NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Coach Jeff Fisher has stayed away from a quarterback controversy throughout the Tennessee Titans' dreadful start to the season.
Now team owner Bud Adams reportedly wants a change.
Davis: Time to play Young
I'm not surprised to hear that Bud Adams would like to see Vince Young play. There's an investment in him, and he was a high draft pick who has had some troubles.
When you're 0-6, you're not standing pat. Plus, Adams is one of the original AFL owners. He's looking at this and doesn't have time to wait. I think he wants to see what he has in Young.
At 0-6, you have to find out what Young has. Is there a chance for him to bounce back? Is there a chance for him to re-assume that position we all thought he was ascending to after his rookie season? You have to take a look.
I know that Jeff Fisher knows better than anyone. He's there every day, and there may be reasons he doesn't want to do this that we're not privy to. Fisher knows what his team should do. But from the outsider's view, I think you have to play Young.
-- Charles Davis
Adams informed Fisher that he wants former first-round draft pick Vince Young to start over 15-year NFL veteran Kerry Collins this Sunday against the AFC South rival Jacksonville Jaguars, according to the Tennessean. The Nashville newspaper cited sources Tuesday that Adams apparently told Fisher his preference after the Titans' 59-0 loss to the New England Patriots on Oct. 18 and became more insistent during the bye week.
A call to Adams' Houston office was referred to the team's media relations department in Nashville. A message wasn't immediately returned Tuesday.
Fisher declined Monday to say who his starter will be for "competitive reasons." He had stuck with Collins throughout the 0-6 start as the best chance to win.
In an interview on WKRN-TV on Tuesday night, Fisher said the quarterback decision would "be revealed over the next couple of days." He also denied any tension with Adams.
"We've been communicating through the whole process, and we don't have any issues," Fisher said. "Despite what you hear, despite what you read, the decisions we make are collective decisions."
The Titans practiced Tuesday and had their first team meetings since returning from their bye week.
Collins hadn't been told of any change when the Titans last spoke with reporters nearly a week ago.
The Titans are one of three remaining winless teams in the NFL -- the St. Louis Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are both 0-7 -- and Fisher wants to shake up things for a team that has lost eight consecutive games since last season, when Tennessee sprinted to a 10-0 start en route to the league's best record at 13-3.
The Titans are last in the NFL in time of possession this season and haven't scored a touchdown in eight quarters.
"We've had a week to do some different things. And especially considering the circumstances we're in right now with the record, there's things that you need to do differently," Fisher said Monday. "Let's just say I'm not going to be as specific and (will be) open-ended from a competitive standpoint."
Collins has completed 108 of 197 passes with five touchdowns and eight interceptions this season. His receivers also have dropped a number of passes, stalling drives and mightily contributing to all the losses.
Young is 0-of-5 passing with one interception in mop-up duty in each of the past two losses. His last start other than the 2008 regular-season finale that was meaningless was the 2008 opener in Nashville against the Jaguars. That was the game in which Young threw two interceptions and had to be told by Fisher to go back into the game. Young hurt his knee a few plays later.
The Titans have been down this path before, as Young replaced Collins during a winless start in 2006. Young went on to become the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, helping Tennessee finish 8-8 after an 0-5 start.
Collins was signed by the Titans just before the '06 season. He went 12-3 as the starter in 2008 and signing a two-year deal this offseason to return.
When asked about Young's readiness to take over if called upon, Fisher said, "I think he, along with a lot of the players that are in backup roles, took advantage of their opportunities last week."
Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press
