As unfortunate as it is, it's only fitting that Vince Young and Tim Tebow were cut from their respective teams on the same day. Their football careers are too eerily similar to suggest otherwise. Both men have won on every level, both men were hand picked in the first round. Both had immediate success, and both are on the outside looking in.
Again.
With their credentials and experience, it's hard to imagine that VY and Tim Tebow cannot beat out the third string qb's in this league. Both men are healthy.
So what gives?
When Vince Young was drafted by the Titans in 06 (at the demand of owner Bud Adams), the franchise was in the middle of it's first losing slump since moving to Tennessee. The people of Nashville were spoiled with the 99 team and their immediate success. Losing lead to a lack of interest from the casual fan that still hadn't bought in.
Vince Young came in for a struggling Kerry Collins, and immediately energized the city with electrifying play after electrifying play. Young couldn't read a defense, even if he had bifocals on, but he would somehow get it done. The Titans went on a roll after that, and Young went on to become the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. The Titans also returned to the playoffs with Young under center. VY had a record of 31-19 as a starter in Tennessee. The Titans have not returned to the playoffs since Young's departure.
When Tim Tebow was selected by Denver in the first round of the 2010 draft (at the demand of then head coach Josh McDaniels), the Broncos were going through their own slump. Tebow came in for a struggling Kyle Orton, and immediately electrified the city with winning play after winning play. Tebow can't read a defense either, and is no where near accurate, but he's a winner. Somehow, someway, we finds a way to win. Tebow had a winning record of 8-6 as a starter in Denver, and has a playoff victory over Pittsburgh under his belt.
That don't count for nothin?
Not even a back up position? In a league that's trending toward mobile qbs?
Forget starting, they're not even making the rosters anymore. And that's a bad sign. I can think of a few teams that should start Young or Tebow over the one they're trolling out there week one....
But I digress.
No, I am not saying that Young and Tebow didn't have their share of flaws and red flags. Some self imposed...some media driven.
I'm just saying that both these men are healthy, in the prime of their careers age wise, and have won games at the NFL level as a starting qb. It's mind boggling to think that Vince Young and Tim Tebow's playing careers may be over.....already.
If so, hopefully history will be kind to them. They both made their mark on the game of football.
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