It’s been almost a year since we last saw Vince Young on the field and it’s been a bit longer than that since it felt like Young had a bright future in the NFL.
Getting a chance to compete for a backup job with the Packers doesn’t quite qualify as a bright future, but it is a future and that’s something that also looked like it had eluded Young when he failed to earn a roster spot with the Bills last year. Young said Tuesday that he was happy for the opportunity that Green Bay is giving him and that he feels equipped to make the most of it after spending the last year growing up as a person.
“Maturing,” Young said, via Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “That’s the biggest thing. Back in the day, I was a young Vince. Now, I’m more mature and definitely learned from things that happened in the past. I’m married now, a grown man, 30 years old. I’m kind of like the old head in this locker room.”
Maturity alone won’t be enough for Young to grab a spot on the Packers. He’ll have to pick up the offense quickly and show the team that he can help them should they ever find themselves with a need to call his number. There’s also the competition provided by Graham Harrell and B.J. Coleman, but the fact that the team signed Young indicates that neither of those guys has convinced the Packers that they’re the right man for the job. That leaves the door open for Young to make this more than a last gasp at continuing his NFL career.