Post by dad2paisley on Jun 8, 2006 11:16:18 GMT -5
This is good news for us Raven Fans. ;D
McNair passes physical, finalizing trade to Ravens
Team calls afternoon press conference to announce Pro Bowl QB's arrival
By Jamison Hensley
Sun reporter
Originally published June 8, 2006, 11:21 AM EDT
The Ravens officially have a new starting quarterback. Steve McNair passed his physical Thursday morning completing a trade between Baltimore and the Tennessee Titans. The Ravens called a late afternoon press conference to announce the Pro Bowl quarterback's arrival, a critical turning point for a team under siege.
After enduring months of turmoil - from an underachieving 6-10 season to coach Brian Billick's being on the hot seat to linebacker Ray Lewis' public criticism of the team - the Ravens have landed the most decorated quarterback in franchise history.
Team sources said there are "absolutely" no concerns about McNair's health despite an injury-filled career.
"I think this team, right now, has a great chance at getting back to the Super Bowl, and that's what you want to be a part of," said McNair, who arrived at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport about 6 p.m. yesterday, wearing a matching gray shirt and slacks as well as a broad smile.
"I've gone to the Super Bowl, but you want to win it. That's why my decision was so easy to come here and be a part of this team. They have the caliber of team to make it to the Super Bowl for the next couple of years."
The Ravens will send a 2007 fourth-round draft pick to the Titans for McNair, a three-time Pro Bowl quarterback and the NFL's co-Most Valuable Player in 2003. McNair is expected to suit up for the team's final minicamp next week.
Yesterday will be remembered as one of the most emotional afternoons in any Ravens offseason.
It began with Lewis expressing regret over his comments about some of his teammates and venting his frustration over losing. It ended with the Ravens filling a decade-long void at quarterback with a player long respected by the team.
"He's a warrior," Lewis said. "I don't know what person wouldn't like a warrior on his ballclub."
The trade ends a long wait for the Ravens, who had targeted McNair since January.
The Ravens reached an agreement in principle on a five-year contract with McNair at the end of April, when they received permission from the Titans to speak to him. McNair, 33, will receive an $11 million signing bonus and earn $1 million in base salary this season.
Known for his strong arm and will, McNair is widely considered to be the pivotal addition that turns the Ravens from a last-place club into a playoff team. He will replace former first-round pick Kyle Boller, who has been inconsistent during his three-year career.
"I think [McNair] gives us leadership that we need. He's a competitor," said Ravens cornerback Samari Rolle, who played with McNair for seven seasons in Tennessee. "Everybody knows we definitely underachieved, going 6-10 with the type of talent we've got. I don't think we can have a season like we had last year. Having him, it definitely won't happen again.
"In the players' mind, this would put us over the top."
The agreement between the Ravens and Titans ended a 38-day stalemate in trade talks. Tennessee eventually accepted the offer that the Ravens have had on the table for four weeks, a Ravens source said.
During that time, McNair won a grievance against the Titans to return to their training facility last week but was turned away again Monday when the team indicated that he needed to take another physical.
According to a Ravens source, agent Bus Cook told Titans general manager Floyd Reese yesterday that the team had no shot at retaining McNair and asked whether a deal could be worked out with the Ravens. Tennessee is only $112,000 under the NFL salary cap and needed McNair to restructure his contact or leave the team in order to have enough money to sign its draft picks. By trading McNair, the team gains $9 million in salary cap room.
By the end of yesterday's practice, Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome received a call from Reese and the teams quickly agreed on a trade.
"It's been inevitable," Cook said. "Economically, Tennessee was strapped and was incapable of giving what the Ravens could. The Ravens' determination in setting his market value was more than what Tennessee could have ever offered."
McNair had spent his entire 11-year career with the Titans franchise after being the third selection overall in the 1995 draft by the then-Houston Oilers.
McNair passes physical, finalizing trade to Ravens
Team calls afternoon press conference to announce Pro Bowl QB's arrival
By Jamison Hensley
Sun reporter
Originally published June 8, 2006, 11:21 AM EDT
The Ravens officially have a new starting quarterback. Steve McNair passed his physical Thursday morning completing a trade between Baltimore and the Tennessee Titans. The Ravens called a late afternoon press conference to announce the Pro Bowl quarterback's arrival, a critical turning point for a team under siege.
After enduring months of turmoil - from an underachieving 6-10 season to coach Brian Billick's being on the hot seat to linebacker Ray Lewis' public criticism of the team - the Ravens have landed the most decorated quarterback in franchise history.
Team sources said there are "absolutely" no concerns about McNair's health despite an injury-filled career.
"I think this team, right now, has a great chance at getting back to the Super Bowl, and that's what you want to be a part of," said McNair, who arrived at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport about 6 p.m. yesterday, wearing a matching gray shirt and slacks as well as a broad smile.
"I've gone to the Super Bowl, but you want to win it. That's why my decision was so easy to come here and be a part of this team. They have the caliber of team to make it to the Super Bowl for the next couple of years."
The Ravens will send a 2007 fourth-round draft pick to the Titans for McNair, a three-time Pro Bowl quarterback and the NFL's co-Most Valuable Player in 2003. McNair is expected to suit up for the team's final minicamp next week.
Yesterday will be remembered as one of the most emotional afternoons in any Ravens offseason.
It began with Lewis expressing regret over his comments about some of his teammates and venting his frustration over losing. It ended with the Ravens filling a decade-long void at quarterback with a player long respected by the team.
"He's a warrior," Lewis said. "I don't know what person wouldn't like a warrior on his ballclub."
The trade ends a long wait for the Ravens, who had targeted McNair since January.
The Ravens reached an agreement in principle on a five-year contract with McNair at the end of April, when they received permission from the Titans to speak to him. McNair, 33, will receive an $11 million signing bonus and earn $1 million in base salary this season.
Known for his strong arm and will, McNair is widely considered to be the pivotal addition that turns the Ravens from a last-place club into a playoff team. He will replace former first-round pick Kyle Boller, who has been inconsistent during his three-year career.
"I think [McNair] gives us leadership that we need. He's a competitor," said Ravens cornerback Samari Rolle, who played with McNair for seven seasons in Tennessee. "Everybody knows we definitely underachieved, going 6-10 with the type of talent we've got. I don't think we can have a season like we had last year. Having him, it definitely won't happen again.
"In the players' mind, this would put us over the top."
The agreement between the Ravens and Titans ended a 38-day stalemate in trade talks. Tennessee eventually accepted the offer that the Ravens have had on the table for four weeks, a Ravens source said.
During that time, McNair won a grievance against the Titans to return to their training facility last week but was turned away again Monday when the team indicated that he needed to take another physical.
According to a Ravens source, agent Bus Cook told Titans general manager Floyd Reese yesterday that the team had no shot at retaining McNair and asked whether a deal could be worked out with the Ravens. Tennessee is only $112,000 under the NFL salary cap and needed McNair to restructure his contact or leave the team in order to have enough money to sign its draft picks. By trading McNair, the team gains $9 million in salary cap room.
By the end of yesterday's practice, Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome received a call from Reese and the teams quickly agreed on a trade.
"It's been inevitable," Cook said. "Economically, Tennessee was strapped and was incapable of giving what the Ravens could. The Ravens' determination in setting his market value was more than what Tennessee could have ever offered."
McNair had spent his entire 11-year career with the Titans franchise after being the third selection overall in the 1995 draft by the then-Houston Oilers.
