Rams claim Titus Young

The Rams claimed wide receiver Titus Young on waivers from the Lions on Tuesday. Young, two seasons after the Lions drafted him out of Boise State, asked for his release, and the Lions granted it. Yes, the sports world has changed; Young made his request via Twitter.

Under a lot of circumstances, acquiring a young, fast, deep threat who's basically been a two-year starter would be seen as a coup for the Rams’ front office. Young is just 23. The Rams inherit his contract for this year and next, but as a second-round pick, he’s not high-cost. He’d be under $1.5 million to keep for two years, should the Rams choose to do so. Young probably ranks as the best scoring threat on the Rams roster right now. He had 10 TDs in 2 years in Detroit; that’s more offensive TDs than either Danny Amendola or Brandon Gibson have for their careers. Physically, Young is certainly a player who can create needed spirited competition in training camp. He’s already an infinite upgrade over surely-departed 2012 free-agent bust Steve Smith. That’s like going from a tricycle (with a broken wheel) to a Ducatti.

Unfortunately, much as if yours truly ever actually tried to drive one, this Ducatti could go off the road at any time. Young was a problem child at Boise. He was suspended for most of the 2008 season there for violating team rules. There were character flags on him for immaturity heading into the 2011 draft. He had a good rookie season at Detroit (48-607, 6 TD), but had already begun to butt heads with head coach Jim Schwartz, and he became a complete head case in 2012. He punched a teammate during voluntary workouts. He pouted about not getting the ball enough and being only the Lions’ #3 WR behind Megatron and Nate Burleson. He was sent home three times in seven months. The breaking point came in a November game where he started intentionally lining up incorrectly, trying to get the ball thrown to him. He literally drove his position coach into a rage on the sideline. Schwartz made him inactive the next two games for insubordination, then decided to IR him after that for a nagging knee injury, announcing Young would undergo knee surgery, “unless he doesn’t show up for it”. (There is no report so far that Young has had any knee surgery.) Over the holidays, he claimed to his high school coach that he’s better than Megatron. At least one Detroit writer thinks Young is delusional to the point he may not be mentally stable. The Lions reportedly tried to send Young to therapists but he refused. Young tweeted January 25^th that he was tired of threats to get cut and the Lions should just do it. Which they did Monday, which was just as soon as they were allowed to.

It’s fair to ask what Young even brings to the Rams. He’s 5’11”, 174, and might be fast by Rams standards, but he only turned a 4.53 at the 2011 Combine, and could be coming off knee surgery. Where does Young even fit in? He’s too small to be #1, where I imagine the Rams are going to try to convince us and themselves that Brian Quick will be the major upgrade they need over Brandon Gibson. Chris Givens should be #2; he’s faster and bigger than Young without near as much baggage. If Young was upset at being #3 in Detroit, imagine how he’ll act here!

And Young’s only #3 here if the Rams don’t re-sign Gibson and Amendola. By claiming Young, the Rams seem to be trying to double down on the negative energy failing to re-sign Amendola would generate. Danny could be the team’s most popular player, as well as being the receiver Bradford leans on most. Yeah, let’s stunt Bradford and the passing game again AND replace a fan favorite with a whiny, brooding, diva headcase. (As far as negotiations with Amendola are going, his agent says things are proceeding positively, and he doesn’t consider Young even remotely close to Amendola as a receiver, going so far as to mock Young in the press earlier this week).

Well, a lot of teams would have jumped at the chance to get such a talented player as Young, right? WRONG. NO OTHER TEAM in the NFL wants anything to do with him. Even Marvin Lewis and Cincinnati! The Rams were the only team to file a waiver claim on him. Jeff Fisher, who’s gone this route many times with varying success (Pac-Man, Albert Haynesworth, Kenny Britt, Randy Moss, Janoris Jenkins), has officially turned St. Louis from the city of Four Pillars into the halfway house for NFL knuckleheads. Every time an NFL player gets cut for doing something stupid, we can expect the Rams to be the first team John Clayton, Chris Mortenson and Adam Schefter will speculate to pick that player up. (Look out Sam Bradford if Jamarcus Russell loses a few pounds!) I like winning football games. I’m not thrilled with the Knucklehead of the Week plan the Rams appear to have embraced, adopted and sworn to live by.

Jeff Fisher can probably start by banning Young from using Twitter. Getting in cyberspats with fans who claim they could cover you probably isn't the wisest thing. Neither is saying you don't want to play anymore if you're not going to get the ball more. (That tweet appears to have been deleted.) But getting Titus Young to seek therapy is a whole other critter than trying to make Janoris Jenkins hire your financial adviser, I'd wager.

This offseason, Rams GM Les Snead has mentioned the need to add explosiveness to the Ram offense. If Titus Young does provide explosion at Rams Park, somehow I don’t think it’s going to be the kind Snead was looking for.
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