Pete_Prisco

Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young, who is attending school this semester at the University of Texas, will spend time this week in Nashville, Tenn., meeting with new offensive coordiantor Mike Heimerdinger.

Hey, not a bad idea.

What the heck is Young doing in school anyway? This is a key time in his career. He needs to be spending the off-season at the Titans' facility learning the new offense, not playing the big-man on-campus role. I'm all for a guy getting his degree, but why not take on-line classes? Why not wait until next year when he's not learning a new offense?

I can tell you there are some in the Titans organization who are a bit angered by Young's insistence on going to school. And they should be.

But at least he didn't head to South Padre Island for some fun in the sun. That's one good thing. But I think Young shouldn't be in school this semester. That degree is important, but it certainly isn't as important as what he's doing on the football field right now.

 

When the Seattle Seahawks signed Shaun Alexander to a long-term deal a few years ago, I wrote a column that I expected him to take the money -- and not run. He's done just that. And now it looks as if he could be gone. The Seahawks signed Julius Jones to a contract Friday and that could be the move that spells the end for Alexander. Since signing his deal, Alexander hasn't lived up to the hype. He's been bothered by injuries, but he also doesn't run with the same pop. For years, teammates said Alexander was too much about Shaun than the team. Once he got the money, we saw that to be the case. In the past two seasons, Alexander has started 20 of a possible games. He rushed for 1,612 yards in those two seasons, less than the 1,880 he had the year before he signed the new deal. Alexander turns 31 in August, which is old by NFL running-back standards. With Jones and T.J. Duckett both signing contracts with the Seahawks, it could be the end of Alexander. They also have Maurice Morris, who some scouts say ran better than Alexander last season. Alexander is due to make $4.5 million in 2008, so the Seahawks could opt to release him. If they do, they would be on the hook for $6.9 million if his pro-rated signing bonus on their cap, but they could split it between this year's cap and next year's cap. It sure looks as if Alexander is gone. Seahawks fans killed me for years for being hard on Alexander. Maybe they should have listened. As it turned out, I was right.

If you are old and slow -- and make big dough -- you must go.

That's my motto. The Philadelphia Eagles lived it Thursday when they released linebacker Takeo Spikes. He was set to earn a base salary of $5 million, which would have been the second-highest for a linebacker behind Ray Lewis, but the Eagles opted to let him walk, releasing him.

Why? Spikes is older, doesn't run that well anymore and the Eagles have cheaper, faster players they want to play. Look for Stewart Bradley and Akeem Jordan to be more in the mix with last year's startes, Omar Gaither and Chris Gocong. The youngsters have much better speed than does Spikes.

Old and slow, then you must go, especially a guy making big dough.

The Eagles got it right. When will the rest of the league follow suit. You listening, Patriots?

 

 

One thing you have to love about Brett Favre is that he's true to himself.

How many guys show up to their retirement press conference wearing a buttoned-down shirt and slacks, but no suit?

That's Favre. He always came to meet the media looking that way, so why change? I give him credit for that. He never bent to what people wanted or expected. He was true to himself.

He gets big props for taking it that way to the end.

I will say this, though: There should be no crying in football. Favre lost it during his press conference. Maybe he was thinking about the death of his father, and how he wished he were there. If that's the case, crying is okay. But crying because you're retiring is not.