[DuffRaven]

Quarterback Steve McNair is going to announce his retirement today at 1 p.m. in a press conference at team headquarters in Owings Mills.

The veteran quarterback spoke to the entire team before the Ravens kicked off their first organized team activity of the offseason.

Keep it locked to BaltimoreRavens.com for more info throughout the day.

- duff

[Bullrush]

I knew it. Very sad to hear, he is a great guy and it's terrible that his career has to end this way but it's a new era. It's all about Troy Smith!

[Raven07]

this comes as a complete suprise to all of us im sure....its a complete shock to me by all means.....to go from hearing about Steve and How he's been at the Complex training and working hard to get back.....only to have this type of thing happen......

i do hope that he stays around at least a little while longer, after his retirement to guide the younger guys.....its a new day and age and because of this shocking decision by McNair, opens the door for Troy to take the reins as the new hope for the Baltimore Ravens.

[Bullrush]

Profootballtalk.com:

Quote

McNAIR TO RETIRE
Posted by Mike Florio on April 17, 2008, 10:44 a.m.
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And while it’s good that the Ravens knew about McNair’s plans before the draft, it would have been better for the team to keep things quiet until after the draft, so that other teams wouldn’t suspect that the Ravens are hot for any of the quarterback prospects.

Unless that’s what the Ravens want teams to think.

I'm wondering the same exact thing. Why make it public now? To make people think that we're gonna draft a QB. But what's he point of adding another young QB? We already have Smith and Boller. Another young guy is not gonna do anything positive for this team.

[Raven07]

i can see your point, though now this puts Boller as the "veteran" on this team.....there isnt a clear cut guy of whom can assume the mentoring role and lead/guide the younger generation like Troy.....for a better career.

[austrianravensfan]

now it's pretty sure that we'll draft a QB

[Bullrush]

austrianravensfan, on Apr 17 2008, 11:01 AM, said:

now it's pretty sure that we'll draft a QB

What's the point of making this public then?

[minford]

Son of a Matt Damon!

[smitty]

wow i did not see this coming... i hope we draft flacco!

[rastaman831226]

The real question now is what does this do to cap space? Anyone with an answer?

[FellsPointRaven]

Fairly stunning news.

Boller, Smith and ?? to compete in camp. Here's hoping Ryan is around at 8.

Sounds as if McNair tried and realized he is shot. It's a shame and it leaves us looking EXTREMELY light at QB. Ugh.

[Bullrush]

rastaman831226, on Apr 17 2008, 11:24 AM, said:

The real question now is what does this do to cap space? Anyone with an answer?

Long term deal for Suggs and Jason Brown.

This post has been edited by Bullrush: 17 April 2008 - 10:27 AM

[Raven07]

like i said before in another post.....even though some people would now think that the Ravens number choice will be a Quarterback.....there's always the option of going after and signing a veteran quarterback...that door is always open and one to which im sure the Ravens will take a hard look into. plus having 2 younger quarterbacks on the roster....is only asking for conflict at some point in time...like lets say we draft Matt Ryan..thats all fine and dandy but now there's a roster conflict between Troy and Ryan....both said that their hopes and to eventually end up as the Starter for a Good team...so that means one will eventually get upset or impatient and will eventually leave the team because of it....and seeng how there is now no clear cut veteran leadership.....i still say that CB is our main priority here.

[Sub-Zero]

whatever happened to him feeling good and ready to be the starter again? Matt.............Ryan's..............stock just rose!!!!! greaaattttt!!!

GL McNair, you deserve a nice hot tub bath for your aching body, filled with 5 playboy models!

[FellsPointRaven]

Raven07, on Apr 17 2008, 11:27 AM, said:

like i said before in another post.....even though some people would now think that the Ravens number choice will be a Quarterback.....there's always the option of going after and signing a veteran quarterback...that door is always open and one to which im sure the Ravens will take a hard look into. plus having 2 younger quarterbacks on the roster....is only asking for conflict at some point in time...like lets say we draft Matt Ryan..thats all fine and dandy but now there's a roster conflict between Troy and Ryan....both said that their hopes and to eventually end up as the Starter for a Good team...so that means one will eventually get upset or impatient and will eventually leave the team because of it....and seeng how there is now no clear cut veteran leadership.....i still say that CB is our main priority here.

Which veteran, free agent QB do you have in mind that would be good enough to potentially start for the Ravens?

With having to resign Suggs, do you think we have the cap room to do that anyway?

Make no mistake - QB is our most pressing need right now. You could argue that Troy has POTENTIAL, but we do not have a proven, reliable starter on the roster. At least we have a couple of proven starting CB's, even if we lack depth in that department!

[Raven07]

lol i just suggested it as a tran of thought to which the Ravens will certainly look into as an alternate option...and us bringing in a verteran quarterback doesnt mean that they will be the starter by any means....they could just bring him in to mentor the younger guys....thats what i meant by saying the ravens will certainly look that way as an option.

[minford]

So whose jersey should I get now?

[starkRAVENmad]

McNair is ending in my opinion his career when he should. If he is not 100% then you don't play and it's as simple as that. I'm glad that he's man enough to admit when he's had enough! I've enjoyed watching him play and especially the year before last! McNair is a great quaterback and I was happy to have and sad to see him leave. But all good things must end. Now, who the heck is going to throw the ball for us. Do we really trust Kyle? At this point in time I would go with Troy-unless we can get that ALL-STAR QB drafted, or better yet one out there like a McNabb. Now we need a QB and a receiver! How it looking this year guys? Like our defense is going to have to carry us as always!

[justifythegame]

Steve McNair was my favorite player, period. I watched him his whole career through the Titans and he was my fav QB. It was just his presence, leadership, and determination that made me have so much respect for him.

When Boller was starting for the Ravens i was frustrated. Frustrated because the pocket fell apart easily and Boller just stood there and took the the pressure. And all along i would always think, if only we had a QB like Steve McNair, a guy who is mobile enough to move around the pocket and make plays. When McNair was banned from the titans facility because of a contract dispute i thought wow he might get traded. And then i thought, hey wouldn't it be awesome if the Ravens tried to trade for McNair? He would be perfect for us. And then all of a sudden i started hearing many analysts say the same thing. And a few months later...IT ACTUALLY HAPPENED! McNair was a Raven and i was jumping up and down, somehow how my favorite QB became the QB of my favorite team.

He brought us leadership and a great deal of confidence to the offense and we 13-3. Just ask the players what he brought, they couldn't believe the change. And McNair was only a ring away from the HOF. Last season the OL was just so horrible that even Manning would've played worse IMO. McNair's toughness is something that you see very few QBs have. All these years watching him make plays, shrugging off tackles, taking a last minute hit to complete a pass, making big runs. He was exciting to watch. I think the Ravens have ruined some of his reputation, we put him behind a terrible OL and expected him to perform, and he did extraordinarily for the first year at least.

I was hoping McNair would be back one more season and help sculpt Smith. But now it just looks like Boller will end up being our starter. There is also a good chance we will draft over rated Matt Ryan and rebuild yet again. Either way, we are getting Boller or creating another Boller.

Guys like Vince Young and Michael Vick can try to imitate him, but those guys just want to run the ball after every snap. McNair's priority was to pass the ball first and foremost, and run the ball second. Thats what made him great, and i see a lot of him in Troy Smith. Ravens fans may not have much respect for him, but ask Titans fans. Just listen to the ovation he received when he visited Tennessee as a Raven. He will be missed.