NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Jeff Fisher says quarterback Vince Young has apologized to him via text message, though probably not the best move since the Tennessee coach says talking face-to-face is a “man thing.”
Fisher said Wednesday after practice that reporters could draw their own conclusion on whether he would have preferred an apology from Young in person. The coach wouldn’t discuss what the text said except that Young apologized via a text sent Tuesday.
But the coach also didn’t text his quarterback in response.
“I’m not a real big text guy,” Fisher said. “I’m not really into this new age stuff. I don’t twit or tweet. But I think face-to-face is a man thing, OK?”
The quarterback had a heated exchange with Fisher in the locker room after Sunday’s overtime loss to Washington, and Fisher told Young not to attend a team meeting Monday. Tennessee placed Young on injured reserve Tuesday because he needs season-ending surgery on his right thumb.
Fisher said he will meet with Young at some point. Asked if hearing from his quarterback by text does some good to a relationship that has seemed beyond repair, Fisher said he didn’t think so.
“Someone could’ve grabbed his phone and texted,” Fisher said.
Fisher told Houston reporters on a conference call earlier Wednesday that Young is welcome to show up at practices if he wants. Fisher said he’s also busy focusing on his Titans (5-5) visiting the Houston Texans (4-6) on Sunday with his team just a game out of first in the AFC South.
Titans safety Michael Griffin said a lot of what’s happened has been blown out of proportion. A college teammate of Young’s at Texas, Griffin said he hadn’t talked to Young but thinks the quarterback possibly went home. Young did tweet “Houston” on Tuesday.
Griffin does think Young having surgery on his right thumb and being on injured reserve probably is best for both the quarterback and Fisher. Griffin believes the relationship between the men can be fixed because what happened between them was emotional, not physical.
“That’s the best thing that probably could’ve happened right now. Just need some time to cool off between the both of them and focus on this team,” Griffin said.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.