Yes, the news that former Lions receiver Titus Young was arrested twice in 15 hours (once for DUI and then for trying to steal his impounded car) provided some entertainment during the early days of the annual slow period on the NFL calendar. But Young’s behavior flows by all appearances from deeper emotional or psychological issues for which he apparently needs treatment, and perhaps medication.
Don’t take our word for it. Young’s high school coach, E.C. Robinson, sensed in March that Young needs help.
“Based on the last time I did see him, I knew unless he got some help there was going to be some issues, and I told him that, too,” Robinson told Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “And I thought maybe since I hadn’t heard anything from him he was in some institute getting some help. That’s what I just figured. But I know the last time I saw him, I was just shocked the stage he was in at that time.”
Think about that for a second. Robinson hadn’t heard from Young, and Robinson assumed from Young’s condition during their last interaction that Robinson hadn’t heard from Young because Young was institutionalized.
“He was talking some things that just didn’t make sense,” Robinson said. “I don’t know, I just wish he’d get some help. I know football is probably out of the question, right now it’s trying to get his life together.”
We hope it happens for Young. We hope he eventually can convince a team to take advantage of the talent that got him picked in round two.
We also hope that the end result is a story that will prompt others who need help to get it before things get too far out of control.