Mike O'Hara

The Detroit Lions' decision to cut Titus Young is no surprise. There was no way GM Martin Mayhew was bringing the talented but troubled - and trouble-making - wide receiver back for a third season with the Lions.

The timing of Young's release is another matter.

He was let go on Monday, the day after Super Bowl XLVII and the first day under NFL rules that teams are allowed to release players under contract.

There is no disagreement here with dumping Young. His behavior all of last year, from punching teammate Louis Delmas in the offseason to deliberately lining up in the wrong position in a loss to the Packers in Game 10, made it imperative that he never play another down for the Lions.

By his actions, Young broke the code that binds teammates. He violated their trust.

My only disagreement with the decision is the timing. I would have waited and tried to deal Young for anything in return, either a player, draft pick or an exchange of draft picks. I've made that opinion known, again in this week's Monday Countdown column, and that feeling hasn't changed.

Mayhew no doubt felt that Young would have no value on the trade market, so he acted as soon as he could.

A barrage of recent tweets by Young only made the situation more toxic. It ended any remote possibility of Young returning.

In the end, I can sum up my feelings about Young's departure in fewer than the maximum 140 characters allowed in one of his tweets:

Too bad. Surprised by timing. Someone else's problem, including his own.