I get that he seems to be a pain in the ass, but he's been a good young player for the Lions, too. They're putting him on IR after his recent suspension, and it won't be a surprise if he gets the axe in the offseason. So, given the Patriots obvious need for WR youth.........
What's with this kid, mentally, and is it something that's always been there? I wanted the Patriots to take him in the draft, and I'm basically trying to figure out if his PIA level is something that could be fixed in NE, or if it's something that's permanent with him.
Titus Young is a cancer. I wouldn't touch him with a 10 foot pool, and I'm betting the Pats wouldn't either. Despite 4.3 speed and occasionally showing DeSean Jackson/Percy Harvin kind of skills, Young is just a dead weight who will drag a team down. He is selfish, resistant to authority, and the antithesis of a team player. He also has no self-discipline, can't run routes, and can't block. Anything else I should add?
Young's personality problems go way, way back ... at least to high school. He was suspended from school in the 9th grade.
At Boise St. Young reportedly had problems with recurrent fumbles, missing team meetings, and inability to learn the playbook. He flaunted coaches' authority, and was suspended during the 2008 season, intially for at least 3 games, later extended to the remainder of the season (10 games), and there was talk of him transferring. Instead, he came back for the 2009 and 2010 seasons and was quite successful, and seemed to put his troubles behind him, though he still had a reputation for selfishness, and several teams reportedly took him off their draft boards because of character concerns.
Detroit didn't, and took him in the 2nd round of the 2011 draft. Young missed time in training camp with a hamstring injury.
Last year Young drew a critical penalty for throwing a punch at a New Orleans defender in the red zone, stalling a key drive. That led to a confrontation with coaches on the sideline, and to a shouting match with center Dominic Raiola. He had a number of other boneheaded penalties that hurt drives as well.
This spring Young was suspended for throwing a sucker punch at safety Louis Delmas. Since then he's been in an authority struggle with the Lions' coaching staff, and was a healthy scratch at several times this season. Annoyed about a perceived lack of playing time and receptions, Young reportedly deliberately lined up in TE Tony Scheffler's position on purpose several times during the Green Bay game, leading to a confrontation with the coaching staff and his current suspension, and eventual IR status.
This is not a salvageable kid. This is a kid with a longstanding history of suspensions, selfishness, inability to tolerate authority, and an insatiable need for the limelight. He also has a very limited skillset. He would be the worst possible fit for the Patriots, IMHO.
I can put it more strongly if you like.
For some reads on the kid's background and more recent problems, try some of the following:
Going, Going, Gone: Boise State's Titus Young Suspended for the Year | Bleacher Report
Detroit Lions WR Titus Young's Chronic Character Issues | Bleacher Report
Titus Young overcomes adversity - Arbiter Online | Arbiter Online
Titus Young breaks silence over sucker-punch incident - Yahoo! Sports
Lions WR Titus Young purposely sabotaged Lions offense | It's Always Sunny in Detroit
The Lions sound as if they
