Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley
Ravens quarterback Steve McNair desperately wanted to play one more season, but in the end, his body wouldn't cooperate. McNair, who almost led the Tennessee Titans to a victory in Super Bowl XXXIV, will announce his retirement at a 1 p.m. news conference today.
McNair's teammates were surprised to hear of his plans since he's spent the past two months working out at the Ravens' practice facility. But if you saw him in person last season (and I did twice), this doesn't come as a shock.
McNair, who rushed for more than 3,000 yards during his career, could no longer depend on his legs to escape trouble. He could still make most of the throws, but he started to focus on the pass rush instead of what was happening downfield. As any quarterback will tell you, that's the beginning of the end.
I knew McNair's days as a quarterback were numbered when I watched him play in Pittsburgh last season. When he rolled out to pass, he wasn't protecting the ball. This led to Steelers linebacker James Harrison having one of the greatest defensive games in "Monday Night Football" history.
Bill Parcells will tell you how important it is for a quarterback to have strength in his legs. Vinny Testaverde's commitment to working out in his basement during the offseason is the main reason he played into his 40s.
Over the years, injuries and aging have led to McNair losing the strength in his legs. He took some tremendous shots, but he kept coming back. In 2006, he led the Ravens to a 13-3 record. His numbers weren't great that season (295-468 for 3,050 yards and 16 TDs), but he was the team's emotional leader.
It's a sad day for Titans and Ravens fans. McNair's not a Hall of Famer, but he was an absolute warrior and should be proud of his career.
