XXKSXX
12-04-2007, 08:56 PM
Steve McNair was placed on injured reserve Monday afternoon, ending the quarterback's injury-plagued season with the Baltimore Ravens and raising questions about his future with the franchise.
McNair, 34, will undergo Tuesday morning surgery to repair damage to his left shoulder. It will be the seventh surgery of the 13-year veteran's career.
The move was not altogether surprising, given that McNair has not shown much progress in recovering from his shoulder injury and the Ravens are all but out of the playoff chase.
In a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Nov. 11, McNair sustained a partial dislocation of his non-throwing shoulder and also damage to the rotator cuff. Those injuries both will be dealt with during Tuesday's surgery. McNair's rehabilitation is expected to take months.
Five-year veteran Kyle Boller, the Ravens' first-round choice in the 2003 draft, will make his third straight start when Baltimore faces New England on "Monday Night Football", and he will remain in that role the rest of the season.
Boller and rookie Troy Smith, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and a fifth-round choice in 2007 from Ohio State, are the only quarterbacks on the Ravens' roster. The team probably will sign another backup in the next few days.
McNair played in only six games this season, battling through a groin injury earlier in the year that affected his performance, and then being sidelined by the shoulder problems. He completed 133 of 205 passes for 1,113 yards, with only two touchdown passes and four interceptions, for a passer rating of 73.9.
In addition to the four picks, McNair lost seven fumbles. His turnovers were a major problem for Baltimore's offense.
It remains to be seen if McNair returns to the Ravens in 2008. Baltimore acquired McNair from the Tennessee Titans last season and he responded to the change of scenery by leading the Ravens to the AFC North championship. But he also seemed to suffer some physical erosion in 2006, and that carried over into this season.
At times, McNair appeared slow and indecisive, unable to avoid the pass rush, and with a marked inability to get the ball vertically up the field. The Ravens paid him a signing bonus of $11 million in 2006 and he is due a base salary of $4 million in 2008.
Originally chosen by the then-Houston Oilers in the first round of the 1995 draft, McNair has always been known as a warrior, a quarterback who played hurt and delivered. But his age and injuries may be catching up to him.
The former Alcorn State star has appeared in 164 games and completed 2,733 of 4,544 passes for 31,304 yards, with 174 touchdown passes and 119 interceptions, for a career passer rating of 82.8.
ESPN
McNair, 34, will undergo Tuesday morning surgery to repair damage to his left shoulder. It will be the seventh surgery of the 13-year veteran's career.
The move was not altogether surprising, given that McNair has not shown much progress in recovering from his shoulder injury and the Ravens are all but out of the playoff chase.
In a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Nov. 11, McNair sustained a partial dislocation of his non-throwing shoulder and also damage to the rotator cuff. Those injuries both will be dealt with during Tuesday's surgery. McNair's rehabilitation is expected to take months.
Five-year veteran Kyle Boller, the Ravens' first-round choice in the 2003 draft, will make his third straight start when Baltimore faces New England on "Monday Night Football", and he will remain in that role the rest of the season.
Boller and rookie Troy Smith, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and a fifth-round choice in 2007 from Ohio State, are the only quarterbacks on the Ravens' roster. The team probably will sign another backup in the next few days.
McNair played in only six games this season, battling through a groin injury earlier in the year that affected his performance, and then being sidelined by the shoulder problems. He completed 133 of 205 passes for 1,113 yards, with only two touchdown passes and four interceptions, for a passer rating of 73.9.
In addition to the four picks, McNair lost seven fumbles. His turnovers were a major problem for Baltimore's offense.
It remains to be seen if McNair returns to the Ravens in 2008. Baltimore acquired McNair from the Tennessee Titans last season and he responded to the change of scenery by leading the Ravens to the AFC North championship. But he also seemed to suffer some physical erosion in 2006, and that carried over into this season.
At times, McNair appeared slow and indecisive, unable to avoid the pass rush, and with a marked inability to get the ball vertically up the field. The Ravens paid him a signing bonus of $11 million in 2006 and he is due a base salary of $4 million in 2008.
Originally chosen by the then-Houston Oilers in the first round of the 1995 draft, McNair has always been known as a warrior, a quarterback who played hurt and delivered. But his age and injuries may be catching up to him.
The former Alcorn State star has appeared in 164 games and completed 2,733 of 4,544 passes for 31,304 yards, with 174 touchdown passes and 119 interceptions, for a career passer rating of 82.8.
ESPN