Kerry Collins, Vince Young and the Weirdness of Sports

ESPN.com is reporting that Titans coach Jeff Fisher has indicated to Kerry Collins that he 36-year old will be back as Tennessee’s starting quarterback for the 2009 seasons.

In and of itself, there is nothing surprising in this story. Collins helped lead the Titans to an NFL-best 13-3 mark and will now be heading to the Pro Bowl in place of Brett Favre. To think about making a quarterback switch after that kind of season would be, at the very least, unconventional.

But one needs to remember this is the Tennessee Titans, a team whose quarterback situation might be as defying of convention as there has been in quite some time. It is an illustration of why nothing can ever be taken for granted or assumed, particularly in sports.

First, let’s take Collins. Although Kurt Warner may get more hype as a “back from the dead” story, folks tend to forget quickly about Kerry’s own comeback. No one can argue Collins has not been a good to very good quarterback in the NFL at various times in his career. But you’d be hard pressed to find anyone back in 2006 who would’ve believed there were many (if any) decent seasons left in him.

Prior to being picked off the scrap heap by Tennessee, Collins spent the prior two seasons in the black hole that is Oakland, compiling a dismal 7-21 record as a starter before being exiled to Nashville. Shortly thereafter, he gave way to a young stud out of Texas who would aggressively snare the leadership mantle for the Titans relegating Collins to finish out his career holding the clipboard, ever the reliable safety blanket to be put into use only in the case of emergency.

The young Longhorn showstopper was, of course, Vince Young. Seeing teammates take to Young and veterans follow his lead was a sight to behold. Which makes it even harder to reconcile that only three seasons ago Young was named NFL Rookie of the Year. He was an AFC Pro Bowl selection. Vince Young was about as franchise as a franchise quarterback could get, no matter the flaws in his game. All harder to reconcile now, in 2009, where Young is an afterthought.

The third overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft is a cautionary tale of what can happen when the spotlight burns too bright. Or maybe all those scouts were right. Perhaps time will tell. For now, the clipboard goes to him instead of the grizzled veteran that once looked on as #10 led fourth quarter comeback, after fourth quarter comeback.

Where Vince Young and Kerry Collins are today is light years away from where they stood back in 2006. Few could have foreseen the twists on their respective paths. Now, the only question is what awaits around the next bend.