Thanks Old Friend-Steve McNair Retires
I don’t care that he retired as a Raven.
He was, and he is a Tennessee Titan.
Steve McNair announced his retirement Thursday, and unlike his friend Brett Favre; he won’t get a huge send-off, there won’t be many people clamoring for him to play one more season; in fact, McNair probably played at least one season too many, as he was unable to play most of last season due to injuries. And that’s not the way that McNair should have went out. But maybe there’s poetic justice in going out that way. Because eventually, even tough guys get too hurt to go on.
And there’s no doubting how tough a guy that McNair is and was. I’ve had the pleasure of watching McNair play ever since the Titans came to town and this guy was one of the toughest SOBs that I’ve ever had the pleasure to watch play. He played when he was hurt (and he was hurt often) and he played well when he was hurt. He had his low moments in Tennessee. He was charged with two DUIs that were later revoked. But he also had his high moments in Tennessee; which of course included leading the Titans to within one yard of a Super Bowl victory during the ‘99 season, and also included sharing the NFL MVP with Peyton Manning in 2003.
How McNair left Tennessee, left a bad taste in many Titans’ fan’s mouths (including mine). McNair was basically kicked out of the Titans facilities and pretty much treated like garbage by the franchise that he helped put on the map. McNair was moved out to Baltimore, and replaced by the franchise with a younger, faster, more mobile version of himself in his former protege, Vince Young.
It says alot about McNair’s personality that he remains one of Young’s most valuable friends. Young has repeatedly talked about how much McNair means to him, and how much the man that he calls “Pops” has helped him throughout the way in the NFL. When Young panicked after being left behind by the team his rookie year, who did he call? McNair. Who helped Young find his way to meet up with the team? McNair. Put yourself in that situation. Would you help out the guy that took your job? Would you give him constructive advice on how to be successful? I sure as hell wouldn’t. McNair could have given the Titans a lesson in class if the franchise hadn’t been busy drafting and enabling guys like Albert Haynesworth and Adam Jones.
If I had my way I would see McNair and the Titans repair their relationship and I would have McNair come back to work for the organization that he gave so much to. Could you imagine how much that McNair could help out Vince Young if he was on hand all the time? It would be invaluable to Young and to the Titans for that to happen.
I’m a Giants fan. I always have been, and I probably always will be. But, it’s hard to have a team right in your backyard and to not pay attention to them; and I have followed the Titans since they moved to Nashville (for one thing their games are always on, lol). I have alot of great memories of Steve McNair and I hope that his life away from football is a successful one.
If a guy named Warren Moon hadn’t existed McNair would be the most prolific quarterback in Titans history. But, to me, Warren Moon was an Oiler, and until someone else proves me wrong, “Air” McNair was the greatest quarterback in Titans’ history.
There’s the bar Vince. I’m not sure that even you can jump that damn high.
Thank you Steve. Good show, old man.
