NASHVILLE - The Titans flew to Arizona without injured Steve McNair, giving backup quarterback Billy Volek his first start this season today against the Cardinals.
The Titans officially downgraded McNair from questionable to out Saturday after listing him as questionable last week because of back and ankle injuries. He missed every practice, including Thursday when he was excused for personal reasons, and sat out two sessions.
The six-year veteran out of Fresno State will be making his 10th start after starting eight times last season for an injured McNair.
"I've said this for a long time now, even though Steve is the starter, I still prepare myself like I'm the starter," Volek, 29, said after practice Friday.
Volek threw for 2,486 yards, 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 2004. He became only the fourth quarterback in NFL history to throw for at least 400 yards in consecutive games.
ESPN to air feature critical of Vikings
ST. PAUL, Minn. - In a lengthy feature that will air on today on ESPN, former owner Red McCombs and former receiver Jake Reed are critical of the Vikings, a team embattled with the Lake Minnetonka boat party scandal, specifically head coach Mike Tice.
Andrea Kremer's piece on ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown will focus on the culture of the team and explore a pattern of off-field transgressions.
"It starts on the top," said Reed, who played for the Vikings in two stints, from 1991 to 1999 and again in 2001. "Leadership. You got to have that leadership. You know if you have your leader scalping tickets and getting in trouble in the NFL, what do you think those players are going to do?
"I'd be like, "(Tice is) a joke.' I'd be like, "Scalping tickets? C'mon, man.' It would be hard for me to even respect him."
