Vince Young Says He Wasn't Going to Quit

Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young said that the NFL.com report that he considered retirement after his rookie season was "blown out of proportion".

"Oh, my God. Oh, my God. I ain't never said (Ed. note: English major?) I was going to quit football," Young said. "There was a lot of stuff going on in my life, but football is not hard to me. Football is easy. All you have to do is be coachable and use your God-given talent. If it was a thought at all it was just a passing thought for a second.''

Living in the spotlight clearly had an affect on Young.

"When you retire, a lot of stuff goes away, people calling you and asking you for things. Some people say things about you that you don't like, and a lot of that stuff was killing me inside,'' Young said. "I am trying to be a role model and be a good citizen and have fun with my friends. Things were so fuzzy (that) I could hardly see through it all.''

If Young harbored momentary thoughts of retirement two years ago, it doesn't sound like that notion is on his mind today.

"My goal is to win three or four Super Bowls,'' Young said.

NFL News and Notes

Both of the Dallas Cowboys first-round picks figure to have an impact in Dallas' return game. Despite being unhappy with the amount of reps he's getting during practices in May, Cowboys linebacker Greg Ellis is keeping himself eligible for a $1.5M bonus tied into his participation in off-season workouts.

Mike Garafolo has the play-by-play from the "Blue Carpet" as the New York Giants arrived Tiffany & Co. to receive their Super Bowl rings. Giants quarterback Eli Manning called the rings "perfect". (Jared Lorenzen thought his "tasted funny".)

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Bam Childress always thinks his position coach is talking to him. Eagles rookie defensive end Bryan Smith hopes to put on some more weight.

Green Bay Packers defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila had knee surgery on Thursday and will be out until training camp. The Packers removed Brett Favre's locker and will ship it to his Mississippi home.

On August 7th, the NFL Network will re-air the "Hail Mary Game" between the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings from December 28th, 1975. I'd add further comments about that game, but I was exactly three weeks old at the time. Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson returned to practice on Thursday.

Nicholas Cotsonika of the Detroit Free Press is impressed with the comeback workout video free agent running back Kevin Jones hopes to use to convince teams he's healthy.

Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher will attend the Bears' mandatory three-day mini-camp which begins today. Urlacher's decision to show up gives him more leverage at the bargaining table, writes David Haugh.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterbacks Luke McCown and Bruce Gradkowski will be competing for a training camp roster spot.

New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith will attend the Saints' mandatory three-day mini-camp which begins today.

Carolina Panthers rookie linebacker Dan Connor was lugging equipment and passing out towels after practice on Thursday. There's no timetable for when rookie tackle Jeff Otah (ankle) will practice.

Atlanta Falcons rookie linebacker Curtis Lofton is looking forward to putting the pads on. Falcons assistant coach Emmitt Thomas was in Dallas last weekend preparing to be bronzed.

Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Rocky Bernard has a court date on Monday.

The Arizona Cardinals rookies were sent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio for a history lesson.

Kevin Lynch writes that the San Francisco 49ers decision to move Chilo Rachal to right tackle was done out of necessity.

A new state-of-the-art football stadium in downtown St. Louis could cost taxpayers nearly $1 billion.

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said that Junior Seau's decision to come back for a 19th season will be made closer to training camp. Belichick has been a highly visible presence at Boston Celtics playoff games, sitting near the visitor's bench. (Insert Spygate joke here.) Mike Reiss of the Boston Globe is impressed with the length of Patriots rookie linebackers Shawn Crable and Vince Redd.

Buffalo Bills safety Ko Simpson is recovering from broken ankle that ended his 2007 season just as it was beginning.

After his team spent $22M in free agency and a Top 10 pick in the draft on outside linebackers, New York Jets outside linebacker Bryan Thomas admitted he got complacent in 2007. In what I hope was done in his best Howard Lederman voice, Dave Hutchinson scores the Kellen Clemens-Chad Pennington fight as 3 rounds to 1 in favor of Clemens, who is beating the more experienced Pennington with clean, effective punching. (Ho-kay Jim!)

14-year old Akeem Havens closed out yesterday's Pittsburgh Steelers practice with a 10-yard touchdown.

Tony Grossi writes that Rex Hadnot is fitting in "seamlessly" at right guard for the Cleveland Browns.

The Cincinnati Bengals released wide receiver Doug Gabriel on Thursday.

Free agent wide receiver Freddie Mitchell worked out for the Baltimore Ravens yesterday.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver D'Juan Woods knows he's got to make the most of his second shot at making an NFL roster.

Former Titans quarterback Steve McNair doesn't regret his decision to retire.

Megan Manfull of the Houston Chronicle is all for a 17th regular season game.

The Brits want to see the Bolts.

Denver Broncos safety John Lynch welcomes the competition bringing in a few free agents has created. The Broncos success in 2008 hinges on the defense, writes Mark Kiszla. The Darrent Williams Memorial Teen Center celebrated its grand opening on Thursday.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Brodie Croyle knows the starting job is once again his to lose. Chiefs middle linebacker Napolean Harris was surprised to learn that his starting job might be in jeopardy.