Attention Steve McNair: I “ain’t never played quarterback.” Okay, I did take a few snaps at about 2am the other night in a neighborhood pick-up game. (There was a lot of beer involved, and I eventually caught a pivotal Hail Mary TD on 4th Down, but you guys don’t care about any of that, right? I mean, if you do, I’ll tell you more. No? You sure? Okay….)
Even though I have never played QB, I think I can tell when a quarterback isn’t effective. Again, most receivers like to run PAST the line of scrimmage, and you don’t seem to be able to throw the ball that far. Also, there are receivers on this team whose jersey does not have “85” on the back, but apparently you don’t know where they are. That’s okay, even if you could find them; you don’t seem to be able to throw the ball to them without bouncing it first. Allen Iverson is good at the bounce pass too, but he gets credit for assists when he does it. Yours just go as incompletions. The other thing I don’t think makes since is how you flail your arm when you’re nervous, thinking that the flailing motion constitutes a pass attempt.
Now, since I “ain’t never played quarterback”, I have sought out friends who were NFL quarterbacks, even one who still is. They seem to think pretty similar things, although they also think the world of you personally. To me, you were a mistake made by the Ravens organization, so I hold some slight hostility. But I did always admire you when you were in Tennessee. You seemed to always know how to make things happen. You even showed me signs of that last season, which made me think that maybe I was wrong about not wanting you here.
Steve-if you’re still hurt; let someone know. I know that 52 will call you a “warrior”, and you feel you need to live up to that, but you’ve been banged up your entire career, and you’re not getting any younger. If you’re not hurt, maybe you need to live with the fact that people are questioning you. And then maybe you should try to correct the things you’re being questioned about. But Steve-this won’t be easy.
Let’s see what everyone has to say….
RAVENS:
The Official Site sits down with “Buddy Lee”
The Official Site’s Leslie A. offers the latest installment of her “Ravens Spirit” blog
Bengals’ Official Site says Ocho Cinco want to make ‘someone pay’
Bengals’ Official Site grades team halfway through season
The Sun’s Jamison Hensley says McNair “won’t back down”
The Sun’s Mike Preston doesn’t think chemistry is an issue
The Sun’s David Steele says Ravens think 52 was right
The Sun’s Edward Lee says Mac returns, Reed sits
The Sun’s Edward Lee says Matt Stover was victim of prank
The Sun’s Don Markus says “Camp Cupcake” was moved to November
The Sun’s Don Markus says Carson Palmer thinks Ravens ‘will be hungry’
The Sun’s Bill Ordine says Kyle Boller is most popular man in town
The AP’s Joe Kay reports Chris Henry’s most recent run-in with the law
The Sun’s Roch Kubatko chuckles at Chris Henry’s most recent run-in with the law
The Sun’s Sheil Kapadia cleans up a few things I missed
The AP says former Raven Rod Green found employment by Golden Gate
The Sun’s “Mr. Flip” says Ravens 12th, O’s 84th amongst pro teams in brand loyalty
Aaron Wilson says critics don’t affect McNair
Aaron Wilson says Ravens won’t ‘panic’
Frederick News Post’s Stan Goldberg says no shaking McNair’s confidence
Cincinnati Enquirer’s Mark Curnutte looks at Wednesday’s injury report
Cincinnati Enquirer’s Mark Curnutte & Kevin Kelly look at Chris Henry’s most recent run-in with law
Cincinnati Enquirer’s Mark Curnutte says ‘Ahmad Brooks to IR’
Cincinnati Enquirer’s Mark Curnutte says Ocho Cinco practicing
Cincinnati Enquirer’s Mark Curnutte scouts Ravens-Bengals
Cincinnati Enquirer’s Shannon Russell offers Bengals notes
Cincinnati Post’s Kevin Goheen says Bengals have been ‘off mark’
Cincinnati Post’s Kevin Goheen looks at Bengals’ roster moves
Washington Post’s Camille Powell says McNair has ‘big defenders’
Press Box’s Joe Platania says Ravens ARE good at home at least
Press Box’s Patrick Abbondandolo says Billick’s time is up
Press Box picks Bengals
Press Box’s Joe Platania says NOW Ravens’ schedule gets tough
Press Box’s Joe Platania says Ravens have dropped 5 straight ‘under lights’
Press Box’s Tony Lombardi says Ravens’ loss MAY have been ‘the end of the world’
The Examiner’s Matt Palmer says McNair won’t hear anyone say ‘he’s not capable’
Pro Football 24×7’s Fran Vojik says he’s ‘mad as hell’ after Monday Night
Pro Football 24×7’s Kurt Backert remembers Bengals’ first trip to Baltimore
Pro Football 24×7’s Dev Penchwagh says 52 ‘doesn’t get it’
Ravens Roost’s Mike Zoran says Ravens ‘picking up pieces’
Baltimore Beatdown’s “Rexx” thinks a ‘crime’ was committed Monday Night
The Loss Column’s Neal Shaffer didn’t like Monday’s post-game comments
Scout.com’s Tom Marino ranks Ravens 20th
Fanhouse’s Josh Alper thinks Ravens should bench McNair
Fanhouse’s Michael David Smith wonders how things would be different if Ravens had Derek Anderson
WNST’s Casey Willett says McNair has ‘fire in his eye’
WNST’s Drew Forrester says Troy Smith is NOT a good idea
WNST’s Ray Bachman says Billick ‘has to go’
TERRAPINS BASKETBALL:
The AP says balanced attack paced Terps’ win over Concordia
The Official Site provides numerical evidence of Maryland’s win
The Official Site provides postgame quotes from Maryland’s win
The Official Site provides postgame notes from Maryland’s win
The Sun’s Heather Dinich says defense paced Terps’ win
The Sun’s Heather Dinich stacks Terps against rest of ACC
The Sun’s Heather Dinich previews Terps Hoops
Carroll County Times’ Josh Land says Terps want to improve after exhibition win
Washington Post’s Dan Steinberg says Terps 2nd amongst DC area teams
Washington Post’s Eric Prisbell says Terps can ‘improve’ after exhibition win
Washington Times’ Patrick Stevens says Terps win sloppy exhibition opener
Washington Times’ Patrick Stevens says tonight’s game to determine who starts Sunday (I’m thinking Adrian Bowie)
Press Box’s Paul Baker says you can’t ‘change Gary’
Press Box’s Phil Jackman doesn’t buy Terps graduation excuses
The Examiner’s Sean Walsh says Vasquez is THE MAN in College Park
The Examiner’s Sean Walsh says Terps get ‘easy victory’ over Concordia
Turtle Soup’s Jeremy Gold says Terps ‘cruise’ past Concordia
Terrapin Times’ Chris King says Terps ‘stifle’ Concordia (must subscribe)
Terrapin Times’ Mike Ashley previews Terps’ PGs (must subscribe)
Turtle Sports Report’s Jeff Ermann says Terps on Baltimore recruiting beat (must subscribe)
WNST’s Bob Haynie says Adrian Bowie is his new favorite Terp
TERRAPINS FOOTBALL:
The Official Site says Shawne Merriman’s coat drive is Monday
Boston College Official Site offers quotes from standout safety Jamie Silva
The Sun’s Heather Dinich says Ralph thinks Terps need ‘breaks’
The Sun’s Heather Dinich says (that much like most of my relationships) communication was an issue for Terps against Heels
The Sun’s Heather Dinich says Erin Henderson thinks BC is ‘good, not great’
Annapolis Capital’s John McNamara says Ralph ‘won’t fault players for effort’
Washington Times’ Patrick Stevens offers Maryland injury report
Washington Times’ Patrick Stevens says Terps will ‘have to throw’
Washington Times’ Patrick Stevens picks on Terps’ passing game
Washington Times’ Patrick Stevens is sick of QB back and forth
Washington Times’ Patrick Stevens says Chris Turner can be funny
Washington Times’ Patrick Stevens looks at Kevin Lampa’s BC reunion
Press Box’s David Snyder says Dave Sollazzo is ‘intense’
Press Box’s Matt Zenitz picks BC big
Boston Globe’s Mark Blaudschun says BC is going the right way
Boston Herald’s Steve Conroy says Eagles have issues at LB
Boston Herald’s Steve Conroy says Eagles can’t have ‘hangover’
Terrapin Times’ Mark Clem profiles Nolan Carroll (must subscribe)
WNST’s Glenn Clark (known worldwide for his massive sex appeal) has Maryland 9th in his ACC power rankings
TERRAPINS SOCCER:
The Official Site says former Terp Maurice Edu named MLS Rookie of the Year
MORGAN BASKETBALL:
Press Box’s Rob Long previews Bears and other area hoops teams
UConn’s Official Site says Huskies NARROWLY edge Bears
Hartford Courant’s Mike Anthony says Huskies ‘scared’ by Bears
UConn Report’s Zac Boyer recaps Morgan’s near-upset
LOYOLA BASKETBALL:
Press Box’s Paul McMullen looks at Greyhounds’ Gerald Brown
Press Box’s Matthew Schlissel previews Loyola and other local teams
ORIOLES:
The Official Site’s Spencer Fordin says Birds using ‘restraint’ to improve
The Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec says Yanks interested in Tejada
The Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec says Mora would be willing to drop no-trade
The Sun’s Roch Kubatko welcomes Brian Graham to O’s organization
The Sun’s Roch Kubatko says no Birds linked to steroids this time
Press Box’s Jim Henneman says no such thing as ‘Oriole Way’ (or ‘Red Sox Way’, or ‘Cub Way’ or ‘Twin Way’ or any other ‘Way’)
Press Box’s Craig Heist says Trembley and Shelby want same things
Oriole Post’s “Maryland Orioles Fan” doesn’t think O’s would deal Tejada to New York
My Baseball Bias’ “JMM” wonders if the Yanks would be interested in Tejada
Roar From 34’s Matthew Taylor looks at another Hagy tribute
The Wayward Oriole says O’s coaches lack ‘experience’
Inside The Warehouse’s Chuck Hixson says baseball should add 2 umpires……even if it didn’t help the whole Jeffrey Maier thing
Fanhouse’s Tom Fornelli says ‘nobody wants Tejada’
NAVY FOOTBALL:
The Sun’s Sandra McKee says Paul Johnson laughs at job speculation
Annapolis Capital’s Bill Wagner says Staubach ‘ecstatic’ over Navy win
Press Box’s Kevin Heitz says Navy is much better than Notre Dame
Press Box’s Kevin Heitz says Navy ‘only’ needed 43 years
Go Mids looks at Navy vs. North Texas (must subscribe)
Go Mids’ David Ausiello couldn’t believe what KNKE and Ram were doing Saturday (must subscribe)
NAVY BASKETBALL:
The Official Site previews Navy’s tip-off Friday
HORSE RACING:
The Sun’s Sandra McKee says Mario Pino claims win number 6,000 at Laurel
The Sun’s Brent Jones says you can’t bring beer to Preakness anymore (IF you’re sitting in the grandstand…….relax kids)
Washington Post’s John Scheinman looks at Pino’s 6,000th
Press Box’s Stan Charles looks at slots battle
ACTION SPORTS:
The AP says Dew AST to return
SAILING:
The Sun’s Candus Thomson previews Senator’s Cup
SOME QUICK THOUGHTS:
-As I responded to Drew today, I wholeheartedly understand why WNST callers have been clamoring for Troy Smith. The Kyle Boller talk is laughable, as Boller has looked just as ineffective-if not worse-than McNair. With two incapable QBs, you can’t help but wonder what guy number three might be capable of. However, I’m also smart enough to know that it probably won’t help much for him to play.
-Chris Henry is an idiot, but he will probably still be playing Sunday. With Rolle out again, a McAlister return would be HUGE. Otherwise, the Bengals might as well throw all of their run plays out of their playbook.
-On a night when Gardner-Webb won at Kentucky and UConn BARELY hung on to beat Morgan; and in a season where Ohio State, Michigan State, and Baylor have all lost to Division II teams, I am relieved to hear that Maryland took care of business. The Terps played well on defense, and were balanced on offense. That would be a good trend to continue, but the Terps should probably try to start a little quicker.
-The BC Linebacker issues won’t matter if the Terps can’t stop the Eagles’ offense. It’s that simple.
-Dear Orioles, PLEASE do not trade Miguel Tejada to the Yankees. I know you feel like you HAVE to make a deal, and I can’t blame you at all; but I don’t think my heart could take it. Tejada might be the perfect role player to replace A-Rod in New York, and that would just leave me doubled over with nausea. Please don’t do that.
-Does anyone else get the feeling that Todd Bozeman can do special things at Morgan? I’m as apprehensive as anyone else about what kind of program he’s running; but giving him the benefit of the doubt, I think he can win there.
Talk to you tomorrow.
-G
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