Smith in the game and the redskins won the game. After the game, Young released an emotional tirade towards Coach Fisher in the locker room and Fisher wasn't pleased.
The following day, Young was asked to leave Baptist Sportspark by the quarterback's coach Dowell Loggains.
As the starting quarterback for the Titans, Vince Young won 30 of the 47 games in his five seasons with the team.
