NASHVILLE, TENN. (AP) - Tennessee quarterback Vince Young isn’t saying if he missed meetings before his first career start against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he also refuses to say if he thinks that’s why coach Jeff Fisher benched him late in that loss.
“I don’t even read all the stuff that’s going on, so I couldn’t even answer those types of questions, because I don’t even know what’s going on,” Young said Wednesday after practice.
“I don’t really know where all this is coming from, so I don’t really want to answer that. I just want to continue to keep preparing myself. It seems like every time comes up, it’s an issue with Vince. I don’t understand that. Like I said, I’m just out here working hard and preparing myself to play right now.”
The Tennessean and TitanInsider.com cited anonymous sources Monday that Young returned late when he was excused to take two of the late Steve McNair’s sons to a school breakfast and missed another meeting that week.
When asked if missing the meetings led to being benched after three turnovers, Young said he didn’t agree with that. He said questions should be directed to coach Jeff Fisher.
Fisher told reporters in Denver on a conference call Wednesday that what happened that week against Pittsburgh is behind the Titans now. Tennessee plays the Broncos this week.
The coach said he made the decision to bench Young for the fourth quarter.
“I have not made that type of decision before in a ballgame,” Fisher. “Clearly, he dealt with it, didn’t like it, which you would expect him not to, but kept it in perspective and came back last week and got right back to work. He had a very solid week and I thought played well against a good Giants defense.”
Young said he doesn’t believe the media is out to get him.
“I wouldn’t say that at all,” Young said. “Every time, it’s always something about Vince. It’s Vince, Vince, Vince, Vince, Vince.”
Young made his first career start against the Steelers on Sept. 19, and he was 7 of 10 for 66 yards with two interceptions and one fumble. He also was sacked twice.
The quarterback said he felt like he was prepared against the Steelers. That also was the week Reggie Bush forfeited his Heisman Trophy, and Young had to answer questions about whether he wanted the trophy.
“I just had some turnovers. Everybody throws some interceptions. Just because it’s me, I guess I wasn’t prepared. That’s what they’re saying. At the same time, everybody has bad games. You’re not going to have a perfect game. That’s pretty much it. That’s in the past. I’ve moved on from that. I did a great job against the Giants,” Young said.
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