Mother: Young is ‘hurting’

From combined dispatches

The mother of Titans quarterback Vince Young said he indicated he doesn’t want to play football and is “hurting inside and out.”

Felicia Young said in Wednesday editions of the Tennessean that her son is tired of all the negativity he has faced after being booed during a 17-10 win Sunday over Jacksonville. On Monday, Titans coach Jeff Fisher called police to help find him.

“What would you think if you were tired of being ridiculed and persecuted and talked about and not being treated very well? What would you do? What kind of decision would you make?” Felicia Young said. “He may not want to deal with it [all], but you have to get to that point before you make that decision first.

“But we’re not talking about football right now. We’re talking about what would make him happy, and that is the most important thing.”

The phone number for Young’s home is unlisted, and his agent, Major Adams, did not answer his cell phone. The Titans did not immediately return a message left by the Associated Press.

SAINTS: Hollis Thomas, who already was expected to miss the first six weeks of the season with a torn triceps, has been placed on injured reserve, ending his season.

Thomas, a 12-year veteran, has spent the past two seasons with the Saints, playing in 30 games and starting 26. Last season, he was credited with 58 total tackles and 3 1/2 sacks.

BUCCANEERS: Quarterback Jeff Garcia is out of Sunday’s home opener against Atlanta because of a sprained ankle. He will be replaced by veteran backup Brian Griese.

Garcia was injured during the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 24-20 loss to New Orleans. He missed most of training camp and three preseason games because of a strained right calf, and his preparation for the season opener was affected by a jammed pinkie on his throwing hand.

49ERS: Alex Smith’s season is over with another shoulder injury. The high-priced quarterback’s short career with San Francisco is probably finished as well.

The 49ers put Smith on injured reserve with a broken bone in his right shoulder, though coach Mike Nolan claimed to know little about the injury. Smith, the top pick in the 2005 draft, probably will require more surgery.

COLTS: Starting defensive tackle Ed Johnson was arrested on a drug possession charge.

Colts president Bill Polian said the team was still gathering facts about the case before determining how it will discipline Johnson, but Johnson will not play Sunday at Minnesota.

PATRIOTS: Tom Brady visited his New England teammates three days after suffering a season-ending knee injury.

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