Vince Young Documentary on Netflix

[The Frankish Reich]

49 minutes ago, teef said:

didn't he get a negative score on the wonderlic test?

Positive 6!

And if he'd made the team as Fitzy's backup, our QB room would have been above average overall.

[Mikie2times]

I have to watch this still and it sounds like people have said Fisher universally comes off as a hole, but to be clear, these two don't like each other. Sometimes enough history happens where sugar coating isn't possible. It would have probably been a better choice for him just not to do the series. 

[Mikey152]

One thing I've always remembered about Vince Young was an interview Tom Brady did on WEEI years ago. He was talking about Young and made a point that has stuck with me ever since: in some ways, Young's incredible physical ability did him no favors developmentally. Young was so talented that coaches could build around what he could already do and win games. And that makes perfect sense in the short term. If a guy can beat people with his arm and legs, why make his life more difficult than it needs to be?

 

The problem is that making things easier for a young QB isn't necessarily the same thing as developing him.

 

At some point an NFL quarterback has to learn all the boring stuff that athletic ability can cover up: reading and manipulating coverage, protections, anticipation, throwing with timing, moving within the pocket, knowing where the answer is before the pressure gets there, etc. If you're constantly designing ways for a gifted athlete to avoid having to do those things, you're helping him succeed today while potentially limiting what he can become tomorrow.

 

Obviously there was a lot more going on with Vince Young than just football development. But I've always thought Brady's point was fascinating: sometimes extraordinary talent can actually hide developmental problems rather than solve them.

 

[T.E.]

2 hours ago, SoCal Deek said:

Leinhart forgot he was on the Bills, even when he was on the Bills! One of the most unprofessional performances I’ve ever witnessed. Lost a ton of respect for him that day. 

Refresh my memory on this. Wasn't he signed off the street and forced into the starting lineup for a preseason game the very next day? 

[SoCal Deek]

Just now, T.E. said:

Refresh my memory on this. Wasn't he signed off the street and forced into the starting lineup for a preseason game the very next day? 

Yes (although I think it was within the week, not the day before), and he played like he wanted be anywhere but in Buffalo that day. 

[T bone]

VY was an unbelievable college QB.  Mack Brown who knows a thing or two about coaching spread things out for him and made his reads pretty simple in college.   They were made for each.   That Rose Bowl he played and that entire season to be honest was one of the best season's played by a college QB I ever saw.   He was nearly flawless that championship season and he was dam near perfect beating USC in the NC.   With that being said, I always had doubts he would be a good pro.   His release was a little funky, not very quick and a bit from the side.  He had the athletic ability obviously but defenses in the NFL are way more complicated and the guys are faster.   Things speed up and he could not adjust.   I suppose if he got with a coach that truly believe in him and totally tailored the offense to his strengths (which is spread out the field and let his athletic ability take over) he could of had a decent career.   Paring him with Fisher was disaster waiting to happen.   Horrible fit for what VY was good at and what JF wanted to accomplish on offense.  

 

I actually met him coming out of work one day when he was with the bills.  He was stating in those condos by the waterfront.   I used to park my car down there.   Talked to him for a few minutes, wished him good luck.  Seemed like a nice guy.

Edited September 1 by T bone

[947]

When my son was little, probably 4 years old, he wore football jerseys almost every day. Somebody had given him a Vince Young Titans jersey, and one day when he was wearing it he asked me if I liked Vince Young. I said not really, and he asked why. I told him he scored a 6 on the test they give to give players to see how smart they are, and that a monkey scores an 8 (the adage people said about the wonderlic at that time). He continues to wear the jersey as part of his rotation until he grows out of it. A few years go by, and one day we're watching ESPN when they announced the Bills signed Young. I get mildly excited because they signed a known name. My son says "But Dad, didn't say that Vince Young is as smart as a chicken?". 

 

I couldn't stop laughing, and it became a catch phrase in the family. We still use "smart as a chicken" to describe any dumb player in any sport.

[RoyBatty is alive]

On 8/30/2026 at 11:03 PM, Special K said:

Watched the Vince Young Documentary on Netflix.....actually forgot he was on the Bills roster for a hot minute.

 

Obviously he was super talented, and he seems to have a decent level of intelligence......but as you will see when you watch it, what he lacked was emotional toughness.

 

One person who came off pretty bad in the Doc was Coach Jeff Fisher.

 

I believe Barry Switzer once said the most important job for a Coach is to figure out which players need a kick in the butt, and which players need a pat on the back, and act accordingly.

 

Vince Young seemed to be a player that needed a pat on the back, but all he got from Fisher were kicks in the butt.

 

Sad that Young seemed to have all the physical tools and intelligence to be great, but if you look into his family history and his behavior in his early days at Texas, any decent GM should've been able to spot the red flags that would lead you to believe he wouldn't be able to cut it on the Pro level.

You are wrong about one thing, he does not have a decent level of intelligence, in fact I have meet him and i think he has a serious learning disability.

[Special K]

24 minutes ago, RoyBatty is alive said:

You are wrong about one thing, he does not have a decent level of intelligence, in fact I have meet him and i think he has a serious learning disability.

 

Never said he was a genius, but if you watch the Doc, he doesn't come off as someone who would score a 6 on the Wonderlic.

 

They made a point to show he had a 3.7 GPA in High School, but I'm sure he had some "help" there.

 

He's got a very smart and accomplished wife, and I doubt she would've stuck with him this long if he was a complete dumba**.

 

He could've bombed that test due to his other issues...lack of commitment, focus, effort, etc.

Edited September 1 by Special K

[KCNC]

21 minutes ago, Special K said:

 

Never said he was a genius, but if you watch the Doc, he doesn't come off as someone who would score a 6 on the Wonderlic.

 

They made a point to show he had a 3.7 GPA in High School, but I'm sure he had some "help" there.

 

He's got a very smart and accomplished wife, and I doubt she would've stuck with him this long if he was a complete dumba**.

 

He could've bombed that test due to his other issues...lack of commitment, focus, effort, etc.

I remember Donald Jones on the radio or some podcast saying when they signed Vince, he would come into the huddle and not even call a play, just say "y'all go out and I'll hit ya" or something like that.  HOF worthy lol....

[Buffalo716]

Everybody talking about Vince Young's IQ but he graded higher on the wonderlic than Jim Kelly 

 

His first score was considered misgraded he took it again got a 16.. are very own Jimbo got a 15 

 

Anybody making fun of another man's IQ should look inside their own heart because that's really mean.. like that's a low ad hominem attack

Edited September 1 by Buffalo716

[T bone]

6 minutes ago, KCNC said:

I remember Donald Jones on the radio or some podcast saying when they signed Vince, he would come into the huddle and not even call a play, just say "y'all go out and I'll hit ya" or something like that.  HOF worthy lol....

 

 

That is good stuff.   Kind of like when Billy Joe Hobert after the game said he was completely unprepared and never studied the playbook after that blowout loss to New England.   He was waived the next day.

Edited September 1 by T bone

[Jauronimo]

33 minutes ago, Special K said:

 

Never said he was a genius, but if you watch the Doc, he doesn't come off as someone who would score a 6 on the Wonderlic.

 

They made a point to show he had a 3.7 GPA in High School, but I'm sure he had some "help" there.

 

He's got a very smart and accomplished wife, and I doubt she would've stuck with him this long if he was a complete dumba**.

 

He could've bombed that test due to his other issues...lack of commitment, focus, effort, etc.

most of the blue chippers don't try on the Wonderlic.  

 

https://ftw.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2020/04/19/nfl-draft-richard-sherman-wonderlic-test/81549694007/

 

Quote

"Yea the wonderlic is taken at a time where guys have little to no sleep and are being rushed around. Not many take it seriously because most understand it has little to no bearing on their draft grade," Sherman wrote on Friday.

 

Now if you're not a top 10 pick and want to improve your position or if you're a day 2 or 3 guy, particularly at a position known for higher intelligence (QB and OL) you had better do your very best.  VY could have gotten a zero and it would not have changed the draft order.

Edited September 1 by Jauronimo

[RoyBatty is alive]

2 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

Everybody talking about Vince Young's IQ but he graded higher on the wonderlic than Jim Kelly 

 

His first score was considered misgraded he took it again got a 16.. are very own Jimbo got a 15 

 

Anybody making fun of another man's IQ should look inside their own heart because that's really mean.. like that's a low ad hominem attack

This is a wildly misleading comment.

 

Kelly took it in an era where no one studied for it nor was coached. Vince young on the other both studied and was heavily coached.

 

And please spare us the sanctimonious lecture about commenting on his IQ.  I made the comment and I never "made fun of his iq", that seems to be projection on your part.  

 

I personally think IQ has a lot to do with success/failure in the NFL, esp at the QB level.  If you are so morally outraged that we can't even talk about innate intelligence, that is one you.  There is a reason why the even have a Wonderlic.

 

I didnt see the special in question, i  dont know if they talked about his buying out an entire commercial flight so he could have it to himself of the financial disaster his  austin Steakhouse VY and other tidbits.  I  have had a direct contact with VY living in Houston.

[Buffalo716]

56 minutes ago, RoyBatty is alive said:

This is a wildly misleading comment.

 

Kelly took it in an era where no one studied for it nor was coached. Vince young on the other both studied and was heavily coached.

 

And please spare us the sanctimonious lecture about commenting on his IQ.  I made the comment and I never "made fun of his iq", that seems to be projection on your part.  

 

I personally think IQ has a lot to do with success/failure in the NFL, esp at the QB level.  If you are so morally outraged that we can't even talk about innate intelligence, that is one you.  There is a reason why the even have a Wonderlic.

 

I didnt see the special in question, i  dont know if they talked about his buying out an entire commercial flight so he could have it to himself of the financial disaster his  austin Steakhouse VY and other tidbits.  I  have had a direct contact with VY living in Houston.

Well I never mentioned you 

 

And at the end of the day football IQ means more than Wonderlic score which is why they got rid of the test... Lamar Jackson scored lower than Vince Young

 

Vince Young did get a 16.. the 6 never confirmed by the NFL.. 

 

And Kelly and Marino both had bad scores.. football IQ and Wonderlic IQ are completely different too

 

At the end of the day Vince Young wasn't built for the NFL.. he was 20 years too soon.. if he got to get drafted into this modern NFL he would have had a better chance at success.. even Lamar Jackson didn't have a good wonderlic.. he has solid football IQ tho

 

Vince Young was the perfect college quarterback who wasn't built for the NFL... But you can take somebody who doesn't have book smarts but has an extremely high football IQ and he could absolutely be a good quarterback still 

 

Which is why they don't even give the wonderlic anymore because it was determined not to be any sort of useful tool..  because plenty of good quarterbacks scored average and plenty of guys who score above average are not good quarterbacks 

 

Yes intelligence matters as a quarterback but truthfully your football IQ means a lot more than your intellectual IQ... And the wonderlic doesn't break that down.. that's why you get meetings with coaches so they can test your football smarts on the whiteboard that means a lot more 

 

Vince Young didn't make it as a successful NFL quarterback because he didn't have the chops for the NFL that he was playing in.. his wonderlic wasn't the determining Factor.. his accuracy release and inability to consistently read coverages... Football IQ was a bigger issue

 

A guy who knows football inside and out.. can still play quarterback .. football IQ Trump's wonderlic IQ and they're not the same

 

Somebody is physically gifted as Vince Young never had to develop all the other aspects of his game because he was physically on a different level than everybody his entire life.. being that gifted hurts the small parts of your game which could mean everything at the next level 

 

In college it was designed around his skill set .. not to improve Vince Young and get him ready for the NFL 

 

Vince Young's football IQ didn't grow as much as you would think because he was babied at Texas and never had to grow

 

But I'm looking for football smarts from my quarterback.. which I think hurt Vince more in the league than his wonderlic 

 

 

Edited September 1 by Buffalo716

[BillsfaninSB]

On 8/30/2026 at 9:03 PM, Special K said:

Watched the Vince Young Documentary on Netflix.....actually forgot he was on the Bills roster for a hot minute.

 

Obviously he was super talented, and he seems to have a decent level of intelligence......but as you will see when you watch it, what he lacked was emotional toughness.

 

One person who came off pretty bad in the Doc was Coach Jeff Fisher.

 

I believe Barry Switzer once said the most important job for a Coach is to figure out which players need a kick in the butt, and which players need a pat on the back, and act accordingly.

 

Vince Young seemed to be a player that needed a pat on the back, but all he got from Fisher were kicks in the butt.

 

Sad that Young seemed to have all the physical tools and intelligence to be great, but if you look into his family history and his behavior in his early days at Texas, any decent GM should've been able to spot the red flags that would lead you to believe he wouldn't be able to cut it on the Pro level.

 

According to Fisher, Bud Adams intervened and made them pick Young.  He wanted Jay Cutler. 

[GaryPinC]

13 hours ago, Buffalo716 said:

Well I never mentioned you 

 

And at the end of the day football IQ means more than Wonderlic score which is why they got rid of the test... Lamar Jackson scored lower than Vince Young

 

Vince Young did get a 16.. the 6 never confirmed by the NFL.. 

 

And Kelly and Marino both had bad scores.. football IQ and Wonderlic IQ are completely different too

 

At the end of the day Vince Young wasn't built for the NFL.. he was 20 years too soon.. if he got to get drafted into this modern NFL he would have had a better chance at success.. even Lamar Jackson didn't have a good wonderlic.. he has solid football IQ tho

 

Vince Young was the perfect college quarterback who wasn't built for the NFL... But you can take somebody who doesn't have book smarts but has an extremely high football IQ and he could absolutely be a good quarterback still 

 

Which is why they don't even give the wonderlic anymore because it was determined not to be any sort of useful tool..  because plenty of good quarterbacks scored average and plenty of guys who score above average are not good quarterbacks 

 

Yes intelligence matters as a quarterback but truthfully your football IQ means a lot more than your intellectual IQ... And the wonderlic doesn't break that down.. that's why you get meetings with coaches so they can test your football smarts on the whiteboard that means a lot more 

 

Vince Young didn't make it as a successful NFL quarterback because he didn't have the chops for the NFL that he was playing in.. his wonderlic wasn't the determining Factor.. his accuracy release and inability to consistently read coverages... Football IQ was a bigger issue

 

A guy who knows football inside and out.. can still play quarterback .. football IQ Trump's wonderlic IQ and they're not the same

 

Somebody is physically gifted as Vince Young never had to develop all the other aspects of his game because he was physically on a different level than everybody his entire life.. being that gifted hurts the small parts of your game which could mean everything at the next level 

 

In college it was designed around his skill set .. not to improve Vince Young and get him ready for the NFL 

 

Vince Young's football IQ didn't grow as much as you would think because he was babied at Texas and never had to grow

 

But I'm looking for football smarts from my quarterback.. which I think hurt Vince more in the league than his wonderlic 

 

 

Don't blame it all on being babied at Texas.  Lamar,  Josh, Sam, and a long list of QBs weren't properly developed in college.  Competitive nature, passion, and perseverance play a big role in qbs developing at the NFL level if they possess sufficient football IQ.

[transient]

6 hours ago, BillsfaninSB said:

 

According to Fisher, Bud Adams intervened and made them pick Young.  He wanted Jay Cutler. 

Oddly enough, since we all know how smokin' Jay "dooooooon't care" Cutler's career turned out (not really what you would have wanted with the third overall pick), in a choice between Leinart, Young and Cutler, Fisher would have been right.

[BigDingus]

On 8/31/2026 at 6:07 AM, transient said:

I watched it, as well. I came to the conclusion Young was emotionally immature throughout his career and now recognizes it, and Jeff Fisher is a bitter prick. The part about VY misspelling his name makes him seem like a stupid petulant child.

 

Out of all the things in the documentary, that one will stick with me the most regarding Fisher.

 

Vince was trying to bridge the gap between them, apologize for his own behaviors, risked being vulnerable & opening up to him, sending Fisher a handwritten letter...

 

No response. His former head coach completely ignored him. Why? He spelled his name wrong 😑

[Simon]

Just now, BigDingus said:

No response. His former head coach completely ignored him. Why? He spelled his name wrong

 

Did he spell it Vins or Yung?