BQB-Site.com would like to congratulate Tennessee Titans' QB Vince Young for being named the 2006 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
January 2007
As called for by this site weeks ago, Vince Young was named the 2006 Rookie of the Year. He received 23 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who cover the NFL. His votes easily beat out 2nd place finishers New Orleans wide receiver Marques Colston (early favorite) and Jacksonville running back Maurice Drew, who had 9 votes each. The rest of the player receiving votes were San Diego OT Marcus McNeill (6) and Saints RB Reggie Bush (3).
The award was justified because Young had the most impact of any rookie this year. He took over as the unquestioned leader of the Titans in a short period of time, not missing a beat after winning the National Championship for Texas in 2005. His poise, leadership, and charisma have led to victories including upsets over Philadelphia, New York (Giants), Indianapolis, Jacksonville, and Buffalo. His overtime game-winning touchdown scamper of 39 yards led the Titans over Houston (Titans 26, Houston 20) and may be a play of year candidate. The play and the win were a cruel reminder to Texans fans of what they were missing by their team's decision not to use the top overall pick of the draft on Young. Young turned in several veteran type performances after taking over for the ineffective Kerry Collins and providing a spark to a Titans team that many picked to finish last.
Young showed good game management and his throwing skills were just as dangerous as his explosive running outside the pocket. By the way where are all those so-called "experts", who said Young's throwing motion and wonderlic score (meaningless) would cause him to falter as a pro. I even heard some talk show hosts and message board participants say Young should be converted to a WR. Well the laughs on them now. Norm Chow and Jeff Fisher made the move to bring in Young and they now have the Rookie of the Year award to validate their selection of him with the 3rd overall pick.
His numbers (8-3 as a starter with 51.5 Completion %, 2199 yards passing with 12 TD's and 552 yards rushing w/ 7 TD's) for the season proved that Young has all of the intangibles and skill that we knew he had when "haters" said he could not make the leap to the NFL during last year's draft process. Young should give the Titans' faithful much hope for the future.
-- Submitted by Lloyd Vance
