If you're like me, your Longhorn anxieties has been more than adequately dispelled by the surge of early greatness we're seeing from Vince Young. He's led the previously moribund Tennessee Titans to four straight victories, six of their last eight, and on the outer fringe of the playoff hunt. And while the Titans - even if they win out - are highly unlikely to get into the playoffs, the league is abuzz about Vince.
He was on the cover of this week's Sports Illustrated. He won his third straight Rookie of the Week award. I'm watching SportsCenter right now, and they're leading their NFL coverage with Young. Analysts everywhere, really, are flush with VY fever:
"His wow factor is at 10 right now,'' said CBS analyst Boomer Esiason, a former NFL quarterback. "I'd buy a ticket to watch the kid play, but I'm sure I'd have to stand in a long line. We watch him intently in the studio when games of far greater importance are going on at the same time. Everyone just wants to see him play."
The local television providers are noticing, too, and we're lucky enough to get Vince's Titans hosting the Jacksonville Jaguars today at noon on CBS. Join me here for an open gameday thread to see what Vince does next.
Today's matchup isn't a great one for Vince. The Jaguars have a nasty pass defense that starts with a great front four, and Vince and Tennessee got thumped badly in these two teams' first meeting in Jacksonville earlier this season. The Titans are 3.5 point underdogs, and it wouldn't be a shock to see Young struggle today.
But as we've all learned by now: betting against Vince is rarely, if ever, a good idea.
GO TITANS!
--PB--