Baltimore GM Ozzie Newsome is being ripped in some NFL circles for surrendering a fourth-round draft choice for Steve McNair, a quarterback the Tennessee Titans would have released later this month. But Newsome is trying to win and head coach Brian Billick insisted on having McNair as quickly as possible in order for him to learn the offense.
Yes, a fourth-round pick can be a lot. But the Ravens are in a difficult division and they are hoping McNair can make them a playoff team once again. It’s asking a lot, especially for such a fragile quarterback, but McNair may enjoy the change, especially if Baltimore can run the football like it has in the past.
For the Titans, they gain $9 million in salary-cap savings, enough to sign their draft class and possibly another free agent. McNair will also cost $14.43 million in dead money this season, the last one he’s on the books for.
In Tennessee, Billy Volek may be the announced starter, but it will be only a matter of time before rookie Vince Young plays. It probably will happen when owner Bud Adams calls down from his owner’s box and suggests it.
The real Mularkey?
Through the years, there is no doubt that defensive players have loved playing for #### Jauron, now Buffalo’s head coach. You can count safety Troy Vincent in that group. Vincent, as we know, is one of those savvy veterans, someone who has a shot at replacing Gene Upshaw as executive director of the NFL Players Association.
Vincent respects Jauron for who he is. While saying that, he took a little swipe at former coach Mike Mularkey, a nice-guy offensive coordinator while with the Steelers, who simply failed in Buffalo.
“(Mularkey) was trying to build a personality that I’m not sure was what we were,” Vincent said this week. “You can’t teach a show dog how to fight. I have great respect for Coach Mularkey, but he tried to project a tough image … That was (Bill) Cowher.”
Believe me, it is a common mistake among rookie head coaches to project a personality that is not their own. Mularkey saw the kind of success Cowher had and tried at times to emulate him. But in the process, it chipped away at his own personality and the players saw through that.
Keep an eye on Addai
For anyone looking for a rookie running back to pick up in fantasy football, keep tabs on the health of the Colts’ Joseph Addai during training camp. Addai will be given every opportunity to win the job in Indianapolis. Plus, in that offense, there will be a chance for Addai to rack up a lot of yards and touchdowns.
Law's list
The teams really interested in cornerback Ty Law are, in order of seriousness, New England, Kansas City and Arizona. He also could be of some help in Tennessee.
Holmes to return?
Although neck specialist Dr. Robert Watkins of Los Angeles hasn’t cleared him to play, Chiefs running back Priest Holmes sounds like he may be willing to play this season. Holmes turns 33 in October. The Chiefs believe it is too risky for Holmes and that he’ll probably retire. But Holmes is making noises, unless you believe he simply likes to hear himself talk about a possible return.
Payton cleans house
Congratulations to new Saints head coach Sean Payton for doing some necessary house cleaning in the locker room. He traded away defensive tackle Johnathan Sullivan, maybe the biggest bust in team history, to New England and also linebacker Courtney Watson. His first moves were dumping underachieving quarterback Aaron Brooks and guard Kendyl Jacox and also trading soft offensive tackle Wayne Gandy.
Drew Brees was seen throwing 10 to 15-yard passes in a recent mini-camp and insists he will have better velocity once training camp starts.
All will be silent within one month after the season starts. Here is why: Jonathan Ogden, Todd Heap, Derrick Mason, Mark Clayton and what are those other guys names?? oh yeah those two large bulls that take 3 or 4 men to pull down... Lewis and Anderson. Oh yeah, and one leader the Ravens never had to pull it all together, McNair. I heard the defense is okay also. McCallister, Rolle, Reed, Suggs and what's his name.....Oh yeah Lewis.I heard that all of them are angry and have a chip on their shoulder and something to prove about last year was a fluke...... I wouldn't want to play them.
What is up with the unbelievable over-valuation of draft picks? No research, but my guess is that 50% of all 2003 4th round draft picks aren't in the league anymore. How many 2005 4th round draft picks started last year? This is a good deal for he Ravens, assuming McNair can stay healthy.
McNair now has a cause, Never give a defeated army or men a cause...They will fight as never before....Erwin Rommel. You also will have to add the entire Raven defense, Jamal Lewis and the offense with this one.
May I asked this question? Why is it that there are problems with Steve McNair going to the Ravens for a fourth round draft pick and not a problem with Farve coming back for the Packers for another year. Which qb had a better year last year? No analist or sports writer seems to talk about the bad years that Farve had with all those interceptions. I would rather have McNair than Farve.
As a die hard UVA fan I must take offense to the comment that referred to Aaron Brooks as an "underachieving quarterback". When drafted not too many people would have thought he would have lasted this long. He's was a great college quarterback and should have been a solid back up NFL quarterback...Its too bad the Saints sullied his rep.
Would you trade Brett Favre for a 4th round pick? I think so. The Ravens, if this is all they needed to get into the playoffs or a possible Super Bowl bid, well this just got it. The quarterback position can be grossly overrated; especially when you don't have a good O line. If the Ravens can give Mcnair any time at all look for the Ravens to be the team to beat in their division. The big thing that has to happen in pro football is to get a salary program that will benefit all parties and that includes the fans. It is so hard to get loyal to a team or a group of players, because of the way the league is being run with free agency and the salaries. Players like Steve Mcnair and others are not being treated fairly. When they start making to much money they get traded or released, the big contract they signed years before means nothing. It's just not logical and the league needs to address this, we fans know when a player signs a contract for 7 years he's most likely not going to play for that team for the full extent of his contract. And I do know that is why these contracts are not garenteed, but lets think of the players at this time and compensate them accordingly. The league will be in trouble if they do not address this issue. Why should a young athlete concentrate on football when there are far more lucrative sports to play. If Bo Jackson had concentrated on Baseball he would have been far better off and young people see that today. The NFL better get this one right or the talent pool is going to shrink up faster than you can say Johnny Unitas.
My opinion is that the Titans management is highly repsected and they have a long history of making good "business" decisions. So that would lead one to conclude that McNair is a faded quarterback.
The Ravens will one or two more games because of him but his health is the problem. Look for him on the injury report with a month of the season starting.
I hardly think the Ravens are now a playoff team when they only won 6 games with that defense, and similiar offensive talent, aside from this veteran QB. You're not going to compete with Pittsburgh or Cincinnati, overall, anytime in McNairs' tenure. The other moves they made are not that significant to overcome the division leaders.
Given overall health, the Ravens are no better than 7-9, 8-8. They will win a game or two and that will make you think McNair was worth the gamble.
Also, why the new found faith in Jamal Lewis? Mike Anderson is the same style runner and they need speed back more than more power in that position. They should've gone after Micheal Bennett more than Anderson.
Sorry Ozzie, you are good GM, but Billick is nothing more than a PR Coach.
Last edited by Thomas_Anderson on June 10th at 9:15 AM.
I Think that McNair is definately worth a fourth round pick. Hell, how many fourth round picks actually play during the season. I believe that if not for the money aspect of his relationship with the Titans, that they would be more than happy to keep him as thier starting QB. It just goes to show you what type of loyalty exists in the NFL.
What a statement was made when the Titans traded him in their own division... Must mean they believe he has nothing left in the tank... Going to be great game to watch....
I don't see it as a statement that the Titans think McNair had nothing left. There is no way they were going to pay his salary cap number (somewhere around 26 million i believe) and he already had a deal in place with the ravens so he was going there anyway. The only thing they did by trading him was to get some value out of him. And you can't compare McNair to Favre, Favre may be gassed out, but McNair's problems over the last two years have been because he's prone to injury.
One thing i read within one of the comments was strikingly important too me as a Packer fan. A great quarterback can't be of much help if he doesn't have a good offensive line.
Brett Farves downfall was his lack o####ood offensive line. A gunslinger, like him. needs great players to help overcome his unforced errors.
I see alot in common between McNair and Farve. I think McNair will have good success in Baltimore. But! they are in a very tough division with Pitt and the Bengals. I doubt Mcnair will take them anyplace. The Titans wouldn't dump him if he had enough gas in the tank too get the job done.
The Ravens and Titans aren't in the same division anymore.
If it was a money issue, and McNair was the answer for Tennessee, they would've made it work. It was time for him to move on and do what most aging QB's do, give it one last shot. Ravens, 7-9, 8-8, if he's healthy for 16 games.
Daking, I think the fact that you are a Packer fan is blinding you. Yes the poor offensive line was a cause of some of the Packers problem, but Favre does not deserve a free pass. Favre made a good deal of poor decisions throwing the ball that were inexcusable for someone with his experience in the league.
John Czarnecki, a former sportswriter with over 20 years experience covering the NFL, has been the editorial consultant for the Emmy Award-winning FOX NFL Sunday since its 1994 inception. Prior, he provided exclusive information to CBS Sports' The NFL Today program from 1991 to 1993, holding a similar position.
Prior to joining CBS Sports, Czarnecki was a pro football writer for The National Sports Daily (1989-91), The Dallas Morning News (1989), and The Los Angeles Herald-Examin er. An archive of work can be found here.
