Titans quarterback Vince Young insists he never wavered in his commitment to football.

All that concern over his mental state? He says he was upset as he dealt with his first serious injury, and he didn't realize he had to tell his mother where he was going anymore. Then the media went overboard.

Young spoke publicly Thursday for the first time since Titans coach Jeff Fisher called police for help in locating the quarterback Monday night because of concerns over his emotional well-being. His mother, Felicia Young, also told a local newspaper that the quarterback had indicated he didn't want to play football anymore because of all the negativity he faced.

''I was never depressed,'' Young said. ''Football, this is my life. This is my dream. All I did all these years growing up to get to this point and never had an injury like this before in my life,'' he said.

Questions about his mental state and attitude started Sunday when the third-year quarterback was booed heavily by fans upset at his second interception, and he appeared as if he didn't want to return to the game. Fisher pulled his headset off and talked to him before the quarterback joined the rest of the offense.

Tomlinson to practice today

LaDainian Tomlinson missed his second day of practice Thursday because of a sprained right big toe but said he'd be back today as the San Diego Chargers continue preparing for their game Sunday at Denver.

''I'm all right; I will practice tomorrow,'' Tomlinson said. ''It's just a sprained toe, that's all. On Sunday, I think I should be pretty good.''

Texans-Ravens game moved

The Houston Texans' game against the Baltimore Ravens was moved to Monday night at 6:30 p.m. MDT because of Hurricane Ike. The game was originally scheduled for 2:15 p.m. MDT Sunday.

Hurricane Ike was headed toward the Texas coast as a category 3 storm on Thursday. It was expected to make landfall between Houston and Corpus Christi sometime early Saturday morning.

The Ravens are scheduled to fly to Texas on Sunday afternoon.

Raiders coach denies in-team problems

Oakland Raiders defensive coordinator Rob Ryan insists there are no problems between him and Lane Kiffin but bristled at suggestions by the head coach that owner Al Davis is involved in the weekly game plans.

A day after Kiffin distanced himself from the defense in the aftermath of Oakland's 41-14 loss to Denver in Monday's season opener, Ryan accepted full responsibility for the Raiders' dismal defensive performance. He tried to deflect attention away from his players during a colorful and animated 18-minute tirade.

''That's all on me. I put the game plan in, I run the defense, and it's all on me,'' Ryan said Thursday. ''I just want to set it straight because I've been here five years and I don't think people necessarily have the right story.

''I'm disappointed, but I just wanted to tell my side of the story for once because there's so many other things that come out where I have to read it and take it and I just want the truth as I know the truth.''

The entire Raiders organization was left searching for answers following the lopsided loss to the Broncos in front of a sellout crowd at McAfee Coliseum and a national television audience.

With a young quarterback in JaMarcus Russell, an offensive line that surrendered 41 sacks last season and an injury-plagued receiving corps, many expected Oakland to struggle offensively this year. Defensively, though, the Raiders seemed set.

Instead, after spending nearly $170 million to sign players like defensive tackle Tommy Kelly, cornerbacks DeAngelo Hall and Nnamdi Asomugha and safety Gibril Wilson, Oakland's defense was taken apart methodically and convincingly by Denver quarterback Jay Cutler.

QB Garcia takes issue with being benched

Tampa Bay's Jeff Garcia wasn't happy with his performance in a season-opening loss to New Orleans, however he didn't think it was poor enough to cost him his starting job.

The Buccaneers quarterback spoke out Thursday about coach Jon Gruden's decision to bench him following a 24-20 loss to the Saints. Brian Griese will start Sunday's home opener against Atlanta.

''Having only played one game, I would have liked to have been given a chance to battle through whatever I

Gruden announced the change Wednesday, two days after the coach revealed Garcia sprained an ankle against the Saints and would be listed as questionable to play this week.

In turning the offense over to Griese, however, the coach made it clear that the decision was not based on the injury.

Garcia said he twisted his ankle, but that it was improving. He was limited in practice Thursday, but feels he would be ready to play by Sunday if he were still the starter.

''I've played through a lot worse,'' said Garcia, who completed 24 of 41 passes for 221 yards, one touchdown and one interception against the Saints. ''Everybody in this locker room is going to play through some sort of pain, nick or injury.''

Garcia missed most of training camp and the preseason with a strained right calf. He also has had a jammed pinkie finger on his throwing hand and said Thursday he also had a lower back problem during the offseason.

Also detracting from the quarterback's focus since last season was a lack of progress on a contract extension and Gruden's decision to pursue a trade for Brett Favre the first week of training camp.

''I don't know if coach just believes that because of things that have stockpiled it seems to have taken away from the edge I normally have on the field or what,'' Garcia said. ''But if that's what he believes, then I need to do my best to get that back and prove to him that it's there.''

Gruden said despite the benching, his relationship with Garcia is fine.

''He knows exactly where I'm coming from,'' the coach said after practice.

''Jeff will not start. ... I expect him to be active, and hopefully he can get back here soon and play with the style that we all know and need around here.''