Vince Young put on a show for the ages on Wednesday night at the Rose Bowl for the second straight year. The local Hollywood producers, nor the two Heisman Trophy winners on the other sideline, could compete with what #10 did in the BCS National Title Game in Pasadena. Young's performance, not only ended the 35 year national title drought for the Texas Longhorns, but it has potentially altered the entire 2006 NFL Draft board. Just last weekend, we had what was billed the "Reggie Bush Bowl" between San Francisco and Houston. The Texans overtime loss at Candlestick Park ensured them the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft. Until late Wednesday night, that pick seemed to be a lock for Bush, the Heisman winning USC tailback. After Young's jaw dropping performance and Bush's less than stellar showing in a big spot, Houston could potentially have yet another problem, albeit a potentially good problem.......on deciding who to pick between Bush and Young.
At press time, Vince Young has not decided if he will forego his senior year in Austin to declare for the NFL Draft, but you could make the argument that his stock will never be higher. He has done everything a collegiate QB can do except win the Heisman Trophy (Vince, ask Peyton Manning if he really regrets not winning the Heisman....C Wood winning that trophy probably Andre Ware-proofed Peyton).With Young's style of play, he's always one play away from an injury, that would do nothing but hurt his stock in the NFL scouts eyes. Plus, he has the allure of three pretty interesting storylines that could transpire if he goes to any of the three teams atop the draft board. Young is a Houston guy, through and through. He was born and raised in H-Town and would probably be more loved than Scarface, Mike Jones, Slim Thug, Paul Wall, Bun-B, Pimp C, and Chamillionaire if the hometown Texans make him their No. 1 pick. Texans GM Charley Casserly has reiterated in recent days that Houston is committed to the development of former No. 1 overall pick David Carr, which makes picking Reggie Bush very likely, but the clamoring for the hometown boy has already started on Houston sports talk airwaves.
New Orleans has the second pick in the draft and is, by far, the least desirous place for Vince Young to land on the surface. However, New Orleans is just a short drive from his hometown, and has some weaponry on offense with Deuce McAllister, Joe Horn, and Donte Stallworth. Also, the Saints have expressed a desire to permanently be relocated in San Antonio (where they relocated and played most of 2005 after the Hurricane Katrina disaster), which is only about a 90 minute drive down I-35 from Young's current stomping grounds of Austin and still very close to Houston. And then, if Tom Benson does what most are thinking, and try to become the team that moves to Los Angeles, you can figure out how much potential money Vince Young could make in Hollywood with his talent level.
The final of the Top 3 teams on the draft board is the Tennessee Titans. This once proud franchise has fallen on salary cap-induced hard times and needs to find an eventual successor to all-time iron man Steve McNair. What makes this potential scenario so unique is that Steve McNair is like a father figure to Young. Young's father has been in and out of the penal system since he was a kid and McNair was a teammate of Young's uncle at Alcorn State. Young's uncle introduced the two when Young was in Junior High and the two have been extremely close since. Young works McNair's camp every year and McNair is a regular in Austin when he has free time and was seen at the Rose Bowl on Wednesday rooting his buddy on. Young calls McNair "Big Papa" for the father-like role Steve has played in his life and this would be a golden opportunity for Young to learn from one of the best (and one of his best friends) before he ascends on his quest for greatness. Having a former NFL MVP as a resource could be exactly what Young needs to refine his skills and become an All-Pro. Also, having a coach with a track record as good as Jeff Fisher is a luxury that he may not have in Houston or New Orleans.
Vince Young proved to America on Wednesday night that he is the "it" factor that NFL teams want from their star player. As Santana Moss once said after a Miami - Florida State game a few years ago "Big time players make big time plays in big games." To say Vince Young did that a couple of nights ago would be an understatement. Now, all Young has to do is decide if he wants to return to school or turn pro. If Young chooses the latter, he has some intriguing options ahead.