Coach Fisher is being too tough with Young

Given such the experience of Jeff Fisher, it is surprising that he has ignored the coaching manual and not kept private his feud with Vince Young.

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In his 17th season, Tennessee's Jeff Fisher leads NFL coaches in seniority. Given such experience, it is surprising that he has ignored the coaching manual and not kept private his feud with Vince Young.

Fisher was understandably perturbed at the quarterback's post-game venting last Sunday over being withheld from the game with a thumb injury that later was diagnosed as season-ending. Young hurled his shoulder pads into the stands, griped while the coach addressed the team and prematurely bolted from the locker room.

The antics were a tipping point for Fisher, who demands more dedication from Young, who has been labelled a "9-to-5" quarterback in a league that expects more. When you are rehabilitation at team training facilities, you don't skip town, as Young did earlier this season during a week when the Titans had no game.

But Fisher's reaction to Young texting an apology was a low blow. The coach hinted that the mea culpa was hollow. Said Fisher: "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."

Fisher went on to cast doubt on the apology, wondering aloud of message had been typed and sent by someone else.

Even before the latest blowup, some wondered if Fisher were too critical of his quarterback.

We appreciate athletes and coaches who speak their mind and provide us with juicy reading material. But Young is too talented to write off, and Fisher would do well to bite his tongue lest their rift become irreparable.