The Detroit Lions have announced they are releasing wide receiver Titus Young. The team posted a report on their website, Monday, stating they have parted ways with the troubled wide receiver. The Lions had been threatening to do something with Young and have officially followed up on their original word.
Detroit acquired Young in the second round of the 2011 draft, coming out of Boise State University as a promising reciever. Young has had a rollercoaster of a career with the Lions, having multiple discipline problems throughout the two years. During the 2012 season, Young was sent home on three different occasions. First, Young punched teammate Louis Delmas during an offseason workout. He was then late for a team meeting. Most recently, Young admitted to intentionally lining up in the wrong spot during a Week 14 loss to the Green Bay Packers, an instance Young denies being true. He was then inactive for two weeks before being placed on injured reserve with a knee injury.
The 23-year old lashed out numerous times on social media going on long rants displaying his displeasure with the team and threatening to never play football again.
"Like I said I never been selfish but if I'm not going to get the football i don't want to play anymore," Young said in a tweet that has since been deleted.
Lions head coach Jim Schwartz was none too pleased with Young's recent twitter rant. While coaching at this year's Senior Bowl, Schwartz said that talking through social media was not the best approach a player could take.
Young has been relatively productive with the Lions in his two years, catching 81 passes for 990 yards and 10 touchdowns in 26 games, playing mostly as a reserve. He was active on two-thirds of the Lions offensive plays in 2011 and in 50 percent of the plays in 2012.
Young has $1.787 million left on his rookie contract. His release will clear $335,335 in cap space for the Lions and they will also save them $789,666 in cash. The Lions could now be in the market for a young receiver come the draft to lineup opposite of Calvin Johnson. With rookie Ryan Broyles coming off of knee surgery, the Lions draft picture could start to look different now.
