The Vikings' uncertainty at the quarterback position meant that when the Tennessee Titans announced they planned to release Vince Young there were immediate questions about whether he might land in Minnesota.

That speculation gained steam on Thursday when Leslie Frazier hired Young's former position coach, Craig Johnson, to coach the Vikings quarterbacks. Johnson did nothing to quash that talk in an interview with Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean.

"I know that question is going to be coming," Johnson said. "So my answer is going to be this: I do have a relationship with Vince, a long relationship with him. But the head coach and ownership and the offensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings — they're the ones that are going to make the decision. The assistant coaches coach.

"I am sure they'll do due diligence on Vince, and every quarterback that is going to be available on the market is going to be discussed. I know it is going to be discussed, and I'll put my two cents worth on him because obviously I have more of a relationship with him that most. And then whatever decision is going to be made will be made. Obviously I have a good working relationship with Vince, and he produced pretty well under me."

After eight years as the Titans quarterbacks coach, Johnson took over as the team's running backs coach last season. Wyatt points out that although Young fell out of favor in Tennessee, he did go 30-18 as a starter with the Titans and Johnson worked with Young in 2006 when hew as the NFL's Rookie of the Year.

Johnson told Wyatt he remains in touch with Young and acknowledged the two have a good relationship. "I think [Vince's] future is still to be written," Johnson said. "What I would officially say about him, and what needs to happen about him, is in the big picture he needs to be known and thought of more for what's happened on the field than what's happened off the field. I think that is true of him and any quarterback.
"I am going to go back to the late, great, Steve McNair. When I'd talk about ratings and rankings and percentages of quarterbacks, Steve would hold his hand up and say, 'Craig, there is only one thing that matters for a quarterback. Do you win the game? If you are a quarterback and you win the game, that's good. If not, then it's on me.' That's how you are measured. Quoting what Steve said, has Vince been a winning quarterback in this league. Yes?"