How did McNair get so fragile?
Last year McNair was the only player shaken up when the Raven bus was hit, this one takes the cake.
Ravens QB Steve McNair was absent from practice Thursday because of a stiff back, according to the Baltimore Sun. "It's just his back was stiff this morning," coach Brian Billick said after practice. "I guess he slept on it wrong." said Billick
I can relate. It happens to me all the time. I rolled a van off a mountain years ago and luckily hit a tree that stopped me from going to the bottom. It screwed up my back and it has never been the same. Usually, once you have a back problem, you will always have a back problem. It sucks !
True. Lighten up on the guy. He was on the injury report every week in Tennessee. All those injuries start to catch up with everyone. I'm sure he has days where he can even get out of the bed, let alone practice.
Man, I remember watching a show on him 5 years ago now, and he couldn't get out of bed THEN. He's one of the toughest guys I've ever seen, but he's done, I think. Raven fans are now demanding that Boller start, which is very funny to me. They don't realize that with McNair gone, they turn back into a pumpkin.
Boller > McNair right now
How on earth can any of you say w/ a straight face that Boller is > than McNair? Seriously? Do none of you have access to some stats? McNair is 10th in the league in completion % (65.6%) for QBs w/ at least 100 attempts. Notable names that have a worse completion % are: Carson Palmer (63.1%), Tony Romo (59.1%), Jake Delhomme (64%), Drew Brees (63.3%), Donovan McNabb (58.1%), Marc Bulger (55.6%), Eli Manning (58.1%), Ben Roethlisberger (61.8%), Trent Green (60.3%), VY (62%) & Matt Hasselbeck (63.9%). That's 9 recent Pro Bowl QBs, totaling 18 Pro Bowl appearances, that he's completing the ball better than. His completion % this year would have ranked him # 2 last season, #5 in '05, and #7 in '04. Granted, his yards per attempt, at 5.87 is pretty low, but have you looked at Boller's? For his career, his yards per attempt is 5.88.....the exact same! Plus, for his career, Boller has a completion % of 56.2%. That'd be just enough to beat out Rex Grossman & Alex Smith this season! If you extrapolate the # of expected pass attempts over a 16 game season using the 1st 5 games, then calculate the expected completions for McNair & Boller, you arrive at the small fact that w/ Boller at QB, one can expect the Ravens to complete 63 fewer passes over the course of the season. Is that what the FBG brain trust wants? Fewer completions, a worse completion %, and the same # of yards per attempt......all for the ability to go deep on a few balls that probably won't be completed anyway?
Listen, Boller attempted only 55 passes last year. That means, Clayton was an up & comer w/ McNair throwing the rock. If Clayton's not catching the ball, there's a reason for it......and I doubt it's b/c McNair lost all his arm strength in one off season. He certainly didn't lose his accuracy, seeing as how his completion % is up 4 points this year AND his attempts per game are up as well. I'd think the reason has to do w/ Clayton and/or passer protection. Clayton was injured earlier this year. Maybe he's not coming out of his cuts as sharp as last year, which could prevent him from shaking coverage early enough in his routes to be a viable passing option. Who know!?! All I know is McNair will be vastly superior than Boller for as long as both play football. Period!
Now that was freggin Funny!
