remember to keep this in mind

**ravenjoe** · 11-14-2007, 07:54 PM

Fans, let's try and remember the following. Quoting Coach Billick, in referring to Steve McNair:

"I understand the fans' anxieties ... but this man has been an incredible athlete and an incredible force in the NFL," Billick said. "He's been a class act from Day One. I hope people keep that in mind in the way that they deal with him."

**festivus** · 11-14-2007, 07:58 PM

Wise words and a timely reminder.

**Mista T** · 11-14-2007, 08:36 PM

If Billick is referring to booing him, I agree with him. I don't like booing our players. McNair should be commended for being a gutsy & tough player throughout his career, including his injury-marred stint with the Ravens. And I have to commend Steve for his post-game statements this week, accepting the inevitable benching decision before the new phantom injury.

However, I'll reserve judgement on how "classy" he is until D-Day comes up on cutting him next year. Will he show class by gracefully retiring to mitigate the damage to our cap? Or just force the Ravens to cut him, screwing our ability to buy needed free agent help, and just keep all the $11 million bonus .....

**RAVENOUS52** · 11-14-2007, 09:04 PM

Aww C'mon Ted...You know the NFL is a business first. Why would any shrude business person settle for less money? Bottom line is that the NFL stands for "Not For Long" and this means that the players are almost compelled to do what's best for their wallets and not for the teams, who look at them a peices of meat anyhow.

**Mista T** · 11-14-2007, 09:42 PM

Originally Posted by RAVENOUS52

Aww C'mon Ted...You know the NFL is a business first. Why would any shrude business person settle for less money? Bottom line is that the NFL stands for "Not For Long" and this means that the players are almost compelled to do what's best for their wallets and not for the teams, who look at them a peices of meat anyhow.

If I were in his shoes, I'd forego the "classy" label and take the $$$$.

btw: No one put a gun to Ozzie's head when he offered up the $33 million!

**Purpleguy** · 11-14-2007, 10:37 PM

I'm no Mcnair fan, but I can't blame him for being overpaid and keeping the money. Ozzie should have known the guy was done. The Titans sure knew it. Thank God Ozzie is only a GM and not a hostage negotiator. At least this way he can only be responsible for bad contracts and not dead bodies. The guy couldn't negotiate a one way street.

**ClericBlackDave** · 11-14-2007, 10:56 PM

Honestly, the booing of McNair was a means to an end. I don't wish that on him, but the fans needed to voice that a change was desired. Needed.

Now that the change has been made, I thank McNair for what he did for this team for 2006, on the field and off. But like for all players, the end has to come, and his time is up.

its a shame that physically he fell apart so quickly. But with that style of play, what can you do.

Only thing about McNair is that I never heard he was a workout warrior. I didn't hear him at the gym tyring to lift and get ready. During the offseason, he was in Tennesse and not Baltimore. Maybe with the right vitamins and supplements, or something, he might have held up.

But its over now. Thanks for the memories, except the bad ones over his last 8 games or so.

**HoustonRaven** · 11-15-2007, 08:49 AM

Originally Posted by ClericBlackDave

Only thing about McNair is that I never heard he was a workout warrior

Wasnt he locked out of the Titans gym FOR being a workout warrior? They feared he would work out too hard, get hurt and lose his trade value.

**Rochardrik** · 11-15-2007, 09:34 AM

Originally Posted by Mista T

If Billick is referring to booing him, I agree with him. I don't like booing our players. McNair should be commended for being a gutsy & tough player throughout his career, including his injury-marred stint with the Ravens. And I have to commend Steve for his post-game statements this week, accepting the inevitable benching decision before the new phantom injury.

However, I'll reserve judgement on how "classy" he is until D-Day comes up on cutting him next year. Will he show class by gracefully retiring to mitigate the damage to our cap? Or just force the Ravens to cut him, screwing our ability to buy needed free agent help, and just keep all the $11 million bonus .....

Doesn't Billick realize we weren't Booing McNair, but Billick, for keeping him in? McNair can't pull himself... what would any fan think if he did?... No, Billick was the target of the boos, the only way we could voice our displeasure with BB, since he was on the sidelines!

**4G63** · 11-15-2007, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by ravenjoe

Fans, let's try and remember the following. Quoting Coach Billick, in referring to Steve McNair:

"I understand the fans' anxieties ... but this man has BEEN an incredible athlete and an incredible force in the NFL," Billick said. "He's been a class act from Day One. I hope people keep that in mind in the way that they deal with him."

I highlighted the important word from his sentence!!

Should McNair be booed as he's being replaced in the game? No. But should he be booed when he fumbles the second time in the same game? Hell YES!!! It sends a message to everyone involved with the team, from the players to Bisciotti, that his play is unacceptable and he shouldn't be the starter.....

Do I admire his toughness? Yes. But look at it like this; If you owned a delivery company and he crashed a truck once a week, you'd fire his ass in a New York second!!! I don't care if he was the best driver for 10 years, it would be unacceptable to a rational human being for him to still be employed by you....does that make any sense?

**highwater** · 11-15-2007, 11:22 AM

If McNair isn't even dressing for the game, how and when would he get booed? Do you think if the big screen shows him on the sideline, that some will boo him? I would hope that this wouldn't even be an issue.

**WxKevin** · 11-15-2007, 11:36 AM

Do people seriously think that us booing is going to make anybody on the team feel worst than they already do? Not a chance. That's why I don't boo. It doesn't do anything positive to the game or the team. Did you not see the Bengal D-Lineman who was jumping around trying to get those fans to boo louder? Why is that? Because booing your home team helps the visitors confidence.

I completey respect your right to boo and will never tell anybody to stop. I just request that you truly think about how you think it helps the OUR team or OUR players.

**Mista T** · 11-15-2007, 11:40 AM

Originally Posted by Rochardrik

Doesn't Billick realize we weren't Booing McNair, but Billick, for keeping him in? McNair can't pull himself... what would any fan think if he did?... No, Billick was the target of the boos, the only way we could voice our displeasure with BB, since he was on the sidelines!

First, since I wasn't booing, please narrow the term "we". How about instead say "us boo-birds".

Second ... how does Billick, or McNair, know who is the object of their boos?

Y'all boo-birds didn't state "Boo to Billick". You just booed.

**flraven** · 11-15-2007, 12:45 PM

I didn't boo either, but certainly unleashed an expletive or two when the turnovers occurred.

**ravenwoman** · 11-15-2007, 06:59 PM

I think the reason people "Boo" is because they find the quality of the work on the field unacceptable. It doesn't make the players feel better; it's like punishment from the fans. Unfortunately, it's a form of communication and since the fans pay the players salary, they are entitled to voice their displeasure. That's just the way it is.

The same goes when people leave the stadium early. They leave because they have lost "hope" that we will win the game. Fans pay to see football and they have the right to exercise their options.

**ravenjoe** · 11-15-2007, 07:05 PM

I simply believe that the players feel worse than the fans do about their performance, and so need the support, rather than the rejection of their fans. In other words, they know they suck; they don't need the fans reinforcing this feeling.