Consistently playing through injuries to save the day, he is super, man.
By ROGER MILLS
Published December 27, 2003
If it seems that long ago, it's because it was.
Steve McNair entered the NFL in 1995, when the Tennessee Titans still were the Houston Oilers and Steve Young still was playing.
Along the way, he dispelled the myth that an athlete from a school as small as Alcorn State can't become a dominant NFL quarterback. He has played home games in the Astrodome, the Liberty Bowl in Memphis and at Vanderbilt Stadium.
The exploits of McNair are folklore at the Coliseum in Nashville. With every pass, every act, every late-game comeback, his legend grows.
McNair, 30, has made a career of playing games with broken bones and battered body parts. He has sat out practice for a week, then dressed Sunday and won.
"He's the heart and soul of this team," Titans tight end Frank Wycheck said. "It's good to know that any time he marches out onto that field, we've got a chance to win. He's just a winner; that's all you can say."
This season, one of the NFL's tougher warriors has taken his Superman reputation to new heights. With the Titans (11-4) still in contention for a home playoff game, McNair missed practice for a third consecutive week but is a game-time decision to play Sunday against the Bucs with a right calf strain that has restricted him all season and a sore left ankle that has a bone spur.
As has been his tradition, he probably will show little sign of restriction.
"What can you say? People talk about him playing hurt or coming back from an injury, but that's just Steve," Titans receiver Justin McCareins said. "He gives everything he has on every down, and he won't stop until we get the win. He goes into the phone booth and pulls it out for us. We've gotten used to him doing amazing things."
Last weekend, with the Titans facing defeat to the Texans, he pulled it out again. With 24 seconds left, McNair threw a 23-yard touchdown to Drew Bennett on fourth and 10, giving the Titans a 27-24 victory.
"He's a gutsy NFL player," Bucs defensive tackle Anthony McFarland said. "He's tough. He understands his job. He understands that the team needs him to play, and he knows how to perform."
Added Bucs safety Jermaine Phillips: "There really isn't anything hidden about him. Everything about him is clear as day. He can be a drop-back quarterback or a scrambling quarterback because you know his capabilities when he's mobile. The guy's a smart quarterback."
Mostly though, McNair is a tough quarterback.
While few can match Packers QB Brett Favre's 188 consecutive regular-season starts, McNair's efforts are a strong second. The 6-2, 229-pound McNair has started 109 of 118 games in his career, including 14 of 15 this season.
"It's all about your pain threshold," McNair said. "I've been playing with pain for a long time, and it's just second nature to what I do on the field. I go week in and week out to try to get my team to win, and I just feel like a quarterback, being a leader, you have to go out and help your team ... and put them in the best position to win."
There have been times, such as against the Texans, when that has required McNair to ignore the pain, and the lack of mobility that comes with it.
That challenge, McNair said, is not physical.
"It's more mental," McNair said. "As long as I can go out there and feel comfortable with the injury that I have and compete and do the things that I normally would do, if I wasn't hurt, it doesn't bother me. Once I get out there, my competitiveness comes out, the enjoyment gets flowing and I worry about the pain afterwards."
McNair said he particularly marvels at what Favre has been able to accomplish, considering that quarterbacks are subject to contact on every play.
"You have to appreciate that to the fullest, especially as a quarterback or any player in the NFL," McNair said. "This is a physical game, and on any given Sunday, you can be knocked out or knocked down. The mental challenge of that individual is if they can play with pain or not. In this league, at this point in time, I don't think there's anybody playing pain-free right now."
McNair finally was recognized with a Pro Bowl selection this season. In 14 games, McNair is 250-of-400 for 3,215 yards, with 24 TDs and seven interceptions. He has been sacked only 19 times. Those numbers, and the Titans' down-to-the-wire battle for the AFC South title, have McNair's name being repeatedly mentioned among the front-runners for league MVP.
"It would mean a lot, not only for me, but my teammates," McNair said about winning the award.
"My teammates have done a great job of elevating my game. They have helped me to become an MVP candidate. ... I just have to dedicate it to my teammates and my family."
