Titans cut ties with Vince Young

Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams says it’s time to let quarterback Vince Young go.

The Titans released a statement Wednesday night in which Adams said Young won’t be on the team’s roster next season, but he’s still evaluating the coaching staff.

“We have two critical decisions to make, the direction of the coaching staff and the future at the quarterback position. They are separate issues to me and will be dealt with separately,” Adams said.

Adams is the owner who wanted Young drafted No. 3 overall out of Texas in 2006 and said on draft day that “VY is my guy.”

Young is 30-17 in his five NFL seasons, but only 13-14 against teams finishing a season at .500 or better. He has also raised doubts about his work ethic, leadership and injuries. He suffered a season-ending thumb injury on his right hand Nov. 21, tossed his shoulder pads into the stands and told off Coach Jeff Fisher in the locker room before storming out.

The quarterback is due a roster bonus of $4.25 million in March and an $8.5-million salary for 2011.

Adams also said in the statement that he informed Fisher he still is evaluating the coaching staff.

“I am hoping to make a decision soon,” Adams said.

Fisher could not be reached for comment. The NFL’s longest-tenured coach with his current team, he just finished his 16th full season and coached his 273rd game with the Titans, who started the season 5-2 but finished 6-10.

Elway re-joins Broncos

Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway was appointed executive vice president of football operations for the Denver Broncos, whom he led to five Super Bowls and consecutive titles before retiring in 1999.

The Broncos are searching for a coach and Elway will interview Mike Mularkey, the Atlanta Falcons’ offensive coordinator; Perry Fewell, the New York Giants’ defensive coordinator, and Eric Studesville, who was 1-3 as Denver’s interim coach after Josh McDaniels was fired Dec. 6.

Elway said he would call Jim Harbaugh as soon as he got upstairs to his office to try to schedule an interview with Stanford’s coach, too.

Carroll isn’t tipping hand

Coach Pete Carroll remained evasive about who the starting quarterback will be for the Seattle Seahawks against the New Orleans Saints in an NFC wild-card playoff game Saturday.

Carroll continued to say that Matt Hasselbeck and Charlie Whitehurst will split reps in practice and that both will be available for the game.

Pro Bowl ins and outs

New England Patriots receiver Wes Welker and tackle Matt Light have been selected to the Pro Bowl.

They will replace Houston receiver Andre Johnson, who was to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right ankle, and Miami tackle Jake Long, who was bothered by shoulder and knee problems for much of the season.

Also, Detroit Lions rookie defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh will have shoulder surgery Monday and will not play in the Pro Bowl. The team did not say which shoulder.

Etc.

The Houston Texans hired Wade Phillips as defensive coordinator. Phillips was fired as coach of the Dallas Cowboys after a 1-7 start. He joins Gary Kubiak’s staff two days after the Texans fired several assistants, including defensive coordinator Frank Bush. … Miami Dolphins assistant head coach Todd Bowles spent about two hours with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, making him the third known candidate to become the team’s coach. … The New York Jets are appealing a $100,000 fine issued by the NFL last week for violating rules when assistant coach Sal Alosi ordered players to form a sideline wall, then tripped Miami’s Nolan Carroll during a punt return last month.