McNair Deserves A Trip

Mike Keith: A Squad of Pro Bowlers

I was thrilled to see that eight Tennessee Titans were selected to the Pro Bowl last week.

Guard Bruce Matthews' 13th Pro Bowl appearance was a given. After all, he's Bruce Matthews. Same with Eddie George. No back means more to his football team than Eddie George does. Samari Rolle and Derrick Mason were both obvious choices for their first trips to Hawaii. Both Rolle and Mason have had incredible 2000 seasons.

So has tackle Brad Hopkins. It took the NFL long enough to recognize Hopkins' outstanding play, as there are few tackles in football as versatile and talented as the former first round draft pick out of Illinois.

Tight end Frank Wycheck heads to his third straight Pro Bowl after what might be his best season. His stats aren't awfully different than any of the past three seasons, but Wycheck has faced more defensive attention in 2000 due to injuries to Titan wideouts. And still, the former Maryland Terp has led the team in receiving all year long. That's the mark of a Pro Bowler.

Blaine Bishop plays with the mark of a Pro Bowler every time that he takes the field. The Titans strong safety went to Hawaii three straight years from 1995-97. In 1998, 116 hits, 3 sacks and an interception weren't enough to send him back. In 1999, a team-leading 113 hits and 2.5 more sacks didn't do the trick. Fortunately, voters wised up this year and sent Bishop back to the Pro Bowl. His 4th appearance sets a record for Pro Bowl appearances by a Tennessee defensive back.

And that brings us to 'The Freak'. Defensive end Jevon Kearse hasn't matched the sack statistics that he posted as a rookie in 1999. But his position coach, Jim Washburn, claims that he's played better football in 2000 than he did in '99. Offenses have keyed on him and that's allowed several Titans to make plenty of big plays of their own. That's why Kearse is making his second Pro Bowl trip. Stats don't tell the whole story.

Let's follow that theme: stats don't tell the whole story. That's why Steve McNair should have been selected to the Pro Bowl. Never mind that McNair's statistics are the best of his career. Steve McNair is playing better football than at any time in his career. I can't think of a quarterback who means more to his team. No quarterback makes more plays---with his arm and his leg. No quarterback avoids sacks like McNair. No quarterback is better in the final two minutes of the game.

And no quarterback plays with McNair's guts. Actually, few players in the NFL have Steve McNair's guts. That fact was never more evident than on September 24 at Pittsburgh. The Titans trailed late, 20-16. McNair was not playing that day due to a severely bruised sternum, an incredibly painful injury. In two weeks time, he had practiced all of once. Then, Neil O'Donnell went down and the Titans had nowhere to turn. A day off for McNair turned into a performance that saved the day.

Two warm-up tosses meant entering the game totally cold for a 3rd and 11 play from his own 36-yard line. A completion to Chris Sanders for 22 yards and a 1st down. A 9-yard run to the Steeler 33. A 15-yard completion to Derrick Mason. An 18-yard touchdown pass to Erron Kinney. Four plays, 64 yards and a game-winning touchdown from a guy who hurt so much that he'd spent time proceeding that game in the hospital. Most players wouldn't have even been standing by just in case. Steve McNair was ready to go when the call came.

He always is. That's why he is the heart and soul of the Tennessee Titans. That's why he deserves to make the Pro Bowl. If Brian Griese's shoulder keeps him from making the trip, McNair will get the call to head to Hawaii in February. If the deserving Griese can't play, McNair will be more than an acceptable replacement. And he won't be backing into a bid. Steve McNair is as deserving as any of the eight Tennessee Titans who earned their spot on the AFC Pro Bowl roster.

Those eight players would likely agree. So would the other 44 players on the Tennessee roster.