He led his team to the AFC North title with a franchise-best 13-3 regular-season record. And he topped it off with a fourth selection to the Pro Bowl. Still, Steve McNair says he spent much of last season ? his first as Ravens quarterback ? unsure and tentative.
But don?t be fooled by that 63-percent completion rate or those 3,050 yards passing.
Recommended Stories
“Last training camp I had to rush in,” McNair said. “Now I?m used to the offense and can pace myself. [The season] is not a sprint. It?s a marathon. I?m very comfortable with this offense. I can relax and feel good about it.”
Coach Brian Billick sees it the same way.
“Obviously, Steve now has a complete grasp of what we?re doing,” he said. “Last year, he was still learning the verbiage. We have a much better feel of what he can do.”
Tennessee traded McNair to the Ravens in early June 2006, giving him little time to get acclimated to a new offense for the first time since being drafted out of Alcorn State third overall by the Titans (then Houston Oilers) in 1995.
The biggest question facing McNair is: Can his body take another grueling 16-game regular season? A 13-year veteran, McNair, 34, the league?s co-MVP in 2003, started every game last season. But in 2004 and 2005 he missed 10 games with a variety of nagging injuries. The most serious was a bruised sternum that put him on the bench for eight games in 2004. Surgery to alleviate the problem was successful and, thankfully for the Ravens, ended retirement talk by the Titans? winningest quarterback.
Ravens wide receiver Derrick Mason, who played with McNair for eight seasons in Tennessee, said the quarterback is as durable as any in the league and expects even better statistics from him this season. In 2006, McNair threw for 16 touchdowns, and his completion rate was a career-high.
“He hasn?t let anyone down yet,” Mason said. “He?s been through some excruciating pain. But [week after week] he was able to suck it up and come out to play.”
Ravens tight end Todd Heap said having McNair for another season has given the team a jump start on last season. And that, along with the addition of running back Willis McGahee and Billick?s play-calling, gives the Ravens a dynamic offense.
“We?ve put in a lot of new things,” Heap said. “But the concepts are all the same [as last season], so we?re a lot further ahead, and we?re a lot smoother.”
Quarterbacks at 34 years old
Since the first Super Bowl, only seven quarterbacks have guided their team to a title during the season in which they turned 34 years old, which is Steve McNair?s age. However, of those seven, only two ? Tampa Bay?s Brad Johnson and Denver?s John Elway ? accomplished the feat since 1985.
Here?s a look at how some of the all-time greatest quarterbacks performed when they were 34:
Quarterback Team Record Yards TDs INTs Results
Joe Montana 49ers 321-520 3,944 26 16 14-2 Lost in NFC championship
Johnny Unitas Colts 255-436 3,428 20 16 11-1-2 No postseason
Dan Marino Dolphins 309-482 3,668 24 15 9-7 Lost in AFC wildcard game
T. Bradshaw Steelers 127-240 1,768 17 11 6-3 Lost in AFC wildcard game
Otto Graham Browns 98-185 1,721 15 8 9-2-1 Won NFL championship
Dan Fouts Chargers 254-430 3,638 27 20 8-8 No postseason
F. Tarkenton Vikings 199-351 2,598 17 12 0-4 Lost in Super Bowl
S. Baugh Redskins 185-315 2,599 22 23 7-5 No postseason
*John Elway Broncos 307-494 3,490 16 10 7-9 No postseason
Bart Starr Packers 109-171 1,617 15 8 6-7-1 No postseason
K. Stabler Raiders 304-498 3,615 26 22 9-7 No postseason
R. Staubach Cowboys 208-369 2,715 14 11 11-3 lost in NFC divisional round
*He is the oldest quarterback to win the Super Bowl, as he was 38 when the Broncos defeated the Falcons to win Super Bowl XXXIII.
