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QB McNair returns to Tennessee

Nov 8, 2006 - 12:51 AM Baltimore (6-2) at Tennessee (2-6) Sunday 1:00 pm EST

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Steve McNair led the Tennessee Titans to their only Super Bowl trip in franchise history. The three-time Pro Bowl quarterback returns for the first time as a member of the first-place Baltimore Ravens.

McNair's effect on the Ravens has been profound. Baltimore has already matched its win total from last season when Anthony Wright and Kyle Boller were the quarterbacks.

The Titans are in rebuilding mode and used the third overall pick in last April's draft on quarterback Vince Young, who had led Texas to the national championship as a sophomore.

The selection of Young was a strong signal that McNair's 11-year tenure with the Titans had come to an end.

McNair, 33, compiled a record of 81-59 as a starter with Tennessee. In the 1999 season, McNair led the Titans to Super Bowl XXXIV, where they lost to St. Louis, 23-16.

In 2003, McNair was named as the NFL's co-MVP with Peyton Manning after passing for 3,215 yards and 24 touchdowns with seven interceptions.

Along with ranking second in Titans history in passing yards (27,141) and third in touchdown passes (156), McNair also rushed for 3,439 yards - the fourth-highest in NFL history.

Last season, McNair threw for 3,161 yards and 16 touchdowns with 11 interceptions for a quarterback rating of 82.4.

But McNair's high salary cap number was too much for the Titans to handle after they selected Young.

Unfortunately, McNair's time in Tennessee ended on a bitter note. The Titans banned McNair from their practice facility unless he agreed to restructure his contract. McNair filed a grievance with the NFL Players Association and an arbitrator sided with McNair, giving him the right to work out at the team's facility.

Realizing the situation had reached a point of no return, the Titans traded McNair to Baltimore for a draft pick.

Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome was delighted to add a veteran quarterback with McNair's credentials and signed him to a five-year contract.

Now McNair has turned the Ravens back into a Super Bowl contender. They own a two-game lead over Cincinnati in the AFC North.

Last season, the Ravens finished 6-10, including 0-8 on the road, despite ranking fifth in defense. Boller continued to struggle, passing for 1,799 yards with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

This season, McNair has completed nearly 60 percent of his passes (133-of-223) for 1,319 yards and seven touchdowns with seven interceptions.

Wide receiver Derrick Mason and cornerback Samari Rolle were also members of the Titans' Super Bowl team. Mason caught 406 passes for Tennessee from 2000-04.

In his first year with the Ravens last season, Mason caught 86 passes for 1,073 yards. This season, he has 31 receptions for 397 yards.

Young is going through his expected growing pains with the Titans. Last week, he was intercepted three times in a 37-7 loss at Jacksonville. Young has completed just 46 percent of his passes (69-of-150) for 762 yards and five touchdowns with seven interceptions.

On Sunday, Young faces a defense that has forced a league-high 25 turnovers, including 17 interceptions. Safety Ed Reed scored on a 25-yard run off a lateral after an interception by Rolle in the Ravens' 26-20 win over Cincinnati last week.

In September 2005, McNair beat the Ravens, 25-10. Then Baltimore had Wright at quarterback and the Titans held Jamal Lewis to nine yards on 10 carries.