Detroit Lions Cut Controversial WR Titus Young

The tumultuous relationship between controversial wide receiver Titus Young and the Detroit Lions has come to an end. 

According to Dave Birkett, Lions beat writer for the Detroit Free Press, the Lions are releasing Young:

As Birkett also reports, Young appears to be taking the news in stride:

This move is anything but shocking—even though Young has proved he has the game to make it in the NFL.

The Boise State product just wrapped up his second season in the NFL. The speedy 5'11" receiver has shown he has the talent and skill set to play at the highest level. In his two seasons, he has hauled in 81 catches for 990 yards and 10 touchdowns. 

Young's stats took a dip in his second year, but the receiver only played in 10 contests. 

He finished this past season on IR due to tendinitis in his knee, but his attitude was likely more to blame for his premature exit from the Lions season.  

In the three weeks leading up to Young being placed on IR, Lions coach Jim Schwartz sent him home twice. 

In his last game of the season, on Nov. 18 versus the Packers, Young got into a shouting match with receivers coach Shawn Jefferson. 

After that incident, Young was sent home from the team. He returned, but obviously did not do enough to position himself in the coach's good graces, as he was shortly barred from the team once again.

He took to Twitter recently to encourage the Lions to cut ties with him. 

In OTAs last offseason, Young also got kicked out for a day for sucker punching a teammate. 

It was clear that Young could not continue as a member of the Lions. The only other option for Detroit would have been to trade the troubled receiver, but at this point, his value is nearly nonexistent.