<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>After an offseason of not being able to work out in the Titans facility, Steve McNair is finally going to have a new office to call home -- in Baltimore. Pending a physical, McNair is on his way to Baltimore in a trade that is believed to involve a fourth-round choice in 2007. Those were terms that have been discussed for the past several weeks between the two teams. There is a possibility the draft pick could become a third-round choice depending on his playing time and performance in 2006.The Titans released a statement Wednesday that spelled out McNair's departure. "We have granted permission to Baltimore to give Steve McNair a physical, which we expect to take place in the next 24 hours," the Titans said in statement. "Upon passing a physical, final trade terms will be agreed upon."The trade ends one of the strangest exits of a franchise quarterback in recent NFL history. McNair, a 10-year institution with the Titans who helped take the team to a Super Bowl, had to win a grievance against the Titans to be allowed in the facility because the team feared an injury. McNair, considered a warrior who fought through numerous injuries to play during his 10-year career, had a $23 million cap number and the team didn't want him to be hurt and then be stuck with the high salary cap number.After winning the grievance, the Titans informed him last week that he failed the team physical at the end of last season and needed to take another physical in order to return to the team. McNair and his agent, Bus Cook, were in the process of trying to schedule that physical when the team decided to let him go the Ravens.During the second day of the NFL draft in April, the Titans gave Cook permission to talk to the Ravens about a new contract. Cook worked out a deal that gave him an $11 million signing bonus and a $1 million base salary. That was more than the $9 million he was scheduled to make in base salary for the Ravens in 2006.In acquiring McNair, the Ravens feel they have received the final piece of the puzzle that could enable them to challenge the Steelers and the Bengals for the NFC North title. The 33-year-old McNair was the third pick in the 1995 draft and the Titans did the right thing in grooming him for greatness.They only let him start six games during his first two seasons in Houston. By his third season, McNair was a starter in which the franchise was able to start building a winner. His completion percentage and quarterback rating kept improving as the team improve around him.He went to the Pro Bowl in 2000 and 2003.Though Kyle Boller is currently the Ravens starting quarterback, McNair goes to the team with enough time for him to win the starting job and try to take the team to the playoffs. He reunites with two former Titans -- wide receiver Derrick Mason and cornerback Samari Rolle. Mason and Rolle signed with the Ravens last year.For McNair, the trade ends a tough exit from the Titans. While he thought he was going to have to take a Thursday physical in Nashville for a team that no longer wanted him, McNair can take a Thursday physical with a Raven team that has waited the entire offseason to get him.John Clayton is a senior writer for ESPN.com.Source: ESPN</div>
Well good for him. It was obvious that the Titans are ready to move on to the future, and that he needed out of there to do that. Baltimore has some talent on the offense, and I think that McNair, if he can stay healthy can lead this team to a playoff berth if the defense plays like it should.
Yea. Now they McNair will replace Cul. Should be a good fit...injury free maybe. Raven are still a threat next seasonTo bad Dallas didnt even bother to try to get McNair, Bledsoe :-(
Wow. Good news for Baltimore fans. Kyle Boller will most likely come off the bench next year. McNair is a vet, and he should be able to get it done under Jon Ogden. I guess Tennesse is confident in Vince Young starting from day 1.
I'm not so sure that Tennessee is willing to give Vince Young the job from day 1. I think their plan all along was to let him be the #2 quarterback for the first year (or until he is comfortable with the offense), and then start him. Meanwhile they would give the starting job to that other guy whose name I can't remember at the momennt.a
They would be pretty stupid not to start Billy Volek over Vince Young this season. Billy Volek has been a decent quarterback when he has got to start, and the Titans have been high on him since they saw him play. Letting Mcnair walk is still a pretty dumb trade, even if they do get a fourth round pick out of it. Vince Young will not be able to come in from day one and start at the NFL level, the Texans would just not be competitive. Volek is good to have in there, the Titans will be more competitive with him on the field, but with Mcnair out there it would give Vince Young someone more like himself to learn behind for a season. A scrambling type quarterback, Vince Young would be able to sit learn, work on his mechanics while Mcnair kept the team moving for one more season.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CB4AllStar @ Jun 7 2006, 03:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Billy Volek? Give me a break. They're not starting Volek over Young.</div>Why wouldn't they? Vince Young has a huge learning curve, and I doubt he will be ready to command the offense from day 1. Volek isn't horrible, but he's not great either. He's decent enough to where he could step in and be the starter for a year (or half a year, depending on when the coaching staff fells Young is ready). But like valo35 said, it would have been much better for Young if Tennessee had let McNair stay and start, that way VY could learn from his longtime friend and mentor.It happened with Carson Palmer. He sat and learned his rookie season, and look how well he is doing. Young has a lot to work on, and I'm hoping he gets it all down.
I think most of you are too confident in Boller not starting. Billick has always been one to pick favorites, so i have no doubt in my mind Boller will be on top of the depth chart from day 1, but if Mcnair pulls a Mark Brunell, he might be starting by the end of preseason.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (PrimeTime @ Jun 8 2006, 12:27 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I think most of you are too confident in Boller not starting. Billick has always been one to pick favorites, so i have no doubt in my mind Boller will be on top of the depth chart from day 1, but if Mcnair pulls a Mark Brunell, he might be starting by the end of preseason.</div>You guys didn't give up a 4rth round pick to have McNair backup. Unless something out of the ordinary happens, ultimately he'll be the starter.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (LightsOut @ Jun 8 2006, 12:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>You guys didn't give up a 4rth round pick to have McNair backup. Unless something out of the ordinary happens, ultimately he'll be the starter.</div>A 4th round pick is nothing special, we got him to have someone forcing Boller to play better. If you know Billick well, he's known to pick favorites.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (PrimeTime @ Jun 8 2006, 07:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>A 4th round pick is nothing special, we got him to have someone forcing Boller to play better. If you know Billick well, he's known to pick favorites.</div> They signed McNair to a 5-year deal for a reason, he's starting.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BCB @ Jun 8 2006, 10:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>They signed McNair to a 5-year deal for a reason, he's starting.</div>You'll see, you obviously dont know Billick that well. Im not saying he wont start, but coming into the preseason Boller will be on top of our depth chart, that I guarantee espically with his strong play. I've only been watching the Ravens for 10 years, so i obviously have a foot up my ass.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CB4AllStar @ Jun 7 2006, 04:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Billy Volek? Give me a break. They're not starting Volek over Young.</div>THey didn't win but a couple games, but when Volek started two years ago, he got nearly 2500 yards and 18 TDs on only 9 starts, I believe.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BigMo763 @ Jun 7 2006, 07:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Why wouldn't they? Vince Young has a huge learning curve, and I doubt he will be ready to command the offense from day 1. Volek isn't horrible, but he's not great either. He's decent enough to where he could step in and be the starter for a year (or half a year, depending on when the coaching staff fells Young is ready). But like valo35 said, it would have been much better for Young if Tennessee had let McNair stay and start, that way VY could learn from his longtime friend and mentor.It happened with Carson Palmer. He sat and learned his rookie season, and look how well he is doing. Young has a lot to work on, and I'm hoping he gets it all down.</div>Maybe Volek will start towards the start of the season to help and mentor young, and to keep him out of pressure, but you've got to be out of your mind if you think that Young won't replace Volek mid-season as the starting QB.
They are now superbowl contenders...I don't but it. They'll be good, but I don't see them getting it over their division rivals. The Steelers are plain and simple better than them, and the Bengals could be a 10 win team if Carson gets back
The Steelers arent a better team then us, the one game they did beat us in they won by a field goal and half our team was injured.(No Ray Lewis,Ed Reed, or Kyle Boller) in that game.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (PrimeTime @ Jun 9 2006, 03:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The Steelers arent a better team then us, the one game they did beat us in they won by a field goal and half our team was injured.(No Ray Lewis,Ed Reed, or Kyle Boller) in that game.</div>The Steelers wont the SB You guys didn't come near the playoffs. Now you think you are better than the Steelers? :HAHAHA:Get a decent offense, then it would be almost close to not reasonable to say such a stupid thing
Agreed. Sure the Steelers had trouble with the Ravens in one game, but they won the Superbowl. They still have most of that core intact, and Big Ben will only be better. McNair will help the Ravens, but in no way are they better than the Steelers
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CB4AllStar @ Jun 9 2006, 03:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The Steelers wont the SB You guys didn't come near the playoffs. Now you think you are better than the Steelers? :HAHAHA:Get a decent offense, then it would be almost close to not reasonable to say such a stupid thing </div>I didnt say we are the best team in the NFL, but we are better then the Steelers. Just that one team, they may have won the superbowl but we nearly sweeped the season series. And we outplayed them in each game. So yes, we are better then the steelers, we've beaten them almost every time we've played them in the last 3 years. Remember that 15-1 season? that 1 was the ravens!
