McNair Shot to Death

[LJohn]

July 5, 2009
Steve McNair, a Super Bowl Quarterback, Is Shot to Death
By JUDY BATTISTA and CHRIS HINE
Steve McNair, the former N.F.L. quarterback whose Air McNair nickname gave short shrift to his scrambling ability, died Saturday, apparently in a double shooting, according to the Nashville police.

McNair, 36, and an unidentified woman were found dead with gunshot wounds Saturday afternoon inside a condominium in downtown Nashville, the police said.

The Associated Press quoted a police spokesman saying that the woman was not McNair’s wife, Mechelle.

McNair shared the league’s Most Valuable Player award with Peyton Manning in 2003, when McNair played for the Tennessee Titans. He played for the franchise for 11 years, taking it within inches of overtime against the St. Louis Rams in the Super Bowl after the 1999 season. He retired before the 2008 season, after 13 years in the N.F.L. (he played two seasons in Baltimore) as one of the best quarterbacks of his era.

“The N.F.L. has lost a brother, and I believe black quarterbacks have lost a pioneer,” said Jets linebacker Bart Scott, who played with McNair in Baltimore.

The Houston Oilers, who later moved to Tennessee, drafted McNair with the third overall pick in 1995 out of Alcorn State, a historically black college where McNair first displayed his dazzling ability to scramble or throw — and a toughness that pushed him to play through numerous injuries. Other players marveled at his grittiness, and in 1999, he returned from early-season back surgery to take the Titans to the Super Bowl.

The greatest stretch of his career may have occurred near the end of the 2002 season, when McNair had so many injuries that he could not practice for two months, but led the Titans to five straight victories to finish the regular season before they lost in the American Football Conference championship game.

In 2003, McNair was charged with drunken driving and possession of a handgun. Those charges were dismissed. In 2007, McNair was charged with driving under the influence in Tennessee, accused of allowing his vehicle to be operated by someone who was driving under the influence. His brother-in-law was driving the vehicle, and he pleaded guilty to reckless driving. The charge against McNair was dropped.

[jpeckergnat]

What a shame. The guy was one tough mofo. I enjoyed watching him play, more than any other QB the last 10 years or so. You could knock him down but he would get right back up and run over a linebacker on the next play. Brokie Croyle could have learned how to play injured and be a team leader by watching Steve.

[LJohn]

What a shame. The guy was one tough mofo. I enjoyed watching him play, more than any other QB the last 10 years or so. You could knock him down but he would get right back up and run over a linebacker on the next play. Brokie Croyle could have learned how to play injured and be a team leader by watching Steve.

Looks like Steveo was nailing a 20-year-old on the side. Love hearing the sports guys talk about his integrity.

[Breezy]

If it was indeed a murder/suicide as speculated, it sounds as though she was pretty p.o.'ed, as apparently, he was riddled with bullets. From what I've read, he sounded like a happy, friendly guy. Sounds like he picked the wrong girlfriend, if there is a "right" one. Oh yeah, the "right" one would be the WIFE.

[LJohn]

If it was indeed a murder/suicide as speculated, it sounds as though she was pretty p.o.'ed, as apparently, he was riddled with bullets. From what I've read, he sounded like a happy, friendly guy. Sounds like he picked the wrong girlfriend, if there is a "right" one. Oh yeah, the "right" one would be the WIFE.

USA Today said he had told the girl he was going to divorce his wife and marry her. Only a 20-year-old would believe that.